Archive for the 'Whitney Houston' Category

A stunning-looking and strong-sounding Whitney Houston made a triumphant return to the stage at a pre-Grammy party honoring her mentor, music mogul Clive Davis.

“I’ve got it, I’ve got it!” Houston, looking glamorous in a skintight leopard dress, sang early Sunday morning as she belted a line from one of her classic hits, “I’m Every Woman.” But more than a lyric, it summarized to the crowd of A-list superstars and top industry execs that the superstar - whose drug use and erratic behavior had caused a shocking fall from grace just a few years ago - was back in top form.

“We all crossed our fingers that her beautiful story would end (happily),” said Jamie Foxx, who stood at the front of the stage and took video of Houston like he was just another fan in the crowd. “This is a new beginning.”

Houston’s mini-concert put an exclamation point on a night that included a rousing performance by Kelly Clarkson, an unlikely but magical duet between Jennifer Hudson and Barry Manilow and a rambling monologue by Kanye West.

“I have to bow in the presence of greats right now,” West said as he looked out into the crowd, which at one point included Sir Paul McCartney, Prince, Diddy, Rihanna, the Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, Quincy Jones, and other luminaries.

“I’m just humbled by your greatness, and also Clive,” West told the audience.

Davis, the music mogul who founded labels, signed greats ranging from Houston to Bruce Springsteen to Janis Joplin, and resuscitated the careers of veterans like Rod Stewart and Carlos Santana, was honored by the Recording Academy as an industry icon on Saturday, hours before Sunday’s Grammys. For nearly three decades, Davis’ pre-Grammy party and concert had become one of the industry’s most coveted invites; this year, the Recording Academy took the event over and honored Davis instead.

But while Davis got an award, he still held court like it was his own party, acting as the evening’s host as he introduced performers like Stewart, the Kings of Leon and Leona Lewis.

Diddy got the often staid crowd on their feet with a moving rendition of his tribute to the slain Notorious B.I.G., “I’ll Be Missing You,” with Biggie’s widow, singer Faith Evans, and a gospel choir.

Clarkson got one of the evening’s biggest ovations with her performance of her new single, “My Life Would Suck Without You” and the Joplin gem “Piece of My Heart.”

But Hudson was perhaps the night’s biggest star - until Houston hit the stage. Starting with the Super Bowl last Sunday, Hudson has been raising her profile after spending months in seclusion following the slayings of her mother, brother and nephew last October.

A smiling Hudson performed her hit “Spotlight,” which earned her one of her four Grammy nominations, and got a standing ovation from the crowd. But she raised the bar with a pairing with Barry Manilow, injecting one of his signature songs, “Weekend in New England,” with a lacking ingredient - soul.

Afterward, the Oscar-winner joined the audience (and friend Fantasia), stood in the front and danced and sang as Houston performed. Houston started off with “I Will Always Love You,” but didn’t hit the high, sustaining notes that made the song such a dramatic, stirring hit. Instead, she kept her voice at medium power, deciding to croon rather than soar.

But as she got into hits like “It’s Not Right, But It’s O.K.,” her voice appeared to get stronger - and louder, and while she never replicated the vocal gymnastics of some of her past work, delivered a mesmerizing performance nonetheless.

The 45-year-old, one of the best-selling artists of all time and among the greatest singers, hasn’t made an album since 2002. Then she was sinking due to drug use and a tumultuous personal life - a far cry from the princess image she cultivated since her debut in the 1980s.

But the singer is expected to release an album sometime this year, and unlike other reported returns, this comeback seems to be the real deal.

“She was on it, she was happy - she’s back,” said Foxx. “Everybody else watch out.”

The Grammys air on Sunday on CBS.

Singer Whitney Houston is being sued by her stepmother over the use of her late father’s $1 million life insurance policy.

Barbara Houston claims the Grammy-winning singer improperly kept the proceeds from her father John’s insurance fund after he died in 2003.

According to court papers filed in Newark, New Jersey, the 45-year-old singer was intended to use $723,000 to pay the mortgage on her father’s property in Fort Lee.

Barbara Houston, who lives in the condominium, says the I Wanna Dance With Somebody star was then supposed to return the remaining funds to her.

Whitney Houston is one of the best-selling female artists of all time, finding huge success in th3 80s and 90s with hits such as Saving All My Love For You, I Have Nothing and I Will Always Love You, the sixth bestselling song in the history of music.

She has not released a studio album since 2003 with erratic behaviour and rumours of drug abuse marring her public image,

However, after the July 2008 of a track entitled Like I Never Left, it has been reported that she is in the studio working on a new album.

Lawyers for both Whitney Houston and her stepmother declined to comment.

(source)

Whitney Houston has issued a statement denying the rumors of a reunion with Bobby Brown.

Acting on behalf of Houston, the singer’s publicist Nancy Seltzer calls speculation that the exes are getting back together “a complete fabrication.”

Seltzer pinpoints the rumors to a report in Wednesday’s Chicago Sun-Times that said Houston and Brown had been spotted out and about in Georgia looking romantic.

Houston and Brown divorced in April 2007 after 14 years of marriage. During their tumultuous union, Brown was arrested on drug and alcohol charges, and Houston twice entered drug rehabilitation programs. Houston has custody of their teenage daughter, Bobbi Kristina.

We’ve heard it before, but folks inside Whitney Houston’s circle of pals again insist the on-the-rebound diva and ex-husband Bobby Brown may be getting back together.

The official word from Camp Houston sticks to to the old line about the divorced couple remaining separate, ”but good friends whose primary interest is the well-being of their daughter.” Yet, several Georgia sightings of Houston and Brown in recent days — clearly looking very romantic while dining together — seem to boost the reliability of what I’m hearing. I’m also hearing that the divorced couple’s daughter Bobbi Kristina is eager for her parents to remarry.

Meanwhile, the singer is facing another round of legal woes, stemming from an ongoing lawsuit filed last May by Whitney’s stepmother, Barbara Houston. In the lawsuit, first reported by tmz.com, Barbara Houston claimed Whitney was the beneficiary of a $1 million insurance policy left by her late father, John Houston. However, the suit further claims his estate instructions called for those funds to be used to retire the balance of the mortgage loan owed Whitney on his New Jersey condominium, with Barbara getting the remainder of the funds.

Whitney disputes all of Barbara Houston’s claims and is continuing to fight the case.

Houston herself was the target of a $100 million lawsuit her dad filed against her shortly before his death, claiming he was owed the megabucks for management fees never paid. John Houston long managed both his ex-wife Cissy Houston’s career, as well as Whitney’s at various points.

Both father and daughter always maintained that lawsuit, settled before John Houston’s death in 2003, ”was strictly about business” and never had an impact upon their personal relationship, said to be quite close at the time of his demise.

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A drummer who toured with WHITNEY HOUSTON, TAKE THAT and TEXAS has been jailed after holding up a bank with a music-stand disguised as a gun.

Steve Tate - who enjoyed a successful career under the name Steve Washington - stole $2,160 from a bank in Kent, England earlier this year.

Tate, 46 - who spent five years touring with Take That during the height of their fame in the early 1990s - was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to robbery.

(source)

Whitney Houston says it all in a new track making the rounds online.

“I want you to love me like I never left,” the legendary songbird trills in the aptly titled “Like I Never Left.”

MIA from the music scene since her private life went on a roller-coaster ride full of substance-abuse problems and a trainwreck marriage to Bobby Brown, Ms. Houston hasn’t released a new tune in approximately forever—or at least since 2003’s “One Wish (for Christmas).”

While “Like I Never Left” is technically a love song featuring Akon, the lyrics couldn’t be more perfect for her return to recording. In one verse from the three-minute, 39-second cut, Houston coos, “Yes, your girl is coming back.”

Whit is expected to release her new—and much anticipated—album this coming fall.

Welcome back, Whitney! And please stay this time.

(source)

Whitney Houston really seems to have put the pipe away for good. She performed at London’s Battersea Park on Thursday night and was reportedly in fine form.

Houston reportedly “looked and sounded amazing,” and was “fantastic,” according to an audience member.

Her name is not Susan performed at the Caudwell Children Legends Ball, and did a set of her greatest hits. Houston performed “The Greatest Love Of All,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” and “My Love Is Your Love” among others. She even brought her daughter Bobbi Kristina out to duet on that last song with her? Bobbi Kristina can sing? Hey, as long as she’s not trying injure herself, we’re cool.

Houston is working on her “comeback” album with longtime friend and mentor Clive Davis and no longer getting high on crack cocaine and visiting gas stations wearing fur coats at 3 AM. She’s really turning it around.