Whitney Houston 2, 2003), and gospel singer Emily "Cissy" (Drinkard) Houston. Her elder brother Michael is a singer, and her elder half-brother is former basketball player Gary Garland. Her parents were both African American. Through her mother, Houston was a first cousin of singers Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick. Her godmother was Darlene Love and her honorary aunt was Aretha Franklin, whom she met at age 8 or 9 when her mother took her to a recording studio. Houston was raised a Baptist, but was also exposed to the Pentecostal church. After the 1967 Newark riots, the family moved to a
Whitney (album) Whitney (album) Whitney is the second studio album by American singer Whitney Houston, released on June 2, 1987 by Arista Records as the follow-up to her best selling debut album, "Whitney Houston". The album catapulted her to international fame. "Whitney" was certified 9× platinum by the RIAA on November 29, 1995. The album exceeded the expectations of many people and was popular after its release. It debuted at number one on the "Billboard" 200 chart the issue of June 27, 1987, becoming the first album by a female artist, and only the fifth album by a solo artist to do