Authors: David Cline
Whitney Houston: Tragic Diva the Epic Life and Shocking Death of Whitney Houston: The Epic Life and Shocking Death of Whitney Houston (3 page)
Whitney continued to entertain and dazzle audiences, participating in VH-1’s Divas Live ’99 Tour with other music-legends Cher, Mary J. Bilge and Tina Turner, and releasing another platinum album, “Whitney: The Greatest Hits” in 2000, which reached Number 1 in the U.K., number 5 in the U.S., and in the Top 10 in scores of other countries all around the world, ultimately selling 10 million copies worldwide.
But behind the curtain of glittery fame and adoring fans was a woman who was hauntingly troubled and increasingly isolated. Vicious tabloid stories, two devastating miscarriages, and harrowing marital problems all led to her retreating more and more from the outside world.
Whitney’s public image would begin to change, and not for the better…
Chapter Eight - “Heartbreak Hotel”
The shift in the once seemingly perfect reputation of Whitney Houston began with unexplainable erratic behaviors in her public schedule. She was hours late for interviews and photo shoots, she cancelled concerts, blew off rehearsals and skipped talk-show appearances. People started to wonder if all the success and fame had gone to her head. In both personal and professional circles, she began to be considered a “Diva” – no longer just in the positive musical-mega-talent sense, but now also in the negative audacious, self-centered attitude sense.
Her good-girl image started to fade.
Then came the weight loss. With each successive public appearance Houston was getting noticeably thinner and more gaunt. The media pounced on the change in her physique, speculating drug abuse. It didn’t help that her husband, Bobby, had a known history with illegal narcotics.
Suspicions reached fever pitch in January of 2000 when authorities at an airport in Hawaii found marijuana in the bags of both Bobby Brown and Whitney. While the couple managed to evade arrest, and the charges were ultimately dropped, the tabloids felt vindicated in their speculation and the drug rumors never stopped.
But it wasn’t just the alleged addictions. Whitney was losing her professionalism. She blew off an immensely important performance for Clive Davis, the man to whom she owed so much, at his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At rehearsals for her performance at the 2000 Academy Awards, the singer’s voice was shaky and inconsistent. Producers, along with musical director Burt Bacharach, noticed that she was twitchy and on edge. During rehearsals she would belt out a different song than the one she was hired to do. With her strangely careless attitude, evident vocal issues, and stupefying unprofessional behavior, there was little choice. Houston was fired.
Problem after problem seemed to plague the troubled diva. Whitney’s lifetime friend and executive assistant, Robyn Crawford, abruptly quit her employ. Her management company sued the entertainer for a $100 million dollars for breach of contract. Her father passed away in February of 2003. And the rumors of her addictions and drug abuse (some of which she would admit to in a highly-rated interview with Diane Sawyer) would simply not go away. It was an incredibly dark time for the entertainer.
Despite all of her personal demons, Whitney somehow continued to have success with her career. She signed a record deal with Arista/BMG which would become one of the biggest in history, renewing her contract for $100 million for six new albums. She released “Just Whitney” which debuted on the Billboard 200 at Number 9, and went on to sell 3 million copies and go platinum. Her first Christmas album, “One Wish: The Holiday Album” did exceedingly well and was certified gold. And her touring and public performances once again increased and were well received.
Her personal life, however, was another story. Her tumultuous marriage to Bobby was visibly starting to crumble, especially after their scandalous TV-reality show “Being Bobby Brown” forever changed the public perception of Whitney. A year after the first (and only) season of the reality show ended, Whitney filed for divorce, and in February of 2007, it was finalized. Whitney was awarded full custody of her daughter, Bobbi Kristina. Their house was sold for $1.19 million and Whitney began the first of several stints in rehab.
In a highly anticipated interview with Oprah in September 2009, Whitney finally confirmed the long-circulated rumors, courageously admitting to heavy daily drug use beginning in the mid-90s and continuing for more than a decade. If there was any question before, there was none any longer. Whitney Houston’s girl-next-door image was forever changed.
But her fans still adored her. And they were rooting for her.
Would she ever overcome the personal struggles and demons of her past, and finally make a return to her previous glory days?
Chapter Nine - “Get It Back”
Despite the change in the public perception of Whitney, she stormed back onto the music scene in 2009 and was able to churn out albums and hit singles in the following years.
“I Look To You,” Whitney’s August 2009 release, debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard 200 and sold more than 300,000 copies the first week, making it her best opening week ever. It was her first Number 1 album since “The Bodyguard” and the album was ultimately certified Platinum.
2010 saw the heralded re-release of her first album -- “Whitney Houston -- The Deluxe Anniversary Edition.” Twenty-five years after it’s original star-making debut, fans still flocked to the record shelves to buy the album.
With two successful album releases behind her, and gaining more momentum than she’d had in years, Whitney was ready to return to the live stage where her voice shone the brightest, and departed on the “Nothing But Love World Tour” with high hopes for a successful comeback.
But things didn’t go as smoothly as hoped.
Critics blasted her with disappointing reviews, concert dates were sometimes rescheduled or cancelled altogether, and audience members were even said to walk out of performances, massively disappointed by Whitney’s voice.
However, the news was not all bad. Houston’s mission for a comeback was a good deal more successful on a different stage -- at the award shows. She received two nominations for the NAACP Image Awards, won for Best Music Video for “I Look To You,” and got a nomination for an Echo Award for Best International Artist. She also received the BET Honors Award for Entertainer in recognition of over 25 years of contribution to the Music Industry.
Also, even though Whitney had always preferred music to movies, Houston announced a return to the film industry in 2011 as well. The singer/actress would executive produce and co-star in the Tri-Star motion picture “Sparkle” with American Idol winner Jordin Sparks and comedian/rapper-turned actor Mike Epps.
The film was completed in Fall of 2011, and despite a somewhat shaky start, the strong lights of an amazing career-wide-comeback were getting clearer and brighter every day. Whitney was “Getting It Back,” and her fans could not have been happier.
But tragically she would not live long enough to see the movie hit the theaters, nor that triumphant comeback realized…
Chapter Ten - “I Will Always Love You”
It was February 9, 2012, a few nights before the 2012 Grammy Awards.
Record producer Clive Davis was hosting yet another of his legendary annual pre-Grammy parties in the posh Beverly Hilton Hotel. Whitney was of course in attendance, and spent time with Davis, along with friends and fellow artists Brandy and Monica. While there were rehearsals going on, Houston was just visiting. Later that evening, in Hollywood, she joined R&B singer Kelly Price for a song onstage. They belted out “Jesus Loves Me” to the surprise and pleasure of the people attending.
Little did they know that it would be the last performance Whitney Houston would ever give.
Two days later, Houston was found in the hotel bathtub in her room at the Beverly Hilton, unresponsive and unconscious. Though emergency workers tried to revive her, they were unsuccessful. Whitney Elizabeth Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 PM PST on February 11, 2012.
As of the writing of this account, the cause of her death has yet to be officially determined.
While no criminal foul play is expected to be found, there is wide speculation that her death did somehow involve drugs and alcohol.
Houston had reportedly been seen “partying heavily” at the Beverly Hilton in the days leading up to her death and there were reports of prescription painkillers found near the bathtub she was discovered in. Also, accounts surfaced that L.A. County Coroner officials told Houston family members that the singer did not drown, but passed away as a result of a fatal combination of alcohol, Xanax, and other prescription drugs.
Whatever the cause, the effect was the same.
Whitney Houston was gone. Dead at 48.
An outpouring of grief and shock permeated the entire music community and the world at large.
Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party did go on that evening, but naturally turned from the rollicking bash it had been notorious for, into a more solemn, respectful commemoration of Houston and her life and career.
The Grammy Awards the following evening also became somewhat of a Memoriam to Whitney with tributes, prayers, footage, and a moving performance of “I Will Always Love You,” by singer Jennifer Hudson.
The sentiment was strong, sudden and sincere from the music industry’s biggest names.
“Whitney was a beautiful person and a talent beyond compare.”
- Clive Davis
“I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, ‘Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed.’”
• Dolly Parton
“Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend... She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth.”
- Mariah Carey
“To me Whitney was THE VOICE. We got to hear a part of God every time she sang. Heart is heavy, spirit grateful for the GIFT of her.”
• Oprah Winfrey
“I, like every singer, always wanted to be just like her. Her voice was perfect. Strong but soothing. Soulful and classic. Her vibrato, her cadence, her control. So many of my life’s memories are attached to a Whitney Houston song. She is our queen and she opened doors and provided a blueprint for all of us.”
• Beyonce
“Without Whitney, half of this generation of singers wouldn’t be singing.”
• Brandy
“She was known as the voice. When she would open her mouth and this instrument would come out, you would obviously understand.”
• Janet Jackson
“I just can’t talk about it now. It’s so stunning and unbelievable. My heart goes out to Cissy, her daughter Bobbi Kris, her family and Bobby.”
• Aretha Franklin
“When I started my career, I wanted to be like her. I loved her so much.”
• Celine Dion
“Whitney Houston was the greatest singer I’ve ever heard and she will be truly missed.”
• Tony Bennett
“Such an incredible influence over music as a whole!”
• Toni Braxton
“A true icon of our time. Gone too soon.”
• Usher
“To me, Whitney was that next person, after Diana Ross, who for a lot of little girls was sort of that bright light called positive African-American beauty and talent.”
• Jimmy Jam
“I miss you beautiful Whitney, the whole world misses you!!”
• Alicia Keys
A private memorial service was given for Houston on February 18
th
, 2012, fittingly held in her childhood parish, the New Hope Baptist Church, in Newark, New Jersey. Though invitiation-only, the memorial was highly televised for Whitney’s fans across the globe. Family, friends, musicians, celebrities and people from all stages of Whitney’s life attended. Artists Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, R. Kelly, Kim Burrell, and CeCe Winans performed, as well as the New Hope Baptist Church choir. An emotional ex-husband Bobby Brown made a brief appearance, but left abruptly before the service began over a spat after being told his entourage would not be able to sit together. Clive Davis, Kevin Costner, and cousin Dionne Warwick also attended and spoke at the funeral. All of the important people from Whitney’s life came together in the same place--the place it all began--to remember and honor the woman, the performer, and the legacy she left behind.
There is no question that Whitney Houston was indeed a Tragic Diva.
Tragic not because her human flaws and frailties in any way made her less remarkable, less talented or less great.
Only because when she had finally begun to find the strength and courage to battle them, they took her from us so young and so prematurely.
She was “The Voice.” And although that Voice is now silenced, how lucky and blessed we are that her Music endures.
We will always have it. She will always be with us.
And, to paraphrase her greatest song…
“She will Always Love Us…”
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