In 1983, a young Whitney Houston, just 19 years old, is being guided by her mother, Cissy Houston, a professional singer, as she prepares to excel in her New Jersey church choir. Cissy’s relentless coaching pushes Whitney to find her voice and confidence. During this time, Whitney develops a deep friendship with Robyn Crawford, which blossoms into a romantic relationship. Their love grows, and they eventually decide to live together, much to Cissy’s disapproval.
One fateful night, as Whitney and Cissy are set to perform at the Sweetwaters nightclub, Cissy spots the influential producer Clive Davis in the audience. Feeling unwell, she feigns sickness, allowing Whitney to take the stage solo. Whitney opens with the powerful ballad “The Greatest Love of All,” captivating Davis, who is immediately impressed and signs her to Arista Records.
Following her first major live performance on The Merv Griffin Show, where she sings “Home,” Whitney releases her debut album, which achieves remarkable success. She also establishes her own production company, Nippy Inc., managed by her father, John Houston, who is known for being overbearing. Whitney suggests Robyn as her personal assistant, but John refuses, insisting that Whitney should date men instead.
After recording a love song with Jermaine Jackson, Whitney enters into a romantic relationship with him, which causes tension with Robyn. Their relationship becomes strained, leading to a breakup, but they remain close friends. In 1987, Whitney releases her second album, featuring the hit single “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” which propels her to crossover success. Despite her achievements, Whitney faces criticism for not sounding “black enough,” prompting her to defend her artistry passionately.
At the 1988 Soul Train Music Awards, Whitney encounters protesters on the red carpet and is met with boos when announced as a nominee for Best Music Video. During this tumultuous time, she meets singer Bobby Brown, who later proposes to her. Although Whitney accepts, their relationship is complicated when Bobby reveals that he has impregnated his ex-girlfriend, leading to a brief period of anger before they reconcile.
In the early 1990s, Whitney reaches the pinnacle of her career, performing “The Star Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXV and starring in the film The Bodyguard. She embarks on a world tour, performing “I Will Always Love You” for newly inaugurated South African president Nelson Mandela. However, her personal life begins to unravel after suffering a miscarriage, and she eventually marries Bobby and has a daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown.
One night, Whitney returns home to find Bobby missing and her credit card gone. When he returns, an argument ensues, leading Whitney to kick him out. This incident marks the beginning of her increased reliance on cocaine as a coping mechanism.
In 1998, Clive Davis meets with Whitney to discuss her lack of new music releases over the past eight years, despite her success with singles and films. Inspired by her tumultuous relationship with Bobby, Whitney records the emotional ballad “Why Does It Hurt So Bad,” a song she had previously rejected. She later confronts her father after discovering that he has mismanaged her finances and negotiated a $100 million contract with Arista without her knowledge.
As Whitney grapples with insomnia and stress, she seeks Clive’s help in finding new songs. After selecting a track she loves, a new studio album is released, sparking hopes for a comeback. However, Clive warns her about the dangers of burnout and advises against an immediate tour, which she dismisses. The tour proves to be exhausting, and Whitney’s drug addiction begins to take a toll on her physical and mental health, damaging her reputation.
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As the tour nears its end, tensions rise between Robyn and Bobby, with Robyn urging Whitney to return home. Ultimately, Whitney chooses to continue the tour, resulting in Robyn’s departure from her life. Before leaving, Robyn informs Whitney that her father is dying in the hospital. Whitney faces a $100 million lawsuit from Nippy, Inc., leading her to sever ties with her father and even refuse to attend his funeral. Cissy finds Whitney in a drug-induced haze and forces her into rehab through a police order. Eventually, Whitney sobers up, reconnects with her daughter Krissy,