In 2009, stories that shaped the images of black women ran the gamut. From the awe-inspiring to the unbelievable, from ridiculous to riveting here are a dozen stories that definitely got our attention. So without further ado here’s our countdown:
#8: The Redemption of Whitney Houston (aka Whitney Girl, Are You Really Ready for a Comeback) originally published June 5, 2009
Okay so this week is becoming one of ‘official’ comebacks. A few days ago the Sade return was confirmed and now Arista has announced that Whitney Houston’s long-awaited CD has a release date of September 1st. While I join Whitney’s fans with a chorus of Yays, I can’t help wondering if the embattled diva is ready to be back in the spotlight.
Arista is putting all of its might behind this project and has made sure that our Whitney is paired with the best songwriters (Diane Warren), producers (Swizz Beats) and collaborations (Akon and possibly R. Kelly—I’m not so happy about that one). And all the rumors about her voice not being what it used to have died down. So the album has the potential to be hit (or so it would seem).
But y’all know where I am going….What about Whitney, the woman? Is she really ready? Earlier this year I wasn’t so sure when her bizarre behavior and shaky delivery at the Grammys and on the BET special had me scratching my head. We are all secretly hoping that her ‘crack is whack’, ‘Hell to the No’ (and telling radio host Wendy Williams off Newark-style) moments are a thing of the past. Yet incidents like those give us all pause (and make us start worrying about her all over again).
When Whitney was at the top of her game she seemed to be better able to the handle the pressures of the spotlight (but who knows how long she had that drug issue). The new Whitney, however, doesn’t seem as tough and a lot more vulnerable. Here’s to hoping that she has the real support she needs to comeback in every sense of the word.
UPDATE: Okay, so we’ve seem the “Good Morning America” Central Park Concert, her two days with Oprah and her heartfelt performance at the “American Music Awards”. She may not have the voice she once did but she’s winning me over with her pure determination and heart.
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