Although she died far too young, it was almost destined that Whitney Houston should take her permanent leave on the night of her mentor Clive Davis’ party, the eve of the 54th annual Grammy Awards – as they always call it, music’s biggest night. For although her heyday was 20 years ago, Houston left this world as one of music’s biggest stars.
Because of the timing, her name was on the lips of everyone in the industry, and although her passing would have been a huge news story at any time, as Amy Winehouse’s untimely death was last year, the white-hot light of fame focused by the Grammys’ star power illuminated her legacy to an even greater degree. That beautiful face, that even sweeter voice that could tremulously hold notes in several octaves and send shivers down your spine, Houstonwas in an orbit that few attain.
Grammy producers had to scramble to pay proper tribute to Houston during Sunday night’s show, but as recording academy president Neil Portnow said, “We’re musicians, we improvise.” And that they did, after host LL Cool J started things off with a prayer as the audience bowed their heads, the grief and shock still apparent.
As the show progressed, artists including Alicia Keys and Rihanna– among those that are part of her musical progeny– gave shout outs to Whitney, before Jennifer Hudson sang a heartrending version of Houston’s top smash hit, “I Will Always Love You.”
It’s fascinating to watch the scenes of “The Bodyguard” that she starred in with Kevin Costner, spawning one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time and going back to a time before Houston’s life became complicated by substance abuse.
The resonance of Houston’s death and the official crowning of Adele as music’s favorite songstress made this Grammy telecast the second watched in history, after the 1984 edition in which Michael Jackson was coronated for the epic “Thriller.” Although the 23-year-old Brit, who performed for the first time since having vocal cord surgery in the fall didn’t mention Houston by name, she would do well to remember the lessons of her life and stay away from further “rubbish relationships”– even as they inspire best-selling songs.
