Whitney Houston was found unresponsive in her hotel room in Beverly Hills, California, and was pronounced dead. Her death was caused by drowning and the effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use.

Whitney Houston married singer Bobby Brown, with whom she had a daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown.

Whitney Houston performed at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert in London, supporting the anti-apartheid movement.

Whitney Houston's debut album, Whitney Houston, was released. It became the best-selling debut album by a female artist in history.

Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Emily "Cissy" Houston and John Russell Houston Jr. She would become one of the most influential vocalists of all time.