Whitney Houston on Oprah

I sat today and watched Oprah’s interview with Whitney Houston….no question off limits.  I can’t wait until tomorrow for the 2nd half of the interview and also to see Whitney perform. 

 I watched her perform on Good Morning America a week or two ago and I was very disappointed.  Listening to her in that outdoor concert brought tears to my eyes as I felt she fell short in hitting the notes and giving the level of performance we’ve come to expect from her.  At the same time I sat with a sadness in my heart knowing that she has been to hell and back and praying that she finally got her self back on track.  Her talents are a gift and to think of how she wasted them, with her crazy relationship with Bobby Brown and her drug abuse.

I sat mesmerized by her today, smiling at times, crying at others.  These starts who appear to us regular folks to have “everything” are not always blessed by that fame and fortune.  I could see in her eyes and hear in her voice that she really did (and in some ways still does ) love Bobby…after all, he gave her the greatest gift of all…her daughter Bobbi Christine.  I listened to her choose her words carefully, trying to “protect” the father of her child, but still attempting to be honest to us, her loyal fans.

I always looked at Whitney as a woman with such beauty…..the way she moved, carried herself.  The creamy richness of her skin, that beautiful million dollar smile, the classy way she always dressed…..and my God, that voice.  When she sang it gave me chills.  Most singers struggle to make it on the Big Screen, but she proved to be talented when she connected with Kevin Costner in the Bodyguard (still one of my favorite movies).  How could she have had it “all” and then allow it to pass through her fingertips?

I can’t imagine living my life in a fish bowl.  I can’t even fathom having cameras recording my every move.  Marriage and raising a family is challenging enough without the scrutiny of the media in your face…..but still….that was a life of her choosing so it was her responsibility to figure it out.  We all have our demons….we all have our battles, but we don’t all drown it out with drugs.

I thank God and commend her mother for giving her an ultimatium to get clean.  Many mothers would not have stood up in the face of such fame (daughter or not) and said ENOUGH….I am thankful that Whitney took her mother’s advice and got her act together.  I am glad she and Bobby divorced…..it was clearly not working and it was not a good place for either of them OR for their daughter.  I only hope they keep clean for the sake of their child and that they respect each other and continue to love one another as a team in raising their sweet girl.

I am sure this interview was uncomfortable for Ms. Houston, but I am glad she did it….all her fans had many questions and we wanted to hear it from her, not in the magazines that give half-truths. 

I hope when she opens her mouth tomorrow to sing for Oprah and her audience that the notes find their way from her heart to her lips…I hope that the sweet sound of hr beautiful voice radiates the stage and that she is “home” to stay.  I hope she is another example of a star who lost their way but with the love of God and family had the power to find her way back.  I am glad she was not a statistic like Michael Jackson…..too much….too lost.

Good luck Whitney……I hope you find a song in your heart that lasts a lifetime.