Own a Piece of the Late Whitney Houston’s Past
Whitney Houston (Photo: AP)
More than four years after the untimely death of Whitney Houston, her estate is putting more than 100 items that belonged to the pop superstar, from awards to pieces of her wardrobe, on the auction block.
“We felt that it was time to give something of Whitney to the people who loved her and her music,” said Pat Houston, Whitney’s manager, president of the Whitney Houston estate, and her sister-in-law, “and, conversely, who Whitney loved back with all of her heart and soul.”
Houston’s death on Feb. 11, 2012, was ruled an accidental drowning due to heart disease and cocaine use. The 48-year-old singer was found dead in the bathtub of her room at the Beverly Hilton hotel ahead of the annual soiree hosted by music mogul Clive Davis on Grammy weekend.
Now, fans can own artifacts from Houston’s illustrious career by bidding on them at a public auction on June 24-25 at Heritage Auctions in Beverly Hills. Some of the items will also be on public display ahead of time at the Heritage Auctions gallery in New York City (June 13-17) and at the Beverly Hills location (June 22-23).
“Whitney Houston, still so widely beloved and venerated today, was the voice of her generation and the most highly awarded female vocalist in history,” noted Garry Shrum, the consignment director for Entertainment & Music Memorabilia, of which the Houston items are a part, at Heritage Auctions. “This collection, lovingly offered by her family and her estate, offers fans and collectors both moving insight into her amazing talent and glamorous career."
The Whitney Houston Collection features pieces that Houston fans and music lovers in general will surely recognize or be interested in seeing. Take a look at a few of them below.
(Photo: Heritage Auctions)
The U.S. passport Houston used during her first international tour
Issued on Feb. 19, 1985, the document was signed "Whitney Elizabeth Houston.” The passport has stamps and special visas to France, Japan, and other countries Houston visited as she promoted her ‘80s hits.
(Photo: Heritage Auctions)
Houston’s script from Waiting to Exhale
The singer was also known for her starring roles in hit movies with popular soundtracks, including, of course, The Bodyguard (1992) and 1995's Exhale, the story of a group of female friends, based on a book by Terry McMillan. The name of Houston’s character, Savannah Jackson, is written on the first page in the singer’s own handwriting, while the binding appears to be purple leather embossed with Houston’s name in gold.
(Photo: Heritage Auctions)
A Dolce & Gabbana fur coat designed specifically for the star
Houston was known for her colorful costumes, such as the multi-colored topper she wore during her 1999 concert tour, named after her song “My Love Is Your Love.”
(Photo: Heritage Auctions)
One of the two 1986 American Music Awards that Houston took home
That year, Houston won awards for the song “You Give Good Love” (Best Soul/R&B Single) and for the video “Saving All My Love for You” (Favorite Video Single, Soul/R&B). The auction winner will snag the latter.
(Photo: Heritage Auctions)
An autographed naval officer’s cap
As one of the biggest performers of her time, Houston was part of the March 1991 HBO special Welcome Home Heroes, in which an officer gifted her with a hat, which she signed and tried to return to him, but he wouldn’t have it.
(Photo: Heritage Auctions)
Houston’s 1993 Billboard Award for Top R&B Album
Anyone who was around in the early '90s can easily recall the smash success of the movie The Bodyguard and its soundtrack. Houston cleaned up at the event — winning 11 trophies — and performing “I Have Nothing.” The award available to bidders is for having the top R&B album.
Earlier this month, Houston’s estate rejected plans for singer Christina Aguilera to perform a duet with a Houston hologram on the season finale of The Voice. The estate has given approval, however, for a full-length documentary film about Houston’s life to be directed by Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald.
