Kevin Costner, at 69, finally reveals the truth about Whitney Houston’s death, sparking renewed interest in the life and legacy of the American singer, actress, film producer, and philanthropist.

Known as “The Voice” for her extraordinary singing abilities, Houston was a cultural icon who broke down barriers related to gender and race. Her influence extended beyond music into film, where she produced and starred in movies featuring diverse casts, and her life has been chronicled in numerous documentaries and TV specials.

Born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, Whitney Elizabeth Houston was the daughter of gospel and soul singer Emily “Cissy” Houston and John Russell Houston Jr., an Army veteran and Newark city administrator. Whitney’s musical talent was nurtured from a young age, influenced by her mother, her cousins Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick, and her honorary aunt, Aretha Franklin. Raised in the Baptist faith, Houston began singing in the church choir at New Hope Baptist Church, where she also had her first solo performance at the age of 12.

Houston’s career began to take shape in the late 1970s when she joined her mother’s band as a backup singer and performed in New York City cabaret clubs. In 1978, at just 14, she made her first non-church performance at Manhattan’s Town Hall, earning her first standing ovation. By the early 1980s, Houston had transitioned into modeling, becoming one of the first black women to appear on the cover of Seventeen magazine. Despite her success in modeling, she continued to pursue music, recording gospel demos and session singing for prominent artists.

In 1983, Arista Records executive Clive Davis saw Whitney perform and was so impressed that he offered her a worldwide record deal. Whitney signed with Arista and soon began working on her debut album. Her first recording, a duet with Teddy Pendergrass titled “Hold Me,” became a top 10 hit on the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts, marking the beginning of her commercial success.

Houston’s debut album, “Whitney Houston,” was released on February 14, 1985, and became a massive success. It spent over three years on the Billboard 200 chart, reaching number one and staying there for 14 weeks. The album produced several hit singles, including “You Give Good Love,” “Saving All My Love for You,” “How Will I Know,” and “Greatest Love of All,” making Whitney the first solo female artist to have three number one singles from one album. The album was certified diamond in the United States and reportedly sold 25 million copies worldwide.

Whitney Houston’s rise to fame in the 1980s and 1990s was marked by her ability to break down racial barriers on platforms like MTV, where she helped pave the way for future black artists. However, her life was also marked by personal struggles, including battles with substance abuse, which were often the subject of media scrutiny.

Despite her untimely death in 2012, Whitney Houston’s legacy as one of the greatest vocalists of all time endures. Her influence on music and popular culture continues to be felt, and her life story remains a testament to her extraordinary talent and the barriers she broke throughout her career.