When she released “I Will Always Love You” in 1992, Whitney Houston became a vocal legend. She had already experienced success before its release, but this iconic love song skyrocketed her career and fame to extraordinary levels. So much so, that this song has become a pinnacle for expressing love, and an example of the power that music can have on us as people. While it was, to a degree, her magnum opus, Whitney Houston developed an extensive and memorable discography throughout her career.
For a lucky group of people in 1999, that magical love song was about to be played live right in front of them by the woman simply nicknamed “The Voice”. Here, she would demonstrate exactly why she was considered one of the greatest singers in the history of music, and also why she was one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Her execution of this difficult song to sing was nothing short of perfect, and full of emotion. Watch the incredible performance of “I Will Always Love You” live:
Before she sings her unforgettable classic, Whitney Houston takes a moment to speak with the audience intimately and expressively. She emphasizes the importance of kids, music, and love, and is quoted as simply saying: “It’s all about love… to me, music and love are the same thing.” This simple yet powerful line showed the world the personality and love that Whitney Houston possessed, and her understanding of music and its impact. Her actual performance was truly electric.
Not only was Whitney Houston an accomplished and critically acclaimed singer and songwriter, but she also had a penchant and passion for acting. In 1992, she made her acting debut in the romantic thriller The Bodyguard, which was the tenth highest-grossing film of that year. The film also spawned several of Whitney Houston’s best singles, including “I Will Always Love You” and “I’m Every Woman”. She starred in several other roles throughout her career, including The Preacher’s Wife.
Whitney Houston had an accomplished life, and despite several media backlashes and negativity, she was an inspiration to many who wanted to pursue a music career. Despite her passing in 2012, Houston’s legacy carries on through the fans she has influenced along the way, and through the timeless classics she created.
Houston’s music was inspirational, but so was the philanthropic work she took part in throughout her career. She was a long-time supporter of charities and set up the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children in 1989. This charity sought to give medical assistance to sick and homeless children, taught children to read, and also joined the battle against child abuse.