Key Takeaways
- A new Whitney Houston album, featuring six previously unreleased songs, will be released alongside a documentary TV special titled I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston.
- The documentary, airing on March 24 on UPtv and Aspire TV, will explore Whitney Houston's history with gospel music.
- The album's first single, "Testimony," was released on Friday, and the project includes songs from soundtracks for The Preacher's Wife, Sparkle, and The Bodyguard.
- Pat Houston, executor of the singer's estate, has called the new project "a testament of Whitney's heart."
- The release of the new project follows the biopic Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody, starring Naomi Ackie, who spent six months preparing for the role.C
A new Whitney Houston album is set to be released, featuring six previously unreleased songs, alongside a documentary TV special titled I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston.
The documentary will explore the late singer’s history with gospel music and will air on March 24 on UPtv and Aspire TV.
The album’s first single, “Testimony,” was released on Friday, with the project also featuring songs from previously released soundtracks for The Preacher’s Wife, Sparkle, and The Bodyguard.
Whitney Houston’s Gospel Roots
Four decades ago, music executive Steven Abdul Khan Brown encountered a teenage Whitney Houston singing at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey.
With the blessing of Whitney’s mother, Cissy Houston, Khan Brown booked studio time to record with the promising star.
Whitney’s self-titled debut was released in 1985, featuring hits such as “Saving All My Love for You,” “Greatest Love of All,” “How Will I Know,” and “You Give Good Love.”
In February 1981, 17-year-old Whitney recorded three songs that Khan Brown believes helped her land her first record deal.
Whitney’s self-titled debut was released in 1985, featuring hits such as “Saving All My Love for You,” “Greatest Love of All,” “How Will I Know,” and “You Give Good Love.”
Documentary and Album Details
The documentary will feature highlights of Houston’s gospel background, including her first show in front of a live audience, performances at the American Music Awards, and additional moments from the NAACP Image Awards and Ebony’s 50th anniversary special.
Pat Houston, executor of the singer’s estate, has called the new project “a testament of Whitney’s heart.”
The album includes live covers of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and Edwin Hawkins’ “This Day,” both recorded at VH1 Honors in 1995, as well as a live medley of the religious songs “He” and “I Believe,” recorded in 1990 at the Yokohama Arena in Japan.
The other unreleased tracks are “I Found a Wonderful Way” and “He Can Use Me.”
Continuing Houston’s Legacy
The release of the new project comes shortly after Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody — a biopic starring Naomi Ackie as the music legend — arrived on Blu-ray and DVD on February 28.
The British actress spent six months preparing for the role, mastering the late singer’s movements, mannerisms, and accent.
