Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, to Cissy Houston, a gospel singer, and John Russell Houston Jr.

Whitney began her career as a backup singer and model before signing with Arista Records in 1983. She came from a musical family, with her mother and cousins also involved in the music industry.

Whitney married singer Bobby Brown in 1992. The marriage was tumultuous and lasted until their divorce in 2007.

Whitney and Bobby Brown divorced after 15 years of marriage. The divorce was highly publicized due to their tumultuous relationship and struggles with addiction.

Whitney Houston died on February 11, 2012, at the age of 48, due to accidental drowning in a bathtub, with heart disease and cocaine use as contributing factors.