Whitney Houston

American singer, actress, and producer, born August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, USA. She began her musical career in 1977, performing background vocals for artists such as Chaka Khan and Lou Rawls. In 1985, she released her debut album "Whitney Houston," which became the best-selling debut album by a female artist, selling over 25 million copies worldwide. Her second album, "Whitney" (1987), became the first album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Houston became the first artist to have seven consecutive number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1992, she starred in the film "The Bodyguard," whose soundtrack became the best-selling soundtrack of all time, and her rendition of "I Will Always Love You" became the best-selling single by a female artist in history. Throughout the 1990s, she continued her successful career in both film and music, releasing albums such as "Waiting to Exhale" and "The Preacher's Wife," the latter becoming the best-selling gospel album of all time. In 2009, she released her final studio album, "I Look to You." Houston received numerous awards, including six Grammy Awards, 22 American Music Awards, and two Emmy Awards. Her personal life, including her marriage to singer Bobby Brown and struggles with addiction, often attracted media attention. She passed away on February 11, 2012, at the age of 48. In 2025, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of her musical career, a tour titled "The Voice of Whitney: A Symphonic Celebration" was announced, featuring remastered recordings of her vocals with symphonic arrangements and previously unreleased video footage.