Hamburg...

[From NDTV.com - AP Report]

Whitney Houston performs in Hamburg

Saturday, July 10, 2004 (Hamburg):

For years blighted by speculation of drug addiction, alcohol abuse and a fiery marriage to Bobby Brown, it is no surprise that some fans doubted whether Whitney Houston would even take part in the current "Soul Divas" tour of Germany.

But last night all those rumours were washed away as the 40-year-old star joined Dionne Warwick and Natalie Cole at the Color Line Arena in Hamburg for a triumphant return to the big time.

The star, who has sold over 150 million records, seemed trouble free as she performed some of her most popular hits, such as I Wanna Dance With Somebody and How Will I know.

But the biggest cheer of the night came after her performance of I Will Always Love You.

Houston's cousin Dionne Warwick also put on an impressive show. The 63-year-old delighted the audience with classic hits like Anyone Who Had A Heart and or I'll Never Fall in Love Again.

The most emotional act of the night was put on by 54-year-old Natalie Cole. The star sang Unforgettable in a duet with her late father Nat King Cole, aided by the use of digital technology.

The trio ended the three hour show with a performance of That's What Friends Are For - a heart-warming finale to a spectacular night.

But the undoubted star of the evening was Whitney Houston who showed that despite her problems, her voice is as impressive as ever and she can still put on a class show. (AP)

NEWSFILE: 10 JULY 2004