Whitney Houston`s new album will be released worldwide September 1, 2009 on Arista Records. This is Whitney`s 7th studio album. Since her 1985 self-titled debut, she has built an illustrious career that has generated over 170 million combined worldwide sales of albums, singles and videos. Cited by the "Guinness Book of World Records" as music`s most awarded female artist of all time, with an unsurpassed tally of 411 awards, inclusive of 6 Grammy Awards, 2 Emmy Awards, 21 American Music Awards and 21 Billboard Music Awards. Whitney remains a singular force in music today. Be sure to visit www.whitneyhouston.com regularly for up-to-date album information, exclusive photos and more exciting news!

Source: WWW.WHITNEYHOUSTON.COM

Iconic voice Whitney Houston has gone "Showtime" - the popular word associated with club-banging producer Swizz Beatz! Known widely for pumping out hits like Eve`s "Tambourine" and his own single "Money In The Bank", Swizz Beatz admitted to hitting the studio with Whitney Houston recently. "Just wrapped up with Whitney Houston, first single`s a smash", Swizz Beatz mentioned via Rap-Up.com. Houston, rumored to be linked with R. Kelly, Will.I.Am, and possibly Ne-Yo, is poised for a massive comeback later this year and according to Swizz Beatz, "She`s comin' back crazy." While Houston has had her share of up tempo records like "It`s Not Right But It`s Okay" and "My Love Is Your Love", the affectionately dubbed "The Voice" has not been known to take it to the club like "Prince Of Egypt" friend Mariah Carey. One things for sure, a Whitney Houston and Swizz Beatz collaboration is definitely going to raise some eyebrows. In fact, it looks Lady Whitney is evolving on this long anticipated album.

Source: SINGERSROOM

Move over Britney, Whitney Houston is ready to take the title of comeback queen. And David Foster, the legendary hit-maker for stars ranging from Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion to Madonna and Michael Jackson, is finally talking about his reunion with the superstar.

Foster collaborated with Houston on the blockbuster soundtrack single "I Will Always Love You". He knows fans are wondering if she`s ready to resume her hugely successful career after years battling her personal demons.

Q: You and Whitney are finally together again. How is she doing?

David Foster: I was in the studio with her last week. She`s in great shape and she looks good. We have this fantastic song that Diane Warren wrote and we went in and recorded it. It went really well. Her work ethic was exactly the way it was when we did the song for "The Bodyguard". She worked incredibly hard for two nights and we came up with something really good. 

Q: Whitney has been through some tough times. Do you think she has her life and career back on track?

David Foster: I think she`s going to have a great album out within the year. Whitney is a girl that everybody would like to see come back and, in this case, it really would be a comeback. A lot of people say, 'Come back? I never left.' But Whitney did leave and she hasn`t recorded in about 10 years, I believe. So this truly would be a comeback.

Songwriter Diane Warren had something to say about the the song she wrote for Houston.

Q: What's the song about, Diane?

Diane Warren: I don`t usually write music with someone in mind. But I set out to write this song specifically for Whitney and it`s called "I Didn`t Know My Own Strength". It definitely touches on her life, but I think a lot of people will relate to it because they`ve gone through hard times too.

Q: How was her performance?

Diane Warren: I was praying that Whitney was going to be able to nail it and she exceeded my expectations. She sang the s*** out of that song. Seriously, it was amazing. I`ll tell you something, Whitney is back. Let there be no doubt.

Source: PARADE

A stunning looking and strong sounding Whitney Houston made a triumphant return to the stage at a Pre-Grammy Party honoring her mentor, music mogul Clive Davis. "I`ve got it, I`ve got it!" Houston, looking glamorous in a skintight leopard dress, sang early Sunday morning as she belted a line from one of her classic hits, "I`m Every Woman". But more than a lyric, it summarized to the crowd of A-list superstars and top industry execs that the superstar - whose drug use and erratic behavior had caused a shocking fall from grace just a few years ago - was back in top form. "We all crossed our fingers that her beautiful story would end (happily)", said Jamie Foxx, who stood at the front of the stage and took video of Houston like he was just another fan in the crowd. "This is a new begining." Houston`s mini-concert put an exclamation point on a night that included a rousing performance by Kelly Clarkson, an unlikely but magical duet between Jennifer Hudson and Barry Manilow and a rambling monologue by Kanye West. "I have to bow in the presence of greats right now", West said as he looked out into the crowd, which at one point included Sir Paul McCartney, Prince, Diddy, Rihanna, the Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, Quincy Jones and other luminaries. "I`m just humbled by your greatness and also Clive", West told the audience. Davis, the music mogul who founded labels, signed greats ranging from Houston to Bruce Springsteen to Janis Joplin, and resuscitated the careers of veterans like Rod Stewart and Carlos Santana, was honored by the Recording Academy as an industry icon on Saturday, hours before Sunday`s Grammys. For nearly three decades, Davis' Pre-Grammy Party and concert had become one of the industry`s most coveted invites; this year, the Recording Academy took the event over and honored Davis instead. But while Davis got an award, he still held court like it was his own party, acting as the evening`s host as he introduced performers like Stewart, the Kings of Leon and Leona Lewis. Diddy got the often staid crowd on their feet with a moving rendition of his tribute to the slain Notorious B.I.G., "I`ll Be Missing You", with Biggie`s widow, singer Faith Evans, and a gospel choir. Clarkson got one of the evening`s biggest ovations with her performance of her new single, "My Life Would Suck Without You" and the Joplin gem "Piece Of My Heart". But Jennifer Hudson was perhaps the night`s biggest star - until Houston hit the stage. Starting with the Super Bowl last Sunday, Hudson has been raising her profile after spending months in seclusion following the slayings of her mother, brother and nephew last October. A smiling Hudson performed her hit "Spotlight", which earned her one of her four Grammy nominations, and got a standing ovation from the crowd. But she raised the bar with a pairing with Barry Manilow, injecting one of his signature songs, "Weekend In New England", with a lacking ingredient - soul. Afterward, the Oscar-winner joined the audience (and friend Fantasia), stood in the front and danced and sang as Houston performed. Houston started off with "I Will Always Love You", but didn`t hit the high, sustaining notes that made the song such a dramatic, stirring hit. Instead, she kept her voice at medium power, deciding to croon rather than soar. But as she got into hits like "It`s Not Right, But It`s O.K.", her voice appeared to get stronger and louder, and while she never replicated the vocal gymnastics of some of her past work, delivered a mesmerizing performance nonetheless. The 45-year-old, one of the best-selling artists of all time and among the greatest singers, hasn`t made an album since 2002. Then she was was sinking due to drug use and a tumultuous personal life - a far cry from the princess image she cultivated since her debut in the 1980s. But the singer is expected to release an album sometime this year, and unlike other reported returns, this comeback seems to be the real deal. "She was on it, she was happy - she`s back", said Foxx. "Everybody else watch out." Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

WHITNEY: CLEAN, SOBER AND SOARING

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Whitney Houston is back. Last night she took the stage at Clive Davis' annual Pre-Grammy bash and wowed the crowd with a medley of hits. She was clean, sober, and joyous, absolutely radiant and healthy. Houston knew it was a triumph and she gained confidence as she went from her opening ballad a shortened version of "I Will Always Love You" through a few of her hits ending with a buoyant "I`m Every Woman". If there was a fear that her voice was gone, she dispelled it. And while she may not be singing the way she did at 25, the 45 year old is still among the very premiere song stylists in the world. Whitney brought family with her including mom Cissy Houston (walking with a cane from a bad ankle) and daughter Bobbi Kristina, brother Gary and sister-in-law Pat. But the night as usual belong to Clive, who kept a steady commentary going between acts as he introduced famous guests to the crowd and acknowledged all their accomplishments. All of it was amazing, but none more than Houston`s remarkable and most welcome return to the stage. The audience naturally gave her standing ovations and shout outs, that was to be expected. But to hear her so fully back and ready - her album may be released in late summer, was Davis`s crowning glory. That is until the album does come out, and is a hit. To that end, I can tell you that most of the tracks for Houston`s comeback collection are finished. I`m told that among the possible singles is a composition titled "Calling You Tonight", written and produced by Norwegian hitmakers Stargate. Get ready to hear that. Source: FOX NEWS

"Whitney is sounding great", says Songwriter Sean Garrett. "She`s definitely gonna be back", the Beyoncé collaborator says of Whit`s new music. Add Sean Garrett to the growing list of songwriters and producers set to work on Whitney Houston`s comeback album. The Beyoncé collaborator told MTV News last week that he`s scheduled to record two songs with Houston shortly. Garrett said he recently met with Clive Davis to discuss material for her album. Davis, currently the chief creative director of Sony Music Worldwide, originally signed Houston and has been instrumental in her career ever since. "She`s sounding great", Garrett said of Houston. "I met with Clive yesterday in New York. She`s gonna hear the records that I did for her this week, and we`ll be getting in the studio cutting them. The records that she has are great. She`s definitely gonna be back." A Houston track leaked onto the Web a few months ago. The midtempo song, called "Like I Never Left", was produced by Akon. There`s no word whether the track will appear on her album, which is currently untitled and tentatively set for release this year. In late 2007, Akon talked to us about working with Houston. He said the singer has a range of emotions she would be diving into on her project. "Her voice is strong enough to deliver any message she wants to sing to the world", he explained. "It`s outta here." Ne-Yo also said he would be working with Houston, as did John Legend, who said the process would be memorable regardless if the songs make the final project. Garrett echoed Legend`s sentiments. The songwriter, who has worked with Ciara and Usher, called the chance to work with Houston "the highlight of my career." He said the songs that he`s heard so far, including numbers by R. Kelly, are excellent. "Everybody is excited to be working on her album", Garrett said. "The camaraderie is great." Houston is looking to move music to the forefront of her life again. In March 2005, the singer checked herself into rehab for a second time to deal with an unspecified abuse. Source: MTV

"Whitney is so happy, she has refused to record any sad songs for her comeback album", according to collaborator Ne-Yo. The singer hasn`t released a record since her 2003 Christmas offering, One Wish: The Holiday Album. Her last original studio album was Just Whitney, released 2002. The vocal superstar is currently working on an LP to relaunch her career, which is expected to hit record stores later this year (09). And R&B star Ne-Yo, who has been helping the star put her new album together, insists it won`t feature any downbeat ballads - because of the improvement in Houston`s personal life. He says, "People are expecting something fantastic and I think they are going to get it. Whitney doesn`t want any sad songs on this record. She isn`t going for tear jerkers. She`s happy raising her children and wants her music to reflect that. It`s already sounding great." Houston endured a messy public divorce in 2007 when she split with her husband of 15 years, Bobby Brown, as well as battling a string of alleged drug problems. Houston has full custody of the former couple`s 15-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina. Source: CONTACT MUSIC

David Foster, the great Canadian song-enabler, has worked with 'em all, but he retains a special place in his heart for one Whitney Houston. When he collaborated with the superstar songbird way back when on the soundtrack of "The Bodyguard", Foster enjoyed that rare kind of success. "In the months and years that followed", Foster writes in his new memoir, "Hitman" (Simon & Schuster), he often heard "I Will Always Love You" described as 'the love song of the century' and I`m not going to argue with that." Whether you loved or hated it, the producer goes on, "the song made you feel and at the end of the day that`s what it`s all about." When the Grammys came around in 1994, all hell broke loose. "Record Of The Year", "Album Of The Year", "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" and "Producer Of The Year". David and Whitney. Whitney and David. Together, they cleaned up. It`s fascinating to read - especially in the light of all the Whitney drama that was to follow - Foster`s take now on the then-nascent performer. "A revelation", he says she was in the studio. Also, a challenge. And get this: "You could feel she was in the room before you saw her and you knew she was gone even if you hadn`t seen her leave."

Source: NATIONAL POST

Dee Dee Warwick, a soul singer who won recognition for both her solo work and her performances with her older sister Dionne Warwick, has died. She was 63. Warwick died Saturday at a nursing home in Essex County, said Kevin Sasaki, a family spokesman. She had been in failing health in recent months, he said and her sister was with her when she died. Warwick had several hits on the soul and R&B charts in the 1960s and 1970s, including "Foolish Fool", "She Didn`t Know (She Kept On Talking)" and a version of "I`m Gonna Make You Love Me" that was later covered by Diana Ross and The Supremes. Warwick also was a two-time Grammy Award nominee and sang backup for Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and others before starting her solo career. Warwick was the niece of gospel singer Cissy Houston and a cousin of Whitney Houston. Born in Newark, Warwick was a teenager when she began singing with her older sister in the late 1950s. The two performed as "The Gospelaires" and also collaborated and sang with the "Drinkard Singers", a long-running gospel group that also featured some of the Warwicks' aunts and uncles and was managed by their mother. Most recently, Warwick provided background vocals for her sister's recent one-woman autobiographical show, "My Music & Me," which played to sold-out crowds in Europe this year. She also performed on the title song from Dionne Warwick`s gospel album, "Why We Sing", released January 2008.

Source: BILLBOARD

The actress-and-singer - who was a contestant on US TV talent show "American Idol" in 2004 - insists Whitney`s ongoing support and advice has been crucial to her success. She said: "I sang a Whitney song on "American Idol" and we have been in contact ever since. I wouldn`t be here without her. There has been nothing better than having her support." When Jennifer performed Whitney`s powerful ballad "I Have Nothing" on the series, judge Simon Cowell - who had been critical of her performances - praised her as "sensational". Despite the initial platform "American Idol" provided for her, Jennifer has cut all ties with the music mogul. She explained to Britain`s Daily Star newspaper: "Simon is firmly in my past. What he said on the show had no impact on my career afterwards. I feel I am one of the few artists to have escaped the "American Idol" tag." After her exit from the programme, Jennifer concentrated on breaking into acting and incredibly won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance in 2007`s "Dreamgirls". The 27-year-old star has now turned her attention back to music and has surrounded herself with some of the industry's hottest songwriters to achieve chart success. She added: "I took my time to find the right songs. I have been blessed by being able to work with great songwriters on my album like Diane Warren, Robin Thicke and Ne-Yo. "I don`t write the music myself but these people listened to my stories and wrote some incredible music specifically for me to sing." Jennifer`s self-titled album is due to be released later this month. Source: ALL HEADLINE NEWS

R&B star Ne-Yo has said that Whitney Houston is trying to "find her place" in today`s music industry. The pop diva has been absent from the charts for nearly six years, but is planning to release her comeback album later this year. Ne-Yo, who has been working on songs for the album, insisted that Houston is committed to regaining her place at the top of the charts. "I think this record`s about her trying to find her place in all this", he said. "She's been gone for quite some time, but the voice is still very much a factor so it`s just a matter of her finding her place in this new industry." He also praised Houston`s work ethic, saying: "She's definitely being hands on with this project." Source: DIGITAL SPY

Besides Nelly and Ashanti on "Body on Me" and DJ Khaled on "Out Here Grindin'", Akon`s other big guest appearance is Whitney Houston on "Like I Never Left". "I really enjoyed working with Whitney", Akon said. "She was mad cool. Down to earth, yet conservative, polite. She felt like a high school friend. She felt mad approachable, cool as hell. We had a great time working. The chemistry was right on point. The record shows it, because we came up with a smash." The duo sing about losing love and trying to rekindle a flame like the good old days. "I want you to hold on", Houston sings on the chorus. Akon chimes in: "Like I never left". I realize I been foolish, I never should have turned my back", Houston sings. "Cause it`s a cold world when you`re out there all alone. So many times I wanted to pick up the phone and tell you, Ooh baby, baby, I miss your loving so. Do you think we can pick up where we left off before the day. That I told you it was over, packed my things and moved away?" Akon asks later. "Without you, my world is just an empty place." "She`s not singing about nobody", Akon insisted, knocking down any thoughts that Houston might be singing about her ex Bobby Brown or her rumored current man, Ray J. "She really ain`t. Actually, we switched some words around so people don`t think she was singing about Bobby. This record is more of a record that anyone going through that situation would be able to relate to. It`s just the fact that she got out of a situation is what made it more relevant. I`m doing two records for her album." Source: MTV

Grammy Award-winning singer Chaka Khan, says "give Whitney some time" of the R&B diva who has fallen on hard times in recent years. Khan who picked up two Grammy Awards this year goes on to say, "I think we have to let her do her thing of Houston`s highly anticipated "comeback" album due later this year. We need to give people more space. We have all walked difficult paths in our lives. It is necessary for some people to experience intense lows so they know what not to do." The chart topping singer who released "Funk This", her latest studio album this year knows first hand what it is like to overcome an addiction. In a recent interview with the UK`s BBC, Khan says she got through her low points by appreciating what is good in her life. "I received guidance from a close set of family and friends who helped me through it. I now spend a lot more time with my family and keep myself busy and focused with projects such as my new album." Khan who is currently on tour in Europe, believes Whitney can reclaim her thrown and looks forward to a possible collaboration with the diva. Khan says, "performing is better than any drug!" Source: SINGERS ROOM

"They`re takin' their time getting everything right", Ne-Yo says, explaining why the songs he`s written for Whitney Houston haven`t yet seen the light of day. "All the pieces have to be in place for something like that, because if [her comeback album] comes out and goes badly, that could be the end of Whitney Houston. And nobody wants that. A good song is not good enough: every song has to be a great song. Same with Michael Jackson: he`s takin' his time because if this goes bad, it`s just added to the list of things that`s been goin' bad lately for Mike, and he doesn`t want the music to become one of those things. I understand that." Source: THE GUARDIAN

At last year`s Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy gala, Whitney Houston barely left her seat and didn`t even rise to meet Al Gore. She was tentative and fragile. But last night at the Beverly Hilton, it was a fully restored, fun-loving Whitney who moved around the ballroom with grace. She spent a chunk of the evening away from her table with Davis' family and hung out with Alicia Keys' gang, including collaborator Kerry "Krucial" Brothers and manager Jeff Robinson down near the stage. "Write some good things about me", Whitney said and we talked about her upcoming album. She`s healthy and focused and clearly engaged. She watched clips on the video screens of her past performances at Davis extravaganzas, I thought, with a little yearing. Maybe next year, she`ll be back up there. Houston`s presence brought over a lot of stars. She and Usher exchanged waves from their tables. At one point, Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas - who was closely tailed by a bodyguard larger than New York Giants' Michael Strahan, also there - bopped over from her table and shared a chair with Houston so the three songbirds could chat away. The bodyguard, however, would have nothing of it, and brought Fergie her own seat. Source: FOX NEWS