Whitney Houston's Voice Cracks At Comeback Show, She Blames Oprah (VIDEO)

Whitney Houston missed the high notes in her first public performance in years today in Central Park.

The singer blamed her cracked voice on a taping she did Monday for 'Oprah.' "When I'm talking, I should be singing," she told the audience. Her four-song set will air Wednesday in the 8 a.m. hour on 'Good Morning America.'

Whitney kept the gig short because of a strained voice, her rep told TMZ. "She was only ever committed to two songs, so she actually extended the show to the third and fourth songs."

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Comments

[Aneohoh]

Bobby Brown is a MONSTER and completely responsible for bringing this woman down and ruining her life.
I have nothing but pity for her.

[slb83]

Bobby Brown didn't pursue Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston pursued Bobby Brown.

[KevinMast]

Whitney voice "cracked". Maybe because of crack?

[slb83]

And she talks as if there is something foreign in her mouth , i.e. denturesth or a whole new set of teefths.

[Paula Richmond]

Whitney will never make a solid comeback..she is ill and needs help..she sounds horrible.. and Bobby Brown isn't to blame for her down fall..she is! Just like Michael Junkie Jackson is responsible for his own death.. these people are so prone to blame others.. also, smokers stink.. :)EWWW

[caligyrl74]

I think it’s unfair that everyone blames Bobby Brown for what became of Whitney. From what I’ve observed of their behavior before, during and after their marriage, I would say Bobby is actually the better person. He’s had a lot of legal issues, but I’ve never seen him be rude to anyone – can’t say the same for Whitney. I watched him on a show on CMT called Goin’ Country where b-list and has-been celebs try their hand and breaking into country music.
On that show Bobby was sweet, supportive, sincere and open about his past issues and desire to be a better man. He didn’t hide the fact that he is an alcoholic, and he even made a drunken arse out of himself a few times. But still, every other celeb said they had a completely different impression of him before meeting him and couldn’t believe what a nice guy he was. He held people when they cried, he comforted them and he encouraged everyone. After watching the entire season, I came to the conclusion that WHITNEY was a lot more responsible for the state of her life than anyone has given her credit for. I can’t imagine that Bobby is a good enough actor to pull off pretending to be someone he isn’t for such a long period of filming. After watching both of their behavior I would have to say that it’s very possible that Whitney drug Bobby down, not the other way around.

[harriettubman]

I agree. BB is blamed for that mess. The NFL player who dated Houston back in the '80s said he couldn't get past the drug use and left her alone. That was long before Bobby came along. BB and Houston ended up as co-dependents for each other but I'd hardly blame it squarely on BB's shoulders.

As for her comeback, I wish her well. She was horrible to her fans--showing up 2 hrs late then cussing them out. She hasn't acknowledged any drug use at all which makes me suspect she's not 100% recovered. Part of recovery is TRUTH. Plus, has she checked herself into any rehab for 6 months to a year yet? That kind of addiction can not be won alone.

She was blessed with a gift and threw it away. People make mistakes but she's an entertainer and if she can't do 4 songs how will she ever be able to do a concert? The public is more accepting of people not in denial but wanting help and support.

[HOODYWOOD]

I totally agree when I saw her on Opera blaming Bobby Brown I lost allot of respect for her (I really did.) Bobby deep down inside and on the surface is a good man, he (just like allot of people) has character flaws and is on a journey like many of us trying figure this thing we call life out .

Whitney needs to take responsibility for and own up to her own shi#$

[cdchicago]

She is still filled with attitude and crudeness. She was not necessarily nice to Diane and Robin, two unusually nice people. Her set was strained and poorly orchestrated. Worse her personal behavior was as erratic and unpredictable as mimic performances seen on "Mad TV". Not impressive at all.

Though she is not longer with Bobby Brown, human virus, the damage is done. It may be irreparable. I do not personally like Whitney Houston, but then I do not personally know her either. But from the first time I saw her on MTV sing "I am saving all my love for you", I knew she was and could be something special. Unfortunately, for her the last time I heard that special spark, incredible interpretation and souring voice I heard on her MTV "saving all my love for you", it was on Herbie Hancock's Possibilities album. However, it was not her singing "A song for you", it was little Christina Aguilara. I also had never heard her before. I was an instant fan and frankly astonished.

There is hope. I remind you Andy Summers was something of a wreck at the beginning of the Police tour and a true shining start at the end. Takes work through.

[harriettubman]

I hope she treats Oprah better this time too. She was so rude to her the last time she appeared on her show when Waiting to Exhale came out. So rude and ghetto.

[Aesthete]

I have to agree. From what I've experienced in person, she is rude and unpleasant.

[wwoody]

She will be fine,as long as she stay away from Bobby Brown.

[msoverall]

I'm sorry, while I'm no fan of his, he is not responsible for the mess her life became, she is responsible. She seemed to be the more dominant personality (watching the trainwreck show) and she has always had this wannabe ghetto attitude, she used to keep it under wraps and then she let it out.

[Ted Thompson]

BB will be OK as long as he stays away from her.

She is a trainwreck.

[PoliSci2008]

She was a ghetto fabulous Diva with a lot of bad habits before she got married. BB was just an another enabler.

[DeeW]

I think it's great she's back out there - hey, if you listen you can hear her voice sounds like she has a cold or something - I don't necessarily think it's permanent, it just sounded kinda rough. I'm not an overly huge fan, but she is talented. Let's hope she gets to where she wants to go. Nothing wrong with trying ya know - more of us should face our demons and move on.

[yorfutrxhsbnd]

I was a huge fan of Houston. Sadly, I must disagree with your assessment of her voice. I bought the new album today and she does not have the range or tonal quality she previously had. This in a studio setting, which can correct minor issues.

As for this live performance, she didn't even sing the high notes as far as I could tell.

Nevertheless
I hope people support her and I suppose her voice will improve with time and training.

[phillymonster]

Here is a hilarious article about her voice:

http://www.examiner.com/x-21081-Indianapolis-Celebrity-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m9d2-RIP-Whitney-Houstons-voice-19852009

[juancapez]

Whoever wrote this article has no idea what they're talking about. I listened to the whole number and she didn't "crack" once. Cracking is an actual break in the voice where the sound stops. I hate to get technical (BA & MM in voice) but in the music biz, a crack is much worse than just singing poorly. So don't through the term around loosely.
That said, her voice did sound extremely rough and fatigued.
A singing voice can usually bounce back from anything except lack of regular use.
Use it or lose it. I think that's what you can hear in Whitney's voice. It's been 10 years.

[harriettubman]

Lucille Ball smoked and listen to her voice in the 50s on ILL and then in the late 60s. She sounded like a man. Smoking roughens the vocal cords. Lawd knows what smoking other chemicals can do.

[TanzaniteDiamonds]

Smoking is poison. I don't know how anyone can smoke or be around anyone who smokes (anything).

[Silverlakerr]

My big question is this for her manager/ag­ent/record label -- WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?????? Performing live? You've now guaranteed her sales to go even more down. I have to say, serves you right for letting an obviously still sick person perform -- live (!!) -- when she either haven't fully recovered or most likely, never will. Sad.

[bokiluis]

She is predicted to be #1 w/300-400k­......hard­ly sales heading south.

[keckie38]

It makes me cry tears of joy to hear her again. I pray she goes on and on for a long time. She is awesome and I missed her. Watching her downward spiral for the last ten years has been painful.
"Your every woman" Whitney! God bless!!

[haval2]

More important than her singing. For her sake i hope she's through with drugs. I'd give her props for that.

[hallowellboy]

She's more to be pitied. Join the convent.

[PoliSci2008]

Whitney had and hopefully still has a beautiful voice. But I never did like listening to her sing in high pitch tones, that was a Clive Davis creation. I hope she took a chapter from Frank Sinatra in 1960 when he sung at a more subdue tone.

I miss MJ

[ullyses]

I know Poli, I miss him too :(

[slb83]

People keep trying to make a point that she can't sing the same way that she did at 20. She actually sung better in her late twenties and early thirties in the early 90s in my view. Moreover, she doesn't even sound the same way she did at 40 let alone 20, and that has more to do with her drug use rather than age. Like I said before, Patti La Belle has been very consistent since she was a teenager singing with the Blue Belles in the sixties.

[whitegayrepublican]

Damn It! You again!

[bokiluis]

Your handle is offensive. You are scarier than the state of Whitney's voice.

[sallythewerewolf]

And it certainly didn't hurt Marianne Faithfull, who started with a clear soprano and after years of rough living had a marvellous Lotte Lenya-esque contralto. But then, whitney is no Marianne...

[riverhouse]

She has one of the all time great human voices for pop music, with a phenomenal range and superb tone. I hope she makes it back. Addiction is a beast.