The world got tragic news yesterday evening; Whitney Houston, an icon and one of the greatest voices of our time, passed away at age 48.
Reportedly she was in Los Angeles to perform at a tribute concert for her mentor Clive Davis. A few days prior she joined Kelly Price on stage for a duet of “Jesus Loves Me.” The cause of her death is still unknown, but details are slowly emerging.
Apparently Houston’s body was discovered in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Houston’s daughter, 18-year-old Bobbi Kristina Brown, was supposedly refused entry into the building where her mother’s body was. Houston’s cousin, Dionne Warwick, was also rumored to have been turned away.
Her ex-husband Bobby Brown was said to be emotional after he received the news, but went on with a scheduled performance in Mississippi. He was said to have been tearful while on stage.
Despite her tumultuous struggles with addiction and erratic behavior, what Houston should be remembered for is her amazing talent. “I Will Always Love You” was one of the biggest selling singles of all time and was certified 4x Platinum, not to mention her iconic role in “The Body Guard.”
That’s not all the acting she did. In 1995 she did “Waiting To Exhale” and “The Preacher’s Wife” in ’96, contributing to both films’ soundtracks. She also starred in “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” as Brandy’s fairy godmother. It was a rather soulful rendition of the classic tale and Houston’s pairing with Brandy was musical genius.
Erractic behavior may have tainted her reputation with some, but Houston should always be remembered as an icon. Not just with music, but as an incredible human being. R&B songstress Kelly Rowland talked about how kind and encouraging Houston was to her and her Destiny’s Child group members. It seemed as though she had a soft spot for young aspiring singers and always told them to follow their dreams and gave them advice. This was one of the many things that made Houston amazing.
More information about her death will come in after the autopsy is complete. But one thing for sure is that the world lost an incredible icon. She will be sorely missed and our thoughts are with her friends and family.
The LG Blog 