Yesterday, 16 Years ago (1995), Whitney Houston went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Exhale (Shoop Shoop)’, written by Babyface and taken from the film ‘Waiting To Exhale’, it gave Whitney her 11th US No.1.

Whitney Houston, right, and producer Debra Martin Chase at the Music Hall. / Alicia Gbur

Story by: Julie Hinds

The Whitney Houston who came to Detroit last month to begin filming “Sparkle” is a different actress from the one who debuted on the big screen in 1992′s “The Bodyguard.”

How? “Well, I’m older now and more mature,” said the singing legend via e-mail to the Free Press.

“Sparkle,” which was scheduled to wrap filming Thursday, marks a return to movies for Houston, whose public and personal ups and downs have long been the subject of media attention.

It’s been more than a decade since she starred in a feature film. In the 1990s, her appearances in hits like “Waiting to Exhale” made her the rare singing icon who segues successfully into acting.

Houston recalls those projects now with fondness.

“I was really scared to do ‘The Bodyguard’ and put Kevin Costner off for 2 years out of fear! ‘Waiting to Exhale’ was fun because it was an ensemble cast of great actors, and ‘The Preacher’s Wife’ — well, starring alongside Denzel Washington with Penny Marshall directing and getting to sing all those gospel songs made it a pleasure.”

Houston has been busy rehearsing and filming during her stay here, but she thanked the Motor City for its hospitality. “Detroit has been a great temporary home,” she messaged. “Everyone has been really kind and I have some family and friends here and the cast is now like family.”

“Sparkle,” a remake of the 1976 movie, began shooting in October. It has filmed at locations like Music Hall, Detroit Opera House, Masonic Temple, Fillmore Detroit and Cliff Bell’s jazz club.

The movie was approved for a film incentive of $3.1 million on about $7.4 million of estimated in-state spending.

“Sparkle,” which is set to be released in 2012, has a cast that includes “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks, Derek Luke of “Antwone Fisher,” Mike Epps, Carmen Ejogo, Tika Sumpter and Omari Hardwick. Pop-soul star (and NBC’s “The Voice” coach) Cee Lo Green and Detroit singer Kem also have roles.

In the new version, Sparks has the title role — played by Irene Cara in the original — of a musical prodigy who forms a singing group with her two sisters.

Unlike the earlier movie, which was set in gritty 1950s New York, this one places Sparkle in an affluent neighborhood of 1960s Detroit during the height of Motown.

Houston portrays Sparkle’s mother, Emma. The role was played by veteran character actress Mary Alice in the original, in which the character was named Effie.

Besides acting in the movie, Houston is an executive producer who’s serious about the responsibility of updating a film that continues to have a special place in the hearts of many fans for giving African-American actresses of that era a chance to play glamorous, complicated leading roles.

“The biggest challenge for us as the production and for me, is to do justice to the story and for me to play my role to the best of my ability,” said Houston.

In a recent interview, Houston told “Access Hollywood” that the project, which she’s been involved with for more than a decade, was set at one point to star Aaliyah, who grew up in Detroit. It was put on hold after the 22-year-old singer-actress died in a plane crash in 2001.

Houston has been talking to nationally syndicated TV shows about the current production and her bond with Sparks. The family theme of the script seems to have filtered onto the set. Houston said via the Web that one of her favorite experiences working in Detroit was filming a dinner scene where all of the cast was present.

(Source: freep.com)

Here’s the interview with Whitney which aired yesterday. I have pure love for our DIVA!

We are really getting spoilt lately as Whitney Fans and I LOVE it!



In order to view the video, make sure you have the LATEST version of your browser installed, or watch it on youtube.

Whitney Houston Sparkles in Big-Screen Comeback

Singer Whitney Houston is making a triumphant return to the big screen!

Houston sat down with “Extra’s” AJ Calloway, and revealed, “I’ve matured in so many ways. I’m good where I am at this moment.”

Whitney is set to star in “Sparkle,” about three sisters who are in a successful young singing group. She last starred in “Preacher’s Wife” fifteen years ago, and expressed excitement for playing the role of the sisters’ mom, Emma. “I’m comfortable now… my daughter is my greatest inspiration. She has trained me for this role.”

“Sparkle,” which includes cast members Cee-Lo Green and Derek Luke, was originally set for production a decade ago, with R&B singer Aaliyah attached as its star. After Aaliyah’s tragic death, the project was shelved.

“American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks was chosen to fill the lead. Whitney exclaimed, “Jordin was perfect!”

(Source: )

Courtesy of extratv.warnerbros.com. No copyright infringement intended. Only for promotion purposes.
Also, thanks to Géraldine for the video!

WHITNEY DISHES BIG-SCREEN COMEBACK

Plans for a remake of the 1976 film Sparkle were scrapped with the tragic death of R&B superstar Aaliyah, who was the project’s first choice as the lead. 10 years later, American Idol winner Jordin Sparks takes on the legendary role and co-star Whitney Houston says it couldn’t be a more “perfect” fit.

“God has his own time,” Whitney explained of their lengthy search to find an actress who could live up to what the late singer would have brought to the role. Houston worked closely with the project’s producers since 2001, making a mutual decision to halt production until they could find talent worthy to fill Aaliyah’s shoes.

And then they found Jordin.
“[Jordin's] just really, just perfect,” Whitney raved. “She’s truly, truly embraced the role and doing such a marvelous job and just putting herself into it and just her voice is gorgeous.”
Watch the video to hear more from Houston and Jordin, plus, check out a behind-the-scenes peek of the film, coming to theaters next year.
Sparkle also stars Cee Lo Green, Mike Epps and Derek Luke.

(Source: theinsider.com)
Courtesy of theinsider.com. No copyright infringement intended. Only for promotion purposes.

Watch Whitney on Access Hollywood, the full interview, where she’s talking about meeting Elvis, the sequel of Waiting to Exhale and of course Sparkle:



In order to view the video, make sure you have the LATEST version of your browser installed, or watch it on youtube.

Courtesy of NBC/Access Hollywood. No copyright infringement intended. Only for promotion purposes.

Back on a movie set for the first time in 15 years, Whitney Houston sat down with Access’ Shaun Robinson to talk about playing Jordin Sparks’ mom in the remake of “Sparkle.” Whitney also talks about the sequel of “Waiting to Exhale” and gives thanks to her fans.

Watch it for yourselves:



In order to view the video, make sure you have the LATEST version of your browser installed, or watch it on youtube.

In order to view the video, make sure you have the LATEST version of your browser installed.

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. — Whitney Houston will soon make her triumphant return to the big screen after 15 years in “Sparkle,” and only Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson was on the movie’s set in Detroit to talk with the global superstar about her movie comeback.

“I feel honored; I feel humbled that I am able to still do what I do and it just is fun, actually,” Whitney told Shaun — in an exclusive interview, which will air on Monday and Tuesday on Access — of her return to the screen.

“I think everybody’s going to love this film. I do, I think it’s going to be a loved film,” she added.

The project, near and dear to Whitney’s heart, took over a decade to make as the starring role was originally slated for R&B singer Aaliyah. After the then-22–year-old’s tragic death in 2001, the movie was shelved for years.

“This was [Aaliyah’s] movie,” Whitney told Shaun. “When we brought it to her, she was so enthusiastic about it and she wanted it, to do it so badly. She was our Sparkle.

“Unfortunately… it just didn’t go that way,” she continued. “I put it down. I said, ‘My Sparkle has gone to a better place,’ then we just left it alone.”

After bringing the project to life again with “American Idol” Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks in the title role, Whitney said she strongly identified with her character (playing Jordin’s mother).

“I just, I felt it. I felt the role,” she told Shaun. “I felt the love a woman has for her children — in the ‘60s, the late ‘60s, trying to keep her family together, single mother.”

Tune in to Access Hollywood for the full exclusive one-on-one interview with Whitney on Monday and Tuesday’s shows (check local listings).

(Source: Access Hollywood)

Here’s the short but great interview, Whitney gave for Entertainment Tonight last week. She really looks hot these days and she sounds good as well. Check it out and leave feedback

Tune into Entertainment Tonight on Monday night at 7pm to catch Whitney talking about her upcoming film, Sparkle!

So exited to see Whitney looking that fabulous. This will be a new Whitney area !