www.classicwhitney.com - Historic Newsfile

Mary & Celine...

Mary J Blige and Celine Dion were interviewed on Access Hollywood - both commented about Whitney Houston:

Mary J Blige: "My friend Whitney Houston, she's someone that I really love and I've always looked up to and appreciate so that's really why I'm so happy is that she's here with me. Whitney is beautiful, Whitney is strong regardless to what people think or what may be the case, she's still one of us and somebody has to reach out and embrace someone some of the time and we can't always just beat up on each other every time somethin' goes wrong because everybody has somethin' go wrong for them so I'm just....I guess I'm a living example of things going wrong and right now God has given me favor and boosted me up spiritually to a level where I can say here's my hand, lets go....and that's what it's about."

Celine Dion: "It was truly a wonderful thing to see Whitney so beautiful and so happy and back. When she came on we were all crying backstage because she's not only singing her soul out she's singing heart, her soul, she's transparent. She forgets about performing, she's into the song and the joy, the pain...she's an incredible performer."

[Thanks Karly]

NEWSFILE: 25 MAY 2002

Picture This...

Whitney Houston & Mary J Blige pictured earlier today at the MGM Grand rehearsals for Divas Las Vegas. Mary's set headlines the Divas show this year which will air across the US tonight at 9pm and in the UK tomorrow at 7pm.

[Right image currently only available in small scale at time of publishing/Click on right image to view in larger scale].

Billboard Chart Update...

The Billboard update for the week ending 1 June 2002:

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER:
Hot 100 Singles Sales - Down to No.53 (from No.45) - 45 weeks on chart.

NEWSFILE: 23 MAY 2002

Divas & Album Update...

[From Platinum Club]

Divas Las Vegas!

Whitney will be making a special appearance on VH1's Divas Las Vegas! She will be performing a duet with Mary J. Blige. Tune in to see which song from one of Mary's albums Whitney will be performing!

This years Divas include: Mary J. Blige, Cher, Celine Dion, The Dixie Chicks, and Shakira. Divas Las Vegas will air live from the MGM Grand on Thursday, May 23 at 9/8c on VH1. For more on the show visit VH1.com.

In other news, Whitney is still recording for her upcoming release. She will soon be entering the studio with her good friend Babyface to work on a few tracks!

The Writing Process...

Whitney Calls On R'N'B Heavyweights

(c) 2002 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK.

May 21, 2002 (WENN via COMTEX) -- WHITNEY HOUSTON is calling on R'n'B's greatest writers and producers to help her stage her comeback after widespread reports of drug use and health problems.

The reclusive superstar's comeback album will be produced by KENNETH 'BABYFACE' EDMONDS, and she has recruited TERRY LEWIS and JIMMY 'JAM' HARRIS as songwriting partners.

Lewis and Harris, who are most famous for co-writing JANET JACKSON's megahits, are excited about working with Whitney - but determined to do things their way.

Harris says, "Instead of just delivering songs that are ready to be recorded, we'd like to have her write, or at least be there when we write the song, so we can get a real sense of Whitney and the vibe she wants the song to have." (KL/LA/NFA)

ŠThe Pawtucket Times 2002

[Thanks Steve]

NEWSFILE: 22 MAY 2002

New Album Release Date...

[From MTV.com]

Look for Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston to share a toast on the beach in the upcoming video for Ja Rule's "Down Ass Chick" remix.

Houston's own video shouldn't be out before too long; her label, Arista Records, said her next LP is scheduled for August 6.

[Thanks Dave W.]

Whitney Houston At Divas Live 2002...

[From VH1.com]

And the Divas are: Cher, Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige, The Dixie Chicks, and Shakira. VH1 Divas Las Vegas will be hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, with announcer Wayne Newton. Also with special guests Anastacia, Stevie Nicks, Cyndi Lauper and Whitney Houston performing with Mary J. Blige.

The show will air live from the MGM Grand, Las Vegas on 23 May 2002 (US) and 24 May 2002 (UK).

Billboard Chart Update...

The Billboard update for the week ending 25 May 2002:

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER:
Hot 100 Singles Sales - Up to No.45 (from No.48) - 44 weeks on chart.

DVD Release...

The DVD being listed for release in the US is a Region 1 version of the 'Welcome Home Heroes' concert from 1991. The tracklisting is:

I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Saving All My Love For You
How Will I Know
Love Medley (Didn't We Almost..., A House Is Not A Home, Where Do Broken...)
All The Man That I Need
My Name Is Not Susan
Anymore
A Song For You
Revelation
Who Do You Love
I'm Your Baby Tonight
Greatest Love Of All

[Thanks Lisa A.]

NEWSFILE: 17 MAY 2002

Whitney's Video Cameo...

Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown are featured briefly in the new remix video to "Down Ass Chick" called "Down With Me" with Charli Baltimore, Vita, and Ashanti.

The two are featured in the video on the beach sipping champagne at 2:40ish in the video check it out here.

[Thanks Dave W.]

UK's Finest...

Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You' ranked 22nd in a readers poll taken by the Guinness book of British hit singles. Click here to see the entire Top 100.

NEWSFILE: 15 MAY 2002

Dionne Arrested...

[From CNN]

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Legendary pop singer and "psychic friend" Dionne Warwick was arrested at Miami International Airport Sunday for possession of marijuana, police said.

Baggage screeners at Concourse D of the airport called for police help when they saw a suspicious item inside a carry-on bag belonging to Warwick, 61, a news release from a spokesman for the Miami-Dade Police Department said.

The officers discovered 11 suspected marijuana cigarettes inside a lipstick container. She was charged with possessing marijuana totaling less than five grams, said the spokesman.

Warwick was released after signing an affidavit promising to appear in court. She had been headed to Los Angeles, but missed her flight.

During the 1960s, Warwick gained fame singing Bert Bacharach-Hal David compositions such as "Walk on By" and "I Say A Little Prayer."

In 1985, she had a brief comeback with another Bacharach song, "That's What Friends Are For," sung with Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight.

Later generations know her better as Whitney Houston's cousin and as a pitchwoman for the "Psychic Friends Network."

[Thanks Adam]

NEWSFILE: 12 MAY 2002

Rodney Jerkins...

The following is an excerpt from a profile on producer Rodney Jerkins in the June 2002 issue of Ebony magazine:
No one else is doing what Jerkins is doing; that's why Whitney is working with him again on her upcoming CD. "Whitney is a phenomenal vocalist; her voice is the closest thing there is to a bird," says Jerkins, who co-wrote/produced several songs on the golden-voiced diva's My Love Is Your Love CD, including "It's Not Right But It's Okay." He says Houston is "humble and generous," so much so that she showed up at his church one Sunday to sing and worship, even though it is a three-hour drive from her home.

[Thanks Lisa D.]

NEWSFILE: 11 MAY 2002

Dionne's Award...

[From Electronic Urban Report]

Whitney sent a letter to be read by Congressman Charles B. Rangel when he presented her cousin Dionne Warwick with the Aaron Davis Hall Harlem Renaissance Award on Monday. Whitney couldn't attend because of her recording schedule, but her mother Cissy and cousin Dee Dee performed in tribute along with some of Dionne's friends.

Billboard Chart Update...

The Billboard update for the week ending 18 May 2002:

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER:
Hot 100 Singles Sales - Down to No.48 (from No.47) - 43 weeks on chart.

NEWSFILE: 9 MAY 2002

Destiny...

Destiny's Child discuss Whitney Houston and the influence she's been on them in their new book:

Kelly on Whitney:

I didn't realise I wanted to be a professional singer until I was around five years old. That's when I first saw Whitney Houston perform on TV, and I wanted to be just like her. She had on a red dress -- I don't remember what song she sang, but I can't forget how free, and perfect, and beautiful she looked. I thought, Wow, I want to look like that! I want to feel like that! I loved her voice and style -- her red lipstick and long hair. She was the pop queen. She just defined beauty. And her voice was so powerful and clear -- especially for coming out of such a little body. I remember watching the "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" video. Oh my God, I wondered, how does she get those notes out? She could do all those complicated vocal runs. I was like, Oh, she's sick. She is out of here! That's when I knew I wanted to be a singer.

Whitney had the whole package -- amazing beauty, incredible talent, and a strong stage presence. It's very rare that you find all that in one person. But then Mariah came along with the same thing! I thought she was unbelievable and loved her, too. It's funny to think of now, but I remember in the sixth grade I had myself a little boyfriend who was always saying, "I have a crush on Mariah." And I would tell him, "I'm going to be Mariah someday. I'm going to be Whitney, too!" Back then he must have thought I was crazy -- but recently he told me, "Well, you're just about there, Kelly."

Michelle on Whitney:

Beyonce', Kelly, and I saw Whitney Houston perform "I Will Always Love You" at the BET Awards. She was onstage singing, and when she got to the part that goes "I hope life treats you kind," she pointed to us! She was singing directly to us. And indeed, life has treated us kind.

Kelly on meeting Whitney:

I still get excited when I talk to singers I used to listen to when I was a little kid. When I met Whitney Houston, she gave me some valuable advice. She said, "You girls just make sure you love what you are doing, and more important, make sure you have fun along the way." I have seen her several times after that, and I still zone out every time. She blows my mind, and to this day, it's still amazing to me that Whitney Houston would actually be standing anywhere near me. I never dreamed that would happen. I have memories from when I was five years old watching her sing on TV. And when I see her in my face, it freaks me out.

I will never forget one time we were walking through a hotel lobby in L.A. and there she was in the middle of the room doing an interview, and she actually stopped her interview just to talk to us. I have never heard of an artist doing that, let alone Whitney Houston. She started singing, "Say my name, say my name," but she was putting her own Whitney twist on it. I was like, "Oh my God." Then her husband, Bobby Brown, came over to us. He said, "My wife is a big fan!" I said, "Do you know who your wife is?" He laughed and said, "My wife seriously loves y'all." That may very well have been the greatest compliment of my life.

[Thanks Karly]

NEWSFILE: 7 MAY 2002

Billboard Singles Reviews...

Billboard Magazine has routinely reviewed singles, usually citing chart and airplay potential over the actual merits of the songs. That said, they've always had some interesting things to say about Whitney's releases.

Click Here To Read The Billboard Reviews For Whitney's Singles From 'Exhale (Shoop Shoop)' to date.

If you have any Whitney Houston singles reviews prior to 'Exhale (Shoop Shoop)', please email them to me.

[Thanks Tony C.]

NEWSFILE: 1 MAY 2002