I Wanna Dance with Somebody

In New Jersey 1983, Whitney Houston sang as part of a church choir. Her mother Cissy, a professional singer, pushed her to be better, even if she is being hard on her daughter. Houston befriended Robyn Crawford, and the two developed a romantic relationship.

Houston’s mother was set to perform one evening when she noticed record producer Clive Davis arrived, leading her to encourage Houston to go up and sing in her place. Houston sang “The Greatest Love of All,’ which impressed Davis, who signed Houston to a record deal. Houston made her first major live performance on The Merv Griffin Show, which is met with acclaim.

As Houston’s career takes off, her overbearing father John became her self-appointed manager. When Houston attempted to make Crawford her assistant, her father objected because of their personal relationship and told them to go on dates with men, which Crawford refused to do. Houston later recorded a song with Jermaine Jackson and released hits like “How Will I Know’ and “I Wanna Dance with Somebody’. Whitney becomes an international crossover superstar, appealing to all demographics. However, She faces criticism for selling out and not sounding “black enough’. This made Whitney feel insecure in herself. In 1989, at the third Soul Train Awards, Houston met R&B singer Bobby Brown, who told her not to mind those bad-mouthing her image. Houston and Brown began dating, , and he eventually proposed to her. In 1991, Houston performed the National Anthem at 25th Super Bowl, which earned an incredible reception.

Houston developed an interest in acting, postponing her own wedding with Bobby. She starred in the movie The Bodyguard. For the film, Houston recorded her own version of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You’. On July 18, 1992 she married Bobby Brown and in March 1993 gave birth to Bobbi Kristina Brown. In 1994, Houston performed at a concert for Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. After going on tour, Houston demanded to return home as soon as it’s over so that she can return to her family, but she finds out that Brown has been cheating on her. Due to personal and profession stress, Whitney’s use of drugs accelerates.

In 1998, Davis met with Houston over her not putting out an album over the last eight years, even though she has released seven major songs and made three movies. Being mad at Bobby, and during constant fights with Mr Brown, she releases “It’s Not Right but It’s Okay’ and a song which she declined seven years earlier, “Why Does It Hurt So Bad.’

Around the year 2000, Robyn finally accepts she cannot help Whitney due to her escalating drug use and her toxic marriage and leaves Nippy Inc. Later, Whitney confronts her father, for the second time—when he is in the hospital—over his handling of her finances, ultimately cutting ties with him. She let her sister-in-law Pat manage her career. John Houston sues his daughter for $100 000 000 but died in the year 2003. Houston does not appear at his funeral. She descends into deep drug addiction, which gets bad enough that it affected her vocal range and led to disastrous concert performances. Davis urges Houston to enter rehab, and she eventually does it in 2005, after her mother intervenes.

In 2006, Houston filed for divorce against Brown, finalized the following year. She continued to work on music and maintained her relationship with her teenage daughter Bobbi Kristina.

She came back on a stage, performing in the 2009 year in “The Oprah Winfrey Show,’ performing “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength’. After the show, she thought about another world tour, but Clive told her just that she needs to rest.

In February 2012, Houston arrived at the Beverly Hilton hotel, in Los Angeles. She was supposed to sing “Home’ for the Grammy Awards. But she buys drugs from a drug dealer, well-known to her. She hesitantly uses as she cries in the bathroom, while quietly singing “Home’ and remembering the brightest moments of her career.

Houston was shown in her greatest performance, during the 1994 American Music Awards, where she sang her iconic medley of “I Loves You, Porgy,’ then “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ and finally “I Have Nothing.’

• Profane language: • “Oh my G*d” (7) • “G*d d*mn” (3) • “D*mn” (8) • “My G*d” (1) • “Oh G*d” (2) • “Swear to G*d” (1) • “G*d” (1) • “H*ll” (4)
• Vulgar/Crude language: • F-word • Middle-finger gesture • S-words (18) • “Scr*w” • “A**” (8) • “Cr*p” (1) • “Ho” (1)
• Sex: • Kissing • Comment about Whitney having ‘slept’ with Jermaine Jackson • Making out in a limo • Comment about a man having impregnated a woman out of wedlock • Confrontation about infidelity
• Nudity: • Cleavage • Woman in bath (not graphic)
• Alcohol/Drugs: Heavy —cocaine, marijuana, other drugs, alcohol, death by drugs
• Violence: Domestic violence

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.