It’s been just over a week since she passed and still, I am so brokenhearted.
I’ve loved Whitney Houston since the first day I heard “You Give Good Love” on the radio and through the years, I’ve cheered for her, always. Watching her service on CNN last Saturday brought me to tears, over and over again. I really can’t believe that she’s gone.
I wrote this piece, which originally ran on essence.com, two years ago. I meant every word.
“We’ve all seen the Youtube footage of Whitney’s less-than-stellar vocal performance of one of her biggest hits. The blogs have been buzzing and just yesterday, Meredith Viera reported the story on “The Today Show.” Even she seemed a bit saddened by the whole situation, so much so that she ended the segment with a question – ‘Where are the people who are supposed to protect her?’
I will admit that I’m a bit biased. I am a die-hard Whitney Houston fan and have been since the first time I heard her voice on the radio. I’ve seen her live shows, bought her albums, saw the movies and yes, drank the Kool-Aid.
She was our star.
When she released her current album, “I Look To You,” last fall, I can’t say that I loved every, single song. Honestly, I was just so happy to have her back and most important, she seemed happy to be back. Many of my friends scoffed at me for caring, but I always countered with the fact that Whitney had put in far too much work, for far too long, to have her legacy tarnished at this point in her career. I was also afraid that the younger set would only know of her what they’d read in tabloids and on blogs. I wanted her to do better, be better.
Was I saddened when she began to slip, and eventually tumble, from her pop throne? Yes. Did I cringe each time I saw her and the ex completely bugging out on “Being Bobby Brown?” Without a doubt. Was disappointed in him, too. Have I prayed that she would somehow pull herself together, not so much for her fans, but for herself? Yes, and often.
Do I think she should be touring if she’s not in good voice? No, but she is trying. Right? Meredith was right, where are her people? All that said, I hate to watch and listen as folks continue to tear her down. She’s trying to get back up, ya’ll, and I think we owe her some support and definitely, some respect.
We still love you, Whitney. Really, we do.”