Dubbed “the greatest singer of her generation”, “the diva that will put an end to all divas”, Whitney Houston has had one of the most remarkable rises in the music industry. But despite his rise to historic success, his downfall and sudden death sent shockwaves through the news cycle and continues to rock people to this day.
Marking a decade since his untimely death, “Whitney! by Fox Nation explores the path to immeasurable fame, storied career, and demise of Whitney Houston.
Considered a “cultural icon” and a “national treasure”, Whitney Houston’s musical achievements are, without a doubt, unparalleled. She was the first artist to have seven consecutive No. 1 hits and the first woman to enter the Billboard 200 at #1 with his album, Whitney.
But his accolades don’t stop there. The New Jersey native has won two Emmy Awards, eight Grammy Awards (including two Grammy Hall of Fame Honors), 16 Billboard Music Awards and 28 Guinness World Records, as well as induction into the Grammy, Rhythm and Blues Music and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame. She was also the first woman of color to be featured on magazine seventeenand a successful film producer.
WHITNEY HOUSTON’S BROTHER PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE DELAYED SINGER WITH A PERFORMANCE ON HIS 59TH BIRTHDAY
TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 27: Whitney Houston sings the national anthem during the Super Bowl XXV pre-game show as tens of thousands of football fans wave tiny American flags in an incredible outburst of patriotism during the Persian Gulf War on 01/27/1991. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Getty Images)
Many consider his performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXV among the best renditions of the national anthem.
“Whitney is on a pedestal when it comes to talent and God-given ability,” host Kacie McDonnell told Fox News Digital. “She’s a pioneer. Everyone who followed her was influenced by her, singer or not.”
Despite the reverence she had earned from fans over the decades, the Fox Nation special explores how his once-in-a-lifetime achievement ultimately fell short of his drug addiction and personal struggles.
On February 11, 2012, Houston was deemed died accidentally in a bathtub a few hours before the pre-Grammy party organized by Clive Davis, the man who discovered Houston.
In a controversial move, the party continued – eventually becoming a tribute to Houston. Heart disease and cocaine use were determined to have contributed to an otherwise mysterious death.
“I think it’s a tragedy. A talent lost too soon… No one will ever know exactly how she felt that night or throughout her battle with drug addiction,” McDonnell added.
Houston’s life, in many ways, could be considered a cautionary tale.
Houston made her acting debut in the romantic thriller The bodyguard (1992). She recorded six songs for the film’s soundtrack (which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year), including “I Will Always Love You” (which won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year) . In “Whitney!” her real-life bodyguard, David Roberts, is interviewed about his role in her life – who told Fox Nation of his dismissal after discreetly informing his superiors of his uncontrollable drug use.
“There was a point towards the end of my tenure with her where it got so bad that I wrote a report for the hierarchy of the organization. And eventually they thanked me for that report and let me know. assured that if Miss Houston would not travel abroad again, someone of your skill set was no longer needed, but if she does, she will contact you again,” Roberts said in the special.
“And it’s the kiss of death,” he added. “That never happens. They never contact you again. So that was it.”
Asked about the similarities between The character of Kevin Costner and Roberts, McDonnell said “they both just loved him”.
Whitney Houston performs during the World Music Awards at the Thomas Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, honoring music mogul Clive Davis, who received the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Music Industry, September 15, 2004. The he show will be broadcast in 160 countries reaching more than one billion viewers.
(REUTERS/Ethan Miller)
While Houston is widely considered to have influenced a number of musical artists who came after him, McDonnell argues that none would live up to the woman considered “The Voice”.
“If Whitney was still alive, her level of fame would have been untouchable.”
As for her legacy, Whitney Houston – widely referred to, simply, “The Voice” will be remembered for so much more.
“She wasn’t just a voice,” McDonnell told Fox News Digital. “His style, his vibe, his ability to wear many hats… He was a star.”
Ultimately, McDonnell argues that while she will be mourned for her demons, she should “remember her angels and how she touched so many people’s lives.”
fox nation programs are viewable on demand and from your mobile device app, but only for Fox Nation subscribers. Go to Fox Nation to start a free trial and watch the vast library of your favorite Fox News personalities.