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RIA Novosti: Whitney Houston to kick off world tour with 2 Russian shows

MOSCOW, November 3 (RIA Novosti) - Whitney Houston, who in September released a new album after years of silence, will start her world concert tour with two shows in Moscow and St. Petersburg in December, the concerts' organizers said on Tuesday.

"Whitney Houston will perform two exclusive concerts in Russia," the organizers said in a statement, adding the first concert was to take place at Moscow's Olympiisky Arena on December 9, and the second was to be held at the Ledovy sports complex in St. Petersburg on December 12.

"The winner of six Grammy Awards will present to the Russian audience her new album, I Look To You, which was issued in 2009 and had already become a bestseller in the American record market," the organizers said.

The album marked the resumption of Houston's singing career after the seven-year break.

Besides her new singles, mainly Whitney-style ballades, the famous singer will also perform her greatest hits, such as I Will Always Love You, Queen Of The Night, and My Love Is Your Love.

"The upcoming concerts in Russia will prove that Whitney has the right to be called a legend and a [music] goddess," the concerts' organizers said.

After the two December shows in Russia, Houston is also scheduled to visit Japan, Britain and Germany in February, April and May.

The 46-year-old entered the Guinness Book of World Records as "the most awarded female artist of all time." During her singing career, which started when she was 11, Houston has won six Grammy Awards, 15 Billboard Music Awards, 21 American Music Awards, two Emmy Awards, and many other music prizes.

She is also known as an actress, particularly for starring opposite Kevin Costner in the 1992 box-office smash The Bodyguard. Her songs from the movie, in which she played a singer, were also worldwide hits.

The star's previous album, called Just Whitney, was released in 2002.