Whitney Houston, one of the most celebrated vocalists of her time, was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey. Born into a musical family, her mother Cissy Houston, a gospel singer, and cousin Dionne Warwick, an international pop icon, had a significant influence on her early life. Houston's journey into the music industry began at an early age when she started singing in her church choir and performed solo for the first time when she was just 11. Houston's career took off in the mid-1980s after signing with Arista Records. Her self-titled debut album Whitney Houston released in 1985, was a massive success, earning multiple platinum certifications and spawning three No.1 singles. The follow-up album, Whitney, made Houston the first female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 charts. She continued this trend of breaking records and setting new ones throughout her career. Houston also ventured into acting, with her role in The Bodyguard (1992) earning her acclaim. The film's original soundtrack won the 1994 Grammy for Album of the Year, with its lead single I Will Always Love You, becoming one of the best-selling singles in music history. However, Houston's successful career was often overshadowed by her personal struggles. Her tumultuous marriage to Bobby Brown and her battles with substance abuse were widely publicized, leading to a decline in her musical output and health. Despite these challenges, Houston's impact on the music industry is undeniable. Her powerful voice and range set a new benchmark for pop vocal performance, influencing a generation of singers that followed. Whitney Houston passed away on February 11, 2012, but her legacy lives on.