Whitney Houston 1963-2012
Whitney Houston: Her Life in Pictures
From her record-breaking music career to her ongoing personal struggles, look back at the superstar's defining moments
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STELLAR DEBUT
Born on Aug. 9, 1963, in Newark, N.J., to John and Cissy Houston, Whitney Elizabeth Houston was destined for a career as a singer: Her mother sang backup for Elvis Presley; her cousin was superstar Dionne Warwick; and her godmother was the legendary Aretha Franklin. Unsurprisingly, young Whitney also proved to have a vocal gift, performing her first solo at age 11 at the New Hope Baptist Church.
