Promoter Defends Show...

Ninemsn: Promoter defends Whitney's performance
16:52 AEST Tue Feb 23 2010

By Paul Osborne

Whitney Houston's promoter has defended the pop diva's performance on the opening night of her Australian tour, saying she's seen difficult times and was performing "warts and all".

The 46-year-old actress and singer struggled through the opening night of her first Australian tour since 1988.

Houston got through two songs at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Monday night before appearing breathless and exhausted, and frequently coughed through songs.

Posting an internet comment after the concert, one audience member, Trista, wrote: "She barely finished any of her songs and talked more than she sang while trying to catch a breath, as well as stopping in the middle of her songs to get a towel, reapply makeup.

"I've never seen so many people walk out and be disappointed."

Another concert goer said: "Surely there must be grounds for a refund."

But her promoter Andrew McManus said in a statement on Tuesday he was proud and honoured to be associated with such an "amazing talent".

"As for some of the negative 'vocal minority' ... all I can say is, what happened to the Australian positive support of someone who has seen difficult times, and is now up on stage, warts and all, presenting herself like an open book for the world to see," he said.

"And they want to ridicule Whitney?"

He said people who expected to hear Houston of 20 years ago, should go buy a CD.

"But if they wanted to see a true professional artist give 100 per cent and have a red hot go at songs that make the greatest vocalists shrink, well come along and enjoy the ride of an amazing talent," he said.

Houston has sold more than 170 million albums, singles and videos, with her career soaring through the 1990s but took a sharp dive as the shadow of an abusive relationship and drug addiction enveloped her life.

Her latest album is I Look To You.

The tour is scheduled to continue in Sydney, the Hunter Valley, Melbourne and Adelaide.