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Home · Celebrity

Whitney Houston's Life in Pictures

The entertainment world lost one of its brightest stars on February 11, 2012, when the incomparable Whitney Houston, just 48 years old and poised to enter the spotlight again in the movie Sparkle, died suddenly in Los Angeles. Here, ESSENCE pays tribute to a talent gone too soon — a groundbreaker whose beauty, ambition, and golden voice inspired Black women across generations.

By · Updated October 28, 2020
01
A Star Is Born

The gifted singer debuted with a self-titled album in March 1985. The record had a string of hits including three consecutive No. 1 singles: the Grammy-winning “Saving All My Love for You,” “How Will I Know,” and “The Greatest Love of All.”

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
02
Keep Smiling

Whitney Houston poses at the Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles, March 23, 1987.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
AP
03
A Mother’s Joy

Whitney Houston and her mother Cissy Houston appear during a taping of an MTV show in 1989 in New York City.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
04
A Friend

Houston laughs beside Stevie Wonder at the 13th Annual American Music Awards on January 27, 1986, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
Ron Galella/WireImage
05
#Winning

In 1985, Whitney Houston flashes her first Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance for “Saving All My Love for You.”

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
06
A Happy Day

Newlyweds Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown smile during their 1992 wedding. The pair had their first and only child, Bobbi Kristina, the next year. They divorced in 2009.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
AP
07
Black Love

Houston and Brown attend a movie premiere.

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08
America’s Starlet

Houston performed a memorable rendition of the “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXV in 1991.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
09
A Movie Star

Whitney Houston with Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon in Waiting to Exhale.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
10
A Mentor for Life

Clive Davis first saw Houston perform at a New York nightclub in the ’80s, and he signed her on the spot. Over the years he continued his role as her mentor; on the day of her death she was due to appear at his annual pre-Grammys gala.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
11
History in the Making

Houston made history as the first female artist to enter the Billboard album charts at No. 1.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
12
Share the Love

The gifted singer shares the stage with Mariah Carey in 1998, after they won a Grammy for their hit song “When You Believe,” from the Disney movie The Prince of Egypt.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
13
Hitting All the High Notes

At the 42nd annual Grammy Awards in February 2000, Whitney received her sixth career Grammy: “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” was voted Best Female R&B Vocal.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
14
Will You Be My Baby?

In 1990, the title track to “I’m Your Baby Tonight” topped the pop and R&B charts, as did “All the Man That I Need.” Her version of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” in 1992 remained at the top of the Billboard chart for 14 weeks.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
15
She’s Every Woman

Another career highlight: Houston’s cover of Chaka Khan’s 1978 hit “I’m Every Woman,” which climbed to No. 4 on the Billboard charts.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
16
Angelic Moment

Whitney Houston sits down with Diane Sawyer for a revealing one-hour interview at her home in suburban Atlanta.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
ABC via Getty Images
17
Write This

The Guinness Book of World Records lists Whitney as music’s “Most Awarded Female Artist of All Time,” as of 2006.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
18
Queen of All Things

Whitney Houston was also successful on the silver screen. In 1996, Houston starred with Denzel Washington and Courtney B. Vance in the comedy The Preacher’s Wife. She also played the Fairy Godmother to Brandy’s Cinderella in a Wonderful World of Disney movie in 1997.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
19
A Bright Light

Whitney Houston performs during a German game show in Freiburg, southwestern Germany.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
AP
20
The Hit Maker

She appeared on the NBC television network special benefit concert “25 Years of #1 Hits: Arista Records’ Anniversary Celebration,” a tribute to the label as well as its founder and leader, Clive Davis.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
21
A Team Player

Houston had many friends and fans in Hollywood; here, she’s photographed with Halle Berry. Hip-hop personalities and producers including Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, Rodney Jerkins, Missy Elliott, and Faith Evans all collaborated with the vocalist on various tracks.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
22
Momma’s Baby

Whitney Houston performs with her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, during ABC’s Good Morning America on September 1, 2009, in New York City.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
23
Open Arms

The legendary diva receives a warm welcome on Good Morning America, September 2009. She released her comeback album I Look To You that same month. It debuted at No. 1, selling 304,000 copies — the biggest first-week sales of her career.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
24
Dance With Me

Whitney Houston stops by the popular show Dancing With the Stars to perform her single “Million Dollar Bill.”

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
25
Forever Fabulous

Whitney Houston made a fabulous appearance at the 2009 BET Honors ceremony. Simply beautiful.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
26
Always Smiling

Whitney looks stunning in blue at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, 2009.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
27
We Will Always Love You

Clive Davis and Whitney Houston share the love onstage at the 2011 Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Houston passed away exactly one year later.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
28
Family Ties

Whitney Houston and her cousin Dionne Warwick perform onstage during Clive Davis’ Pre-Grammys Gala in 2011.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
29
Making An Entrance

Whitney Houston arrives with daughter Bobbi Kristina at 2011’s Clive Davis Pre-Grammys Gala.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
30
A Beautiful Daughter

Whitney’s legacy: Bobbi Kristina Brown arrives at a Grammys party just two days before her mother’s death. Sadly, Houston’s precious little girl died tragically on July 26, 2015, at the age of 22, when she succumbed to injuries she sustained after being found unresponsive in her bathtub in early January of that year.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
31
Our Last Goodbye

Whitney Houston arrives at a Grammys Week party in Hollywood on February 9, 2012. This was her last public appearance.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
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Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
37
She Is A Muse

Clive Davis and Whitney Houston at the 2009 GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons honoring Clive Davis at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 7, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California.

Whitney Houston’s Life in Pictures
Getty Images

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