Remembering America's Whitney Houston!

On Saturday 2/11/2012 pop music legend and Hall of Fame singer, Whitney Houston was pronounced dead. Mother, wife, idol, and world class performer, Whitney Houston passed away on Saturday of causes still unknown.

Whitney Houston will go down in history as one of if not the best female pop singer in history with an enormous list of smash hits. Though I loved rock and roll while I was growing up, who didn't like her music and the dedication she showed her fans? With hits like "How will I know", "somebody who loves me" , and her remake of "I will always love you" Whitney's style, passion, and voice captured and held the world's attention.

Those she influenced-

Among dozens of female singers, Whitney influenced Christina Agulara, Jennifer Hudson, Mariah Carey, and even little British pop star, Connie Talbot. In fact, Jennifer Hudson was given the daunting task of performing the tribute to Whitney at the Grammy Awards the day after her passing.

The live performer- Whitney's love for her fans was easy to see. At the New York State Fair, in Syracuse, she was scheduled to put on a concert on the grand stand stage. A tremendous storm blew in and the show was cancelled. Whitney, before leaving said to her fans " If you'll come back, I'll come back". This drew load applause. Sure enough, 2 weeks later, though booked almost solid, she returned to that very stage and kept her word! That is extremely rare, but indicative of how much she loved her fans.

The tragic price of Fame- In the 90's she admitted that cocaine and prescription medicine abuse had become a serious problem for her. That sparked much speculation and many rumors about her lifestyle and the status of her marriage to R&B singer Bobby Brown. Her substance abuse problem became so devastating that it cost Whitney her voice and her career. Perhaps, even her life.

Her Legacy- Though she appeared in several movies, she will be remembered most for singing the themes to those films more than that fact that she played a role in them. What I remember most about her career is that she had the ability to take an ordinary, forgotten song and make it every one's favorite. Just think of what she did with "I will always love you"! Dolly did a nice version, but my goodness look at the level that Whitney took it to!

She was pressured and criticized for appealing to the main stream rather than to the "Black American audience" and for not singing R&B. Whitney knew no boundaries, and that is why she became the influence and Queen of pop that she did.

She was once known as the God Daughter of Areatha Franklin, and niece of Dion Warrick, and then just a few years later, they were known as the God Mother, and Aunt of Whitney Houston. As bold of a statement that was, think of how true that is. Her rise to fame was fast and furious!

Perhaps best known for her 1991 rendition of The National Anthem, Whitney will never be forgotten and will live on in the hearts of millions for years to come!