WHITNEY HOUSTON – 40 Years of Her Mark on the World

Born into a family of artists—daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston, cousin of Dionne Warwick, and goddaughter of Aretha Franklin—Whitney “The Voice” Houston was destined for greatness. But her impact extended far beyond the music industry: her talent knew no bounds, and her heart was immense. Thanks to this, she ventured into various fields. Today, I’d like to take you on a brief journey through her greatest achievements, unveiling a few lesser-known curiosities.

In the world of music, she is undoubtedly one of the most recognised and awarded stars in history. With over 400 awards, she demonstrated incredible potential from the start, selling 30 million copies of her debut album, Whitney Houston (1985). Despite a slow beginning, that album earned her first Grammy with the single Saving All My Love for You in the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance category.

Her immense talent led to a life filled with recognition, worldwide. However, the turning point in her career came with her greatest success: I Will Always Love You (1992), which marked her acting debut in The Bodyguard. The song’s opening a cappella notes showcased Houston’s extraordinary vocal range, reaffirming the origins of her nickname, ‘The Voice’, and earning admiration for herself and the song’s original composer, Dolly Parton.

One of the highest compliments Parton ever received for that, came from none other than Colonel Parker, Elvis Presley’s manager. When the song was first released in 1974, Parker called Parton to congratulate her—but his real motive was to let her know that Elvis was captivated by the song and wanted to record it. Dolly was on the verge of accepting, but at the last moment, the manager made a rather audacious demand: Elvis would require 50% of the publishing rights. Parton refused, and Parker never contacted her again. When Whitney’s version became a worldwide sensation in 1992, Parton later joked, “With the royalties from Whitney’s version, I could buy Graceland multiple times.” And she wasn’t wrong.

The year 1992 marked a turning point in Whitney Houston’s life, as it also signified her entrance into the film industry with The Bodyguard, alongside Kevin Costner. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film was a box office success and earned two Academy Award nominations for Run to You and I Have Nothing. Not bad for a debut. However, one of the most intriguing aspects of her acting career is much more recent than one might think.

Video: Run to you

On January 28 of this year, the book Protecting Whitney: The Memoir of Her Bodyguard was published. Written by David Roberts, Houston’s bodyguard from 1988 to 1995, the former police officer shares his experiences with the singer, is critical about the pressures of the industry, and, during the book’s promotion, opened up about an episode that deeply moved him. He confessed—and I quote—that when Whitney affectionately rested her head on his shoulder, he was tempted to “leave everything behind” and change their relationship from professional to personal if only he had the chance.

The revelation quickly spread across social media, sparking speculation: although there was never a romantic relationship between them, could their bond have inspired the screenplay for The Bodyguard?

All these speculations are unfounded. The screenplay was written in 1975 by Lawrence Kasdan (Star Wars, Indiana Jones), originally with Diana Ross in mind for the lead role. However, the project was rejected 67 times until a young Kevin Costner decided to revive it, personally selecting both the script and the leading lady—a decision that would define Whitney’s career, marking her cinematic debut and the pinnacle of her musical success.

Regarding her film career, after The Bodyguard Whitney starred in Waiting to Exhale (1995) and the fantasy comedy The Preacher’s Wife (1996) alongside Denzel Washington. In Cinderella (1997), she played the Fairy Godmother and, for the first time, took on the role of producer. Between 2001 and 2006, she made a lasting impact on Disney by producing The Cheetah Girls franchise (2003, 2004, 2006) and The Princess Diaries films (2001, 2004), where her musical influence—blending pop, dance, and R&B—helped create high-quality soundtracks for a new generation of viewers. In 2012, she worked as both an actress and producer in Sparkle, her final film, which was released three months after her passing and dedicated to her memory.

Anyone looking to rediscover her acting career can find most of her films on Disney+, except her only biopic, I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022). The critically acclaimed film, available on Prime Video, chronicles her career from beginning to end, from her gospel roots to the decline of her later years. Needless to say, the soundtrack is flawless.

Beyond entertainment, Whitney Houston also made a significant social impact. In 1989, she founded The Whitney Houston Foundation for Children, through which she helped disadvantaged children, built parks, and funded scholarships. Her commitment was so profound that the elementary school she attended was renamed The Whitney E. Houston Academy for Performing & Creative Arts in her honour. Eight years after her passing, the foundation was rebranded as The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation to continue her philanthropic work.

Although she rarely involved herself in politics, she made an exception in 1994 when she performed three concerts in Durban, South Africa, to celebrate the end of apartheid and the election of Nelson Mandela. The event, titled Whitney – The Concert for a New South Africa, was so significant that last November, for its 30th anniversary, it was re-screened in theatres for two days.

With over 400 awards and 31 Guinness World Records, Whitney Houston remains the most-awarded artist in music history. But it is limiting to call her simply an artist: music, discography, acting, production and charity are all part of her work. Today marks 40 years since her musical debut, but her legacy extends far beyond music.