Hard to believe that it was only 8 years ago on February 11, 2012, when the world lost one of the greatest voices of our(or any)generation. Whitney Houston was found dead in the bathtub in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

Her death was ruled an accidental drowning, however, heart disease and cocaine use were contributing factors, according to the coroner's report. Whitney was 48 years old.

Whitney was born to John(a theatrical manager)and Cissy(a back-up singer for a variety of artists, including Elvis and Aretha Franklin)Houston in 1963 in Newark, New Jersey. Whitney got her start singing in her church's gospel choir while she was growing up. She was even singing back-up vocals for Chaka Khan while she was still in high school!

Truly blessed with a phenominal set of pipes, Whitney Houston had a career defined by jaw-dropping moments. Perhaps one of her best known(and most-watched) performances was her rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" before Super Bowl XXV back in 1991.

Whitney ended up winning 6 Grammy Awards and an incredible 22 American Music Awards. Her albums all sold into the stratosphere and she racked up an amazing run of hit singles. And here's a little-known fact. When she was younger, Whitney did some modeling. She became one of the first African-American women to appear on the cover of Seventeen magazine.

Today, 8 years after her passing, we still mourn as music lovers. Her beauty, her talent, and that undeniable voice will always be missed. Thanks for the music and the memories, Whitney.

 

 

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