Continuing our celebration of Black Music Month, this week’s featured moments are dedicated to the best chart topping, record breaking, and soul stirring R&B/Soul singers from Whitney and Mary to Aretha and Chaka. Plus get the lowdown on the latest news and upcoming projects from each featured Diva.
Kicking off the week, who can forget Whitney Houston’s record shattering #1 hit “I Will Always Love You.” Houston’s cover of the 1974 Dolly Parton original was released in 1992 as a feature on the soundtrack to the hit film The Bodyguard, which Houston starred in alongside Kevin Costner.
“I Will Always Love You” debuted at #40 that year and two weeks later rocketed to the # 1 spot, spending a then record fourteen weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Houston’s longest run at #1 and surpassing her previous 1986 hit “Greatest Love of All.”
The single continued to dominate the industry that year, selling well over six million copies worldwide, making it the third best selling single in the world. “I Will Always Love You” also remains the biggest selling single by a female artist to this day.
In contrast, the soundtrack album for The Bodyguard held on to the #1 position on the album charts for twenty weeks selling over 42 million copies world wide and spawned three other singles including “I Have Nothing,” “Run To You,” and a re-cut of the Chaka Khan hit “I’m Every Woman.”
Houston closed out 1993 with two Grammy Awards including Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance along with two American Music Awards, four Billboard Music Awards including Top Selling Single, Top Hot 100 Single, Top R&B Selling Single, and Top R&B single of the year. “I Will Always Love You” also picked up a Soul Train Music award, MTV Movie Award, and the World Music Award’s #1 Single of 1993 award.
Today:
Known as “The Voice” Whitney Houston’s 20 + year career takes a new turn this in 2008 as she plans to release her “comeback” album rumored to be titled “Flawless.” Helmed by Clive Davis, Houston’s new album due in November features an A-List of producers rumored to include Ne Yo, Will.I.Am, Sean Garrett, Akon, Timbaland, The Clutch, and R. Kelly
Although a tracklisting has yet to be finalized the Davis has said that four songs have been confirmed – "We're not going to compromise who she is to fit into today's hip-hop radio market," Davis said. "The public wants Whitney material."
What do you think, can Whitney Houston reclaim her thrown as Mariah has?
I'm a huge Whitney fan, but im not sure if she is gonna come out strong for this album. im not saying she cant, because i know she can but im not sure. im praying for her and hope everybody will pray for her.
Mirage
6/27/2008 6:54:07 PM
"The voice" is gone....not even going, going, gone...but gone. It's hard to listen to her now especially with the standards she herself set and is now unable to meet...Good Luck!!
Dakbai
6/22/2008 7:11:40 AM
I believe whitney can make an overwhelming comeback!, people say the drugs affected her voice, but what i truely see, is that drug actually affected her confidence. I know the voice isnt gone, it had always been there, and forever will sing in our hearts, and simply because, ITS whitney Houston!
JAM
6/21/2008 9:08:13 AM
Whitney is a legend, she's been for a while now at this point. Anyone else who comes along has to come after her. She is and always will be (as Oprah so rightfully put it) THE VOICE! The Movie Star, The Producer and The Model. That's something that no one can take away from her.
TROY
6/20/2008 3:03:14 PM
WHITNEY SUCKS!!! THE VOICE IS GONE!!! CRACK "WHACKED" THAT VOICE. LOL.
Ezequiel
6/19/2008 1:26:19 PM
WHITNEY will and can reclaim her throne. She never really lost it to begin with. It's been on hold!
kk
6/17/2008 1:02:19 AM
can whitney reclaim her throne? hmmmm, I think the article should read when whitney reclaims her throne!! everybody knows if no one can whitney can.....all of the comments were great but Warren your own touched me the most, I too have been an AVID whitney fan from the conception and im not going anywhere, I LOVE that woman despite everything because she has inspired me to the fullest, I am a college student now and growing up with nippy and seeing her defy so many odds are the positive things that keep me going along with her classical songs, style and voice. she is indeed the "VOICE" and she's back, I cant wait for this album to drop im buying more than one copy for sure(:
abse
6/16/2008 11:26:14 PM
whitney is the best n she will always be n i think her coming album is gonna be hotter than ever,,n i'm very excited 4 her new album n i wish her all the best n no matter wat she is the VOICE n she will always be #1..
James
6/16/2008 6:38:35 PM
Whitney is THE BEST singer that ever lived. Yes, she's had her ups and down, but it's all good. She still can sing too, her voice has improved so much. I can't wait for her new album. she is the diva of all divas.
Stan
6/16/2008 5:57:59 PM
Whitney will most definitely be topping the charts again. Working with Clive and being AWAY from bobby and anybody like him is the best thing that could've happened to her professionally AND personally. I wish her the best and I CANNOT wait until she releases that comeback album.
Nehemiah
6/16/2008 5:19:19 PM
Whitney has truelly inspired me as an entertainer of music and acting. She, no doubt, did show us brown-faced kids that we could achieve in any and all fields of media and entertainment. I am 22 years old, and growing up, Whitney was one of very few positive African Americans I saw reaching unimagined heights in the caucasian dominated world of entertainment. Thank you Whitney for your gift and strength.
Warren
6/16/2008 12:00:28 PM
I have been a big fan of hers from the very beginning. I am almost 24 years old and have loved since her the beginning. Her song greatest love of all gave me inspiration in myself and to be a teacher. The last couple of years have been difficult because I had Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Her songs kept me going despite everything I was going through.
Continuing our celebration of Black Music Month, this week’s featured moments are dedicated to the best chart topping, record breaking, and soul stirring R&B/Soul singers from Whitney and Mary to Aretha and Chaka. Plus get the lowdown on the latest news and upcoming projects from each featured Diva. 
