One of the famous lines of a song from her illustrious career says “It not right but its ok, I’m gonna make it anyway.” In the end Whitney Houston did not make it. Cause of death is still yet to be determined, however suspicions will abound that there was skulduggery [drugs] involved.
Born August 9th 1963 in Newark New-Jersey birth name Whitney Elizabeth Houston, Whitney’s rise to music superstardom was unquestionable when she started her first foray into the music industry in 1977 as a backing singer for Michael Zager Band's single "Life's a Party. The rest as they say is history – as there was no way her smooth caramel vocal would not be noted. It would have been a crime otherwise.
Yes - success was guaranteed, but the personal life of this soulful and much loved diva came to an abrupt end at 48 years of age. Many would argue that it is not surprising as the life of this multi-talented diva has been blighted by drink and substance abuse, which she valiantly fought throughout her adult life, and was at its [addiction] peak when she was with “bad boy” Bobby Brown - whom she met at the Soul Train Music Awards in 1989 and later married in 1992. This union led to the birth of their only child – daughter Bobbi-Kristina Brown now 18 years old, known within Hollywood circles as having a bit of a wild child reputation. It has been alleged that Bobbi-Kristina herself has also developed a substance abuse problem. The day after her mother’s untimely passing, Bobbi – Kristina was rushed to Cedars Sinai hospital suffering from grief, stress and anxiety attacks. Not surprising given the strong bond that she shared with her mother.
Why World Is Shocked But Not Shocked At Whitney’s Death.
Who could forget Whitney’s shock skeletal appearance when she gave a performance at the now deceased Michael Jackson’s 30 years celebratory tour? Her appearance drew gasps of shock and was deemed irresponsible of her management by many for letting her be seen so frail and desperately in need of help. Tabloid tales of a drug dependency habit followed, which were vehemently denied by her camp. However, the signs were there and it was only a matter of time for all to be laid bare.
In 2002 after scurrilous rumours that she was dead, Whitney made an appearance at the Diane Sawyer ABC show where she publicly admitted an addiction to drugs, alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and famously used the line ‘Crack Is Wack’. In that appearance, Houston vowed that the party was over and that she was on a journey of self-love and getting back to her healthy best.
She famously said “The biggest devil is me, I am either my best friend, or my worst enemy.”
Her public confession was lauded and supported by fans and the media, but the grip of addiction had too strong a hold as Whitney fell off the sobriety wagon on one too many occasions. Most shockingly of all was the videotaping and pictures of her private suite in her residential home in New Jersey, exposed by her then sister in-law that looked like an unkempt drug den. That was an image beamed across our screens and tabloids that shocked and took breaths away. Had she descended that low?
The fight for sobriety continued and in 2010, whilst attempting a come-back tour, Whitney cancelled numerous shows, and many who managed to see her perform at a few gigs said that they felt cheated as she had lost her spark, and most importantly her famous voice.
In May 2011, it became apparent that she still had issues with substance abuse when she voluntarily admitted herself into a rehab clinic for a 3rd time as an out-patient. And in October 2011, there was the infamous fight with a flight attendant on a trip to Detroit which was blamed by her camp as caused by exhaustion.
2011 also saw Houston on her way to a successful comeback. She starred in her first major movie after a decade titled ‘Sparkle’ with American Idol alumni Jordin Sparks. On a positive note for the movie honchos [executives], filming wrapped in November 2011, but sadly this will be the last movie performance by this maverick diva. The film airs in August 2012.
Whitney’s last public appearance just a couple of days ago at ‘The Love of R&B Grammy Party’ at Tru in Hollywood, saw her looking her glam best and in the peak of health, but by the end of the night she was looking a tad dishevelled. Who doesn’t like a bevvy or two at a shindig you ask? However, bearing in mind that she had a dangerous addiction to drinks and drugs, it looks like she had slipped down a perilous slope. The cause of death is yet to be determined, but shock will not be registered if there were dark findings.
It has been confirmed that she was discovered by her PA submerged under water in her 4th floor suite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Paramedics were called to scene but were unable to resuscitate her.
On February 11, 2012: In Los Angeles for the Grammy Awards, the pop icon is pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. In what many considered morbid – and also voiced by the diva Chaka Khan on CNN with Piers Morgan as complete insanity, Clive Davis’s Pre Grammys party still went ahead with Whitney’s corpse on the premises. Davis claimed that Whitney would have wanted the show to go on. But other sources close to the late star claim that she would not have wished so.
The singer’s body accompanied by her god-mother Dionne Warwick was flown back to her birth town of Newark New-Jersey in a private jet owned by film maker Tyler Perry, ahead of her scheduled funeral on Saturday the 18th of February at the The New Hope Baptist church in Newark where she honed her God given talent. A small wake service is speculated to be held on Thursday 16th February and a memorial service held at the Prudential Center arena. Reverend Marvin Winans is thought to be presiding over the funeral . Though speculation was rife that Bobby Brown will not be attending the funeral, it is now confirmed that he will be attending.
Dying Broke – She “Didn’t Almost Have It All”
Having sold over 200 million albums world wide – Whitney was not rolling in it [money]. 1993/ 94 [Body Guard] was the year that Whitney was at the height of her earning potential. She earnt $33 million dollars - just behind Oprah and Barbara Streisand that year. But according to Forbes writer Zack O'Malley Greenburg "There were certainly rumours that Whitney Houston died broke and she didn't have any significant financial impact in the last couple years of her life, It's been a while since she has put out an album and been on tour, so one could see why towards the end of her life she would be running a bit low on cash." This also coupled with the fact that she did not own the rights to her famous songs as she did not write them.
Whitney Houston has made an unforgettable imprint on the music industry and the worlds’ consciousness with her unsurpassed gift. Why she was taken so early is a question many will ask, but at the same time feel they have an answer to. You’ve got to give it to her though – she was a diva and died by stamping her diva foot prints all over music on the eve of music’s most memorable night the Grammy Awards. R.I.P Whitney – your legend lives on and may those that you left behind find the strength to cope with their grief.
