All articles tagged with #whitney houston
Dolly Parton retained publishing rights for 'I Will Always Love You,' earning an estimated $10 million in royalties from Whitney Houston's 1992 cover. Parton later invested proceeds into a Nashville office complex in a historically Black neighborhood, citing the song's connection to Houston. She previously rejected a deal with Elvis Presley that would have required surrendering 50% of the publishing rights.
Defector explores how Dolly Parton’s original 1974 recording of 'I Will Always Love You' offers a distinct emotional perspective compared to Whitney Houston’s 1992 cover, framing the song as a tool for agency rather than victimhood.
Dolly Parton’s decision to refuse Elvis Presley’s request to cover 'I Will Always Love You' in the 1970s protected her publishing rights, a move that later yielded massive royalties from Whitney Houston’s 1992 hit. This strategic choice is now cited as a pivotal moment in songwriter advocacy, contrasting with her ineligibility for the 1994 Grammy for Song of the Year due to the song's prior release.
Mattel unveils a Whitney Houston Barbie Signature doll inspired by her vibrant 1987 I Wanna Dance With Somebody look, developed with Houston’s estate and the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation. The $60 collectible debuts Aug. 8 at Target and online at Amazon, Walmart, Target and Mattel Creations; it recreates her purple tank dress, bright makeup, colorful drop earrings and a microphone stand, joining Barbie’s lineup of musician-inspired icons.
Mattel’s officially licensed Whitney Houston Barbie Signature Doll, designed with input from Pat Houston and inspired by the 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' video, is now available online for $60 at Amazon and Walmart. Unveiled at the Legacy of Love Gala, the collectible doll features Houston’s iconic 80s look with a purple dress, iridescent heels, beaded earrings, and includes a microphone and mic stand in a collectible window display.
Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” has spent 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, tying the record for the longest run at the top by a non-holiday title by a woman with no male-billed acts and making her the first female to simultaneously top the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. Langley called the milestone “insane” on social media, and the success follows her rise since debuting with Hungover (2024) and her Dandelion era, which she executive-produced and co-wrote the title track for with Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick and JoyBeth Taylor.
Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ logs its 14th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, tying the all-time record for the longest No. 1 run with Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” and Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” (holiday songs excluded). The track posted about 24 million official streams, 51 million radio impressions, and roughly 7,000 copies sold in the week of July 10–16, as Stella Lefty breaks into the Hot 100 top 10 and Olivia Dean tops the Radio Songs chart.
Clive Davis, the legendary music mogul who died at 94, was honored during the 2026 BET Awards in an In Memoriam segment featuring Erica Campbell leading a medley of 'I Love the Lord' set to a Whitney Houston–penned tribute, with Le’Andria Johnson joining in; Richard Smallwood was also honored as part of the tribute during the ceremony held in Los Angeles on June 28.
Pat Houston, Whitney Houston’s sister-in-law and estate executor, pushed back on Oprah Winfrey’s description of Houston’s 2009 onstage moment, saying the fall happened during a sound check in darkness and that Houston was not under the influence. The recollection came as Winfrey discussed the episode at Cannes Lions, prompting mixed public reactions. Houston died in 2012.
Oprah Winfrey revealed at Cannes Lions that Whitney Houston once fell onstage during a 2009 appearance and begged the audience not to leak footage to spare Houston’s reputation. While she framed it as a protective act, many online viewers question the timing and motive of sharing private struggles after Houston’s death, sparking a backlash toward Oprah.
Clive Davis, the legendary music executive who nurtured Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin and was famed for his star-studded pre-Grammy parties, died in his sleep at 94 in New York, with his partner Greg Schriefer by his side; tributes from peers highlighted a career that reshaped pop music and earned him the nickname 'the man with the golden ears.'
Clive Davis, the Brooklyn-born executive who built Columbia’s rock-to-pop empire and later launched Arista, LaFace and J Records, has died at 94, leaving a legacy of discovering Whitney Houston and guiding artists from Bruce Springsteen to Santana. His career endured controversy, including a 1970s ouster and a later tax case, but his talent for spotting hits helped shape four decades of music, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and later served as Sony BMG’s Chief Creative Officer.
Oprah Winfrey revealed she stopped cameras and urged secrecy after Whitney Houston’s onstage fall during a The Oprah Winfrey Show appearance, doing so to shield Houston as she battled relapse; Houston later performed but died in 2012, with the estate noting the fall occurred during a sound check and that she was not high. The disclosure comes alongside broader discussions of Houston’s struggles and Winfrey’s interview approach.
Oprah Winfrey revealed at Cannes Lions that Whitney Houston fell off the stage during a 2009 comeback taping after relapsing, and she pleaded with the audience not to release footage to protect Houston. The remarks highlight Houston’s troubled final years and her comeback efforts ahead of her 2012 death, including her discussions about addiction on her last major interviews.
Oprah Winfrey revealed at Cannes Lions that Whitney Houston fell off the stage during a 2009 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Oprah said she begged the audience not to publish photos because Houston was struggling with drug issues at the time, fearing it would ruin her life; Houston later died in 2012. Oprah noted such audience trust wouldn’t happen today.