U.S pop diva, actress and model Whitney Houston, played three major concerts in Russia this February 2004

     Whitney Houston is reportedly receiving a record 1 million U.S dollars for the three concerts and had planed to come to Russia several years ago but postponed her tour due to instability within Russia, as well as a number of personal problems that had been plaguing the star.
     Playing in Russia had been a long cherished dream of Whitney Houston’s and she has stated publicly, “I am very excited to be finally coming to Russia and look forward to performing for my fans.
     Now if you couldn’t afford the reported $200 U.S per ticket for the Russian concerts or the $1300 U.S for a V.I.P ticket, then Whitney Houston’s GREATEST HITS double CD or DVD is a cheaper option. These contain all her album, radio and soundtrack singles as well as all her dub/club dance remixes.
     Whitney Houston was born on August 9, 1963 in Newark, New Jersey. Her mother was the famous Cissy Houston an incredible Gospel/R&B singer and her cousin, was the even more famous and legendary singer Dionne Warwick, both played a major role in inspiring Whitney to follow in the family footsteps.
     Whitney’s debut album WHITNEY HOUSTON was released in 1985 and was an over night chart success, with number 1 tracks like “Saving All My Love For You” and “The Greatest Love of All”, previously recorded by George Benson in the late 70’s. The album went on to sell over 22 million copies worldwide, becoming the biggest-selling debut album by a solo artist in music history.
     Her follow up Album “WHITNEY”, released in 1987, once again made musical history by becoming the first female artist to enter the album charts at number one. The album once again included a list of number 1 hits such as.
     “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “So Emotional” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” This gave Whitney Houston the distinguished honor of being the only artist to have seven consecutive number-one hits, a record previously set by both The Beatles and the Bee Gees years before.
     Whitney Houston has won six Grammy Awards and has amassed total album sales of over 118 million copies worldwide, as well as a film box office total of over a half billion U.S dollars. It was her acclaimed film-acting debut in the blockbuster movie THE BODYGUARD that really showed the world just who Whitney Houston was.. Costarring with academy award winner actor/director and producer Kevin Costner., as soon as he decided to produce the film and play lead actor, he knew Whitney Houston was the perfect star he needed for the role of Rachel Marron. Whitney Houston basically played herself as a super famous pop star who is being tormented by an over obsessive fan.
     She also had six songs on the movie’s 1992 soundtrack, which became the biggest-selling album of the 1990s and the most successful cinema soundtrack of all time, selling over 34 million copies worldwide. The track “I Will Always Love You,” first written and performed by Country and Western genius Dolly Parton was the first single from the movie and became the largest-selling commercial single in music history. She also stared in other films such as “Waiting to Exhale”, and “The Preachers Wife” which she costared in with academy award winner, actor Denzel Washington.
     Whitney Houston is also a huge supporter of many different charities. In 1989 she formed The Whitney Houston Foundation For Children, a nonprofit organization whose work assists with a variety of children’s issues: such as homeless children and children with cancer and AIDS. In 1988 she was a huge contributor and participant in the Freedom Fest for Nelson Mandela (at the time imprisoned) in South Africa. She was able to draw other artists and much needed media attention to the event. In 1991 she was appointed a member of the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross and in 1994, she did a tour in South Africa, donating proceeds to numerous children’s charities.
     On July 18, 1992, Whitney married solo artist, bad boy Hip Hop‘sta Bobby Brown, formerly of the all boy band NEW EDITION. In March 1993, Whitney gave a birth to a daughter, named Bobbi Kristina.
     Houston and Brown’s marriage has been front page tabloid news for many years now with accusations and denials of both drug and alcohol abuse as well as domestic violence, mainly on the part of Bobby Brown and this holiday season the couple spent time apart. Whitney with her daughter and family while Bobby partied in Atlanta with friends. This January Bobby Brown appeared in court for battery charges against Whitney Houston, after a domestic dispute at their home, which led to Brown evading police arrest and then later having to hand himself in to face these criminal charges.
     Some people say that Whitney’s bizarre media marriage has tarnished her good girl image and career, while others say it has broken her out of that Princess of Pop Persona. What ever you think of Whiney Houston you can’t ignore the fact the girl has heart and soul, the voice of a diva and she has donated so much back to the world community.
     So where would we all be with out a little titillating tabloid gossip? Why waste our time judging others when really in the end we should only look at ourselves, maybe the words to her hit “The Greatest Love of All” can answer this

“I decided long ago, never
to walk in anyone’s
shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I live, as I believe
No matter what they take
from me
They can’t take away my
dignity
Because the greatest love
of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love
of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of
all”

     We should all remind ourselves of these words from time to time and in the end these concerts have to be a great move forward for Whitney Houston and a even greater sign and positive move forward for a new Russia.