It’s hard to imagine that there will ever be someone like Whitney Houston ever again. The iconic, venerated singer had a towering career that spanned decades. Houston rose to fame in the mid-80s with her debut, self-titled album. At just 22 years old, Houston became an absolute star after years of work and dedication to her craft, which began when she was just a child singing in her church.
In 1985, when she was just in her early 20s, Houston won her first of many Grammy Awards for Best Pop Vocal Performance for her breakout single “Saving All My Love for You,” off her debut album. From there, the singer’s career simply swelled with success. Her second album, Whitney, featured the iconic dance hit “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” earning the singer her second Grammy Award.
Over the course of her career, Houston won six Grammy Awards, including the 1993 Record of the Year for “I Will Always Love You” and 1993’s Album of the Year for The Bodyguard – Original Soundtrack Album. Houston’s career saw her conquer film and music, all while trying to navigate the unique pressures of fame.
Sadly, after years of struggling with addiction, the world lost Whitney Houston in February 2012 at the age of 48 years old. Despite that immense loss, Houston’s legacy still lives on in her timeless music and the effervescence with which she graced so many stages across the world. On what would have been Houston’s birthday, look back at these selections of photos from her life.
A version of this article was originally published in Aug 2021.
Shooting Into Superstardom (1985)
1985 was a huge year for Whitney Houston, shooting her into superstardom after her self-titled debut album was released on Valentine’s Day.
Whitney Houston Poses with Her Grammy Award (1986)
Whitney Houston posed with her Grammy backstage at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 26, 1986. Houston won best female pop vocal performance for her song “Saving All My Love For You.”
Whitney Houston & Her Mom Cissy Houston (1987)
Whitney and Cissy Houston attended Clive Davis’s annual pre-Grammy party held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on February 24, 1987, in Los Angeles.
Whitney Houston Performs ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ (1991)
Whitney wowed with her vocal chops in this now iconic moment singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Super Bowl in 1991.
‘The Bodyguard’ (1992)
In perhaps one of her most iconic roles, Whitney’s feature film debut was alongside Kevin Costner in 1992’s The Bodyguard. In it, she plays pop superstar Rachel Marron as she hires a new bodyguard to protect her from a rising threat.
Whitney Houston’s Interview With Barbara Walters (1993)
On October 20, 1993, Whitney got candid in a tell-all interview with Barbara Walters. Among her confessions from Whitney were her struggles with addiction and her miscarriage while filming The Bodyguard.
‘Waiting to Exhale’ (1995)
In 1995, Whitney Houston starred alongside Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon in the iconic film Waiting to Exhale. In an interview with Time, she said she chose to play the role of Savannah Jackson because it was “a breakthrough for the image of black women because it presents them both as professionals and as caring mothers.”
‘The Preacher’s Wife’ (1996)
In 1996, Whitney Houston and Denzel Washinton starred in the hit film The Preacher’s Wife, an updated remake of the 1948 classic The Bishop’s Wife. Per her webiste, she made $10 million for her role, which made her the highest-earning African-American actress in Hollywood at the time. She was also quoted saying, “There’s a joy in singing gospel and in church. There’s a joy that I remember most, and it all came back to me, and it was fun.”
‘When You Believe’ (1998)
Mariah Carey and Whitney joined forces back in 1998 when they performed their duet “When You Believe” for the movie The Prince of Egypt. The song went on to win the Oscar for Best Original Song.
‘Cinderella’ (1998)
Who could forget when Whitney Houston starred as the Fairy Godmother alongside Brandy, Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, and Bernadette Peters in the iconic 1998 Cinderella movie?
Whitney Houston at the 42nd Annual GRAMMY Awards (2000)
Whitney Houston holds her award for “Best Female R&B Vocal Performance” at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 23, 2000, in Los Angeles. Over the course of her career, Houston won six Grammy Awards and was nominated for a total of 25.
Whitney Houston With Daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown (2011)
Whitney always shared a sweet connection with her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, seen here at the Clive Davis and The Recording Academy’s 2011 Pre-Grammy Gala. Brown passed away three years after Whitney’s passing on July 26, 2015.
Whitney Houston at the American Music Awards (2009)
One of Whitney’s last performances was onstage at the 2009 American Music Awards in this gorgeous white dress. She sang “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength.”
‘Sparkle’ (2012)
Whitney’s last feature film was the heartwarming musical Sparkle alongside Jordin Sparks.
“I didn’t get to know her for very long, but the time I did spend with her really, really impacted me and I’ve carried it with me since, obviously,” Sparks told People of their time together.
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