Essence...

ESSENCE: 'GOD IS STILL WORKING ON ME' [July 2003] When the unrelenting pressures of celebrity turned our platinum princess into the prodigal daughter, she sought redemption, with the help from family, friends and faith in the Lord. Read the Essence Whitney Houston interview here.

Still Ahead...

Whitney Houston still has the highest ranking film debut by a music artist with her 1992 debut in 'The Bodyguard', even ahead of Eminem's debut, '8 Mile', despite 'The Bodyguard' having opened & played in far fewer theatres and despite the inflationary factor that would increase Whitney's lead.  You can see the entire list at the Box Office Mojo Website.

[Thanks Monte D.]

Beffy & Charlie...

Two press reports (Launch & EUR Web, 23 June 2003) about the possible Whitney Houston & Bobby Brown movie, Beffie & Charlie have been added to the Newsfile Movie News Archive.

NEWSFILE: 29 JUNE 2003

Billboard Chart Update...

The Billboard update for the week ending 5 July 2003:

JUST WHITNEY...:
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Down to No.74 (from No.67) - 28 weeks on chart.

LOVE THAT MAN:
Hot Dance Music/Club Play - Down to No.12 (from No.8) - 9 weeks on chart.

TRY IT ON MY OWN:
The Billboard Hot 100 - Up to No.97 (from No.99) with bullet - 10 weeks on chart;
Hot 100 Singles Sales - Down to No.40 (from No.31) - 5 weeks on chart;
R&B Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks - Up to No.80 (from No.81) w/bullet - 9 weeks on chart;
Adult Contemporary - Down to No.22 (from No.20) - 19 weeks on chart.

NEWSFILE: 26 JUNE 2003

People On Israel...

[From People Magazine]

[Click images to view in larger scale]

[Thanks Edwin W.]

NEWSFILE: 21 JUNE 2003

Brazil...

Top 20 Videos from Channel Multishow
Week ending June 28 2003

Try It On My Own
Brazilian Top 20 Videos - Up to No. 6 - 2 week on Top 20 Listing

[Thanks Gabriel A.]

Beffy and Charlie...

[Associated Press Report]

WHITNEY HOUSTON/BOBBY BROWN: GANGSTA SINGERS?

(New York-AP) -- You've heard of gangsta rappers. But gangsta singers? That's what Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown are looking to become. People magazine reports that the singer and her hubby are in talks to take on their first big-screen project together. In the film "Beffy and Charlie," they will play musicians who are also gangsters. Brown says they will "be singing, robbing, stealing -- a lot of things people might not want to see us do." But he adds their appearance "is going to be special." No word on who the film will be done with -- or when it's supposed to be hitting theaters.

[Thanks Edwin W.]

NEWSFILE: 20 JUNE 2003

Billboard Chart Update...

The Billboard update for the week ending 28 June 2003:

JUST WHITNEY...:
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Down to No.67 (from No.53) - 27 weeks on chart.

LOVE THAT MAN:
Hot Dance Music/Club Play - Down to No.8 (from No.1) - 8 weeks on chart.

TRY IT ON MY OWN:
The Billboard Hot 100 - Remains at No.99 (2nd week) - with bullet - 9 weeks on chart;
Hot 100 Singles Sales - Down to No.31 (from No.27) - 4 weeks on chart;
R&B Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks - Up to No.81 (from No.82) w/bullet - 8 weeks on chart;
Adult Contemporary - Down to No.20 (from No.18) - 18 weeks on chart.

ONE OF THOSE DAYS:
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrent - Re-Entry at No.22 - 11 weeks on chart;
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrent Airplay - Re-Entry at No.22 - 9 weeks on chart.

Essence...

[From Platinum Club]

Whitney - Essence Magazine’s July Cover Story!
Be sure to pick up the July issue now on newsstands of Essence magazine to read their cover story on Whitney. Posted here are new photos taken of Whitney for the magazine cover story. Get your copy today!

[Click images to view in larger scale]

Full interview will appear on Classic Whitney shortly - Manish.

NEWSFILE: 19 JUNE 2003

One Tough Cookie...

Liz Smith's syndicated column published in the New York Post discusses the recent Essence interview with Whitney Houston. Read Whitney Houston: One Tough Cookie.

NEWSFILE: 17 JUNE 2003

Israel...

From In Touch magazine:

[Click images to view in larger scale]

From Polish magazine, Na Zywo:

[Click images to view in larger scale]

[Thanks Sylwia]

NEWSFILE: 16 JUNE 2003

Brazilian Chart Update...

Top 20 Videos from Channel Multishow
Week ending June 21 2003

Try It On My Own
Brazilian Top 20 Videos - New-entry at No. 9 - 1 week on Top 20 Listing

[Thanks Gabriel A.]

Unauthorized Biography...

With no sign of an authorized biography forthcoming, a new unauthorized Whitney Houston book is due to be published on 25 September 2003.

Synopsis from Amazon:

Whitney Houston burst onto the music scene in 1985 with her debut album, which earned numerous industry awards including a Grammy for the single "Saving All My Love For You". Since then, the acclaimed artist has released only a limited amount of new material, and yet she retains her pre-eminence in the industry and her popularity with music fans. Similarly, as an actress, since starring in the movie "The Bodyguard" she has chosen to appear in only three other movies to date. And yet she remains in demand among casting directors and, in 2003, has the choice of whether to star in the remake of the French classic "Diva" or to join Pierce Brosnan in a forthcoming Bond adventure. As Whitney Houston approaches her 40th birthday, this biography reflects on the journey which has taken her from a problematic childhood in a broken New Jersey home, to becoming the protégée of Arista producer Clive Davis, to today's diva, mired in rumours of peculiar behaviour and drug abuse. He explains how the shy, pretty young girl from a devoutly religious background, once dubbed the "Prom Queen of Soul", turned into the subject of lurid tabloid gossip, much of it concerning her often turbulent relationship with her husband, hiphop star Bobby Brown. Despite a string of highly publicized episodes of violence, adultery and substance abuse, Bobby still holds a strange attraction for Whitney, who insists "I've got a good man. He takes care of me". This biography tells the whole story of Whitney Houston's dramatic and turbulent life.

[Thanks Jean-Luc]

NEWSFILE: 15 JUNE 2003

Liquid Assets...

Amongst some of the biographical information in the BBC3 Liquid Assets documentary, there was some insight into the life and artistry of Whitney Houston.

Listed below are five RealVideo clips that capture the essence of the documentary, even though its primary focus was to attempt to catalogue "Whitney's Millions", including early footage of Whitney performing at the New Hope church, rare footage of her in the studio singing 'Lover For Life' featuring ad-libs that did not appear on the final version of the track:

BBC Liquid Assets - New Hope Performance
BBC Liquid Assets - Lover For Life
BBC Liquid Assets - Narada Michael Walden
BBC Liquid Assets - Pressure
BBC Liquid Assets - On Her Own

NEWSFILE: 14 JUNE 2003

Billboard Chart Update...

The Billboard update for the week ending 21 June 2003:

JUST WHITNEY...:
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Down to No.53 (from No.48) - 26 weeks on chart.

LOVE THAT MAN:
Hot Dance Music/Club Play - Up to No.1 (from No.2) - with bullet - 7 weeks on chart.

TRY IT ON MY OWN:
The Billboard Hot 100 - Re-Entry at No.99 - with bullet - 8 weeks on chart;
Hot 100 Singles Sales - Down to No.27 (from No.24) - 3 weeks on chart;
R&B Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks - Remains at No.82 (2nd week) w/bullet - 7 weeks on chart;
Adult Contemporary - Down to No.18 (from No.16) - 17 weeks on chart.

100 Greatest...

Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You' is ranked at No.8 in a new VH1 list that compiles the 100 Greatest songs of the past 25 years.  No other female artist is featured in the Top 10.  Read the complete listing here.

NEWSFILE: 12 JUNE 2003

Whitney's Millions...

Liquid Assets will air 'Whitney's Millions' on BBC3 tomorrow at 8pm BST.  The show is repeated a number of times during the coming week.

A re-run of the Channel 4 documentary, Whitney Houston: The True Story will air next Sunday, 15 June 2003.

Full details in the TV appearances section.

[Thanks Mike F.]

NEWSFILE: 7 JUNE 2003

Billboard Chart Update...

The Billboard update for the week ending 14 June 2003:

JUST WHITNEY...:
The Billboard 200 - Down No.176 (from No.172) - 24 weeks on chart;
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Up to No.48 (from No.50) - 25 weeks on chart.

LOVE THAT MAN:
Hot Dance Music/Club Play - Up to No.2 (from No.4) - with bullet - 6 weeks on chart;
Hot Dance Singles Sales - New Entry at No.21 - with bullet - 1 week on chart.

TRY IT ON MY OWN:
Hot 100 Singles Sales - Up to No.24 (from No.27) - with bullet - 2 weeks on chart;
R&B Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks - Down to No.82 (from No.81) - 6 weeks on chart;
R&B Hip-Hop Singles Sales - Remains at No.59 (2nd week) 2 weeks on chart;
Adult Contemporary - Down to No.16 (from No.14) - 16 weeks on chart.

Essence...

[From ExtraTV]

She's seen the highest highs and the lowest lows. Now Whitney Houston is spilling her story in the new issue of Essence magazine. Mikki Taylor, editor of Essence says, "Here's the truth in Whitney's own words."

Words written about Whitney include alleged drug abuse, reports of an eating disorder, and the recent death of her father. Taylor says despite the singer's often-turbulent relationship with husband Bobby Brown, he is the reason this woman still rocks. Taylor says, "She says it's been called the princess and the bad boy. That's just a myth. They're just two people in love."

Now the star is rising, resurrected it seems, with the help of spiritual friends. Whitney and Bobby recently visited the Black Hebrews religious group in Israel. The diva tells Essence that an unlikely source started this personal rebirth: Pebbles, the former founder of music group TLC. Taylor says, "Everyone needs a sister friend to remind you of the truth of who you are."

And so, this incredible singer is back, happy, healthy and ready to make more music, answering the prayers of millions of fans.

NEWSFILE: 5 JUNE 2003

Documented...

Whitney Houston's historic and controversial visit to Israel last month has been documented in news reports and images that have been compiled into the Classic Whitney News Archives and Gallery respectively.

NEWSFILE: 1 JUNE 2003