How Whitney Houston Changed The Music World (VIDEO)

As the goddaughter of Aretha Franklin and cousin of Dionne Warwick, Houston was poised for greatness, but her death on Saturday changed all that. However, her impact on popular music remains. "Everyone from Mariah Carey to Adele owes huge gratitude to Whitney Houston," says Lola Ogunnaike, a Today Show contributor.

In the video above, NBC’s Michelle Franzen reports on Houston's life and musical legacy, featuring laments from Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey, Clive Davis, and other music legends.

It may come as no surprise that CBS reported yesterday that the most popular single downloaded on iTunes was "I Will Always Love You" -- the Dolly Parton classic that became one of Houston's signature hits.

Comments

[Irishtimesguy]

12:43 PM on 02/13/2012

Really???????? She didn't change a thing, she showed how being beautiful and getting rich can get you lots of drugs and make you dead.

[Shantha Roberts]

02:21 PM on 02/13/2012

Yes Whitney struggled with drugs which indeed made her a deeply flawed individual, but it did not take away from the mark she left on the world with her incomparable vocal talent. Almost every person who interacted with her has something positive to say about what a warm and giving individual she was. If anything, it goes to show that drug addiction is not restricted to class or station. When she released her last album I was hopeful it would mark a triumphant return. Almost every female vocalist today (and several men too), were in some way affected by Whitney's immeasurable vocal gift. In a recent interview with former American Idol runner-up Katherine McPhee with judge Randy Jackson mentioned that as contestants on the show they were all discouraged from covering any of Whitney's songs, because the prevailing belief is that she could not be matched, and any attempt would come up lacking. The world is a little darker today. She gave us so much with her music and her spirit, and I'm sorry it wasn't enough to overcome her struggle.

While I'm certain her addiction was very hard on her family, she never set out to cause harm to anyone else. No one's asking you to join in the mourning, the least you could do is have enough respect to allow the rest of us to grieve without adding your childish attention-seeking remarks. It's pretty easy to be cynical judge under the anonymity of the internet.

[elenanatx]

03:15 PM on 02/13/2012

Well said! She will be missed and her beautiful voice will be remembered and heard forever!

[etraciesplace]

07:11 PM on 02/13/2012

What's the matter Irish time guy? Probably because your Irish behind would have to work a zillion years and you still would not make that kind of money. You have nothing compared to her, even if you don't die of a drug overdose!!

[Chante Ayona Hill]

09:51 AM on 02/13/2012

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