Whitney Houston – Age, Bio, Birthday, Family, Net Worth

Whitney Elizabeth Houston, who was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, Houston, was an award-winning American singer, songwriter, actress, producer, supermodel, and businesswoman. She is considered by music critics the best singer of all time. Her powerful vocals, which reached very high ranges, mainly in melismas and vibratos, combined with smooth tessituras, and her extreme artistic talent in composing lyrics and melodies, made her known as The Voice. We’ll help you celebrate her special birthday right here.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Whitney Elizabeth Houston

Nickname:

The Voice

Birth date:

August 9, 1963

Death date:

February 11, 2012 (age 48)

Zodiac Sign:

Leo

Height:

5′ 4″

Net Worth:

$20 million

Background

Whitney Elizebeth Houston was the most-awarded artist of all time, according to Guinness World Records, in 2009. One of the most successful artists in the music world, she has sold over 400 million records worldwide. Inspired by several prominent soul singers in her family, including her mother, Cissy Houston, and cousins, Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, Houston began singing with the Church of New Jersey’s junior gospel choir at age 11. After she began working as a back up vocalist at her mother’s New York nightclub shows in 1977, she was discovered by Clive Davis in 1983, the year her professional career began. He was the manager of Arista Records. Houston went on to release six studio albums and three soundtrack albums, all of which are certified diamond, multi-platinum, platinum, and gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

With 25 million copies sold, her 1985 self-titled first album became the best-selling record by a female artist. Her second album, “Whitney,” made history by being the first female artist’s album to enter the top of the Billboard 200 chart. Beginning with her video for ‘How Will I Know,’ Houston scored significant singles on the charts and rose to fame on M.T.V., paving the way for other African-American female musicians to follow in her footsteps. Houston’s first film role was as the lead in “The Bodyguard (1992),” in which she was a huge success. The film’s original soundtrack won the Grammy Award for ‘Album of the Year’ in 1994. Her first track, ‘I Will Always Love You,’ went on to become the best-selling female artist single in music history. The album is the only one by a female musician to rank in the top five all-time. Houston continued to act in films and compose music for them, including “Waiting to Exhale” and “The Preacher’s Wife.” In 2009, Houston released her seventh and final studio album, “I Look to You.”

Because of her talent, legacy, and, most significantly, her magnificent and iconic voice, Houston was universally acknowledged as one of the greatest musicians of all time. Houston was dubbed The Voice because of her incredible vocal talent. Houston was frequently compared to famous performers of the past like Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, and Elvis Presley, and is also listed as one of “Rolling Stone” magazine’s 500 Greatest Artists of All Time. Houston died on February 11, 2012. The Los Angeles Criminalistics Institute report stated, in principle, that the death was accidental. The singer drowned in a hotel bathtub. According to the experts, there were signs of heart disease and traces of cocaine use.

Career timeline

Houston releases her debut album, and the song ‘Saving All My Love for You’ brings her first Grammy for ‘Best Female Pop Vocal.’

Houston travels to London to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday with a tribute at Freedomfest.

Houston stars in “The Bodyguard” alongside Costner, a movie that gives her one of her most memorable hits, a stunning rendition of Dolly Parton’s ‘I Will Always Love You.’

Houston acknowledges a history of drug usage but claims that she has moved over it with the help of prayer.

Houston releases her seventh and final studio album, “I Look to You.”

On February 9, Houston makes her last public performance, along with Kelly Price, at a nightclub in Hollywood, in a performance of the song ‘Jesus Loves Me.’

Why We Love Whitney Houston

1. She supported Black singers

   Houston was known for her support of and admiration for other Black female singers. She especially looked out for those younger than her and fondly referred to them as her babies.

2. Her giving spirit

   At the height of the AIDS epidemic, Houston contributed both time and money to AIDS research. She made people aware of South Africa’s apartheid system. She also gave a lot of support to the American Red Cross, the Children’s Defense Fund, and the United Negro College Fund. She established the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children in 1989.

3. Her legacy continues to permeate the culture

   Many other aspects of culture, including poetry, novels, art, and apparel, are infused with Houston’s legacy. Numerous singers of today who look to her poise and diction to command stages are undoubtedly inspired by her soothing, confident voice. Houston passed away in 2012, yet it is undeniable that she left behind a lasting legacy that will endure for a very long time.

5 Surprising Facts

1. She had a famous godmother

   Houston’s godmother was Aretha Franklin.

2. Her best friend

   Houston met her best friend, Robyn Crawford, at Mount Saint Dominic, and they were inseparable for the rest of their lives.

3. Her daughter was hospitalized

   Houston and Bobby Brown’s 15-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina was hospitalized after attempting suicide.

4. The same dress

   Houston and Madonna wore the same Dolce & Gabbana dress on the same night.

5. She turned down Michael Jackson

   Jackson didn’t ask her out on a date, but he asked Houston to collaborate on a song, and she refused.

Whitney Houston FAQs

Who inherited Whitney Houston’s money?

The only child of Houston, Bobbi Kristina inherited her mother’s entire $20 million estate when she died.

Who sang at Whitney Houston’s funeral?

Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, R. Kelly, and other musicians paid tribute to Houston through songs at the singer’s funeral.

What color dress did Whitney Houston get buried in?

Houston was buried in jewelry worth $500,000, wearing her favorite purple dress with gold slippers on her feet.

Whitney Houston’s birthday dates