Whitney Houston, who paid a visit to Germany over the weekend to perform and promote her new album I Look To You, has made her way to France to continue her promo tour. As you may already know, Paris Fashion Week is in full swing (just ask Prince) so I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw Whit Whit at a few shows this week. Here are a couple photos of Whitney as she emerged radiantly from her hotel earlier today:

She looks fab … she’s workin’ hard to ensure her album does well around the world and I couldn’t be more pleased. I am not lying, David plays her album CONSTANTLY … he loves it! It’s a great disc and I’m happy to see that she is doing everything she can to promote it. I suspect Whit will remain in France for a bit and then she’ll prolly pop up elsewhere in Europe. She’s livin’ the life again!

[Photo credit: INFdaily]

Over the weekend Whitney Houston paid a visit to Europe’s most successful television show Wetten, dass..? to perform a track of her newly released #1 album I Look To You. Lookin’ a fab as ever, Whitney rocked a lovely white pantssuit and, as you might expect, belted her heart out for the Wetten, dass..? audience … behold:

Now … when it came to the interview portion of the show, well, it seemed that Whitney was having a bit of difficulty with the German-speaking hosts questions in English. Granted, I’m sure it’s very difficult for anyone to answer questions under these circumstances but Whitney seemed a bit … out of it. Nonetheless, Whitney had a lot of supporters (family and fans alike) in the audience … she really did look great. After the jump, check out video of Whitney’s performance and interview on Wetten, das..? …

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Yesterday we learned from Oprah Winfrey herself that her upcoming interview with Whitney Houston, which will kick off the 24th season of The Oprah Winfrey Show on Monday September 14, is her “best interview ever” and today we get to see a new just released promo photo of Oprah with Whitney from their interview:

In this Aug. 31, 2009 photo provided Monday, Sept. 7, 2009 by Harpo Productions, television talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, right, and Whitney Houston are seen during an interview at the Town Hall in New York. Houston, who’s new album “I Look To You” was released on Aug. 31, was interviewed by Winfrey for a two-part season premiere of The Oprah Winfrey Show, airing Sept. 14 and 15.

Oprah has also made available a preview video clip from her 2-part interview which features Whitney’s revelation that her mother, Cissy Houston, showed up at home with the police to extricate her from her dangerous living situation with ex-husband Bobby Brown. After the jump, check out the minute-long preview clip in full …

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It’s official!! Whitney Houston’s comeback album I Look To You is a bona fide hit! Not only did it debut in the #1 spot on the album chart here in the US (as the most successful solo female album of the year) but it also debuted at #1 in countries all around the globe! Here is a new promo pic of our dear Whitney and some info on how well her album did in its first week of sales:

Proving that it was well worth the wait, Whitney Houston’s long-awaited album I Look To You debuts at No. 1 on several charts across the world, including the US Top Albums and R&B Album charts, according to Nielsen/Soundscan. With 304,801 units sold within the first week of release in the US, this marks Whitney’s biggest first week sales of her career and the best selling first week by a female artist this year! Houston’s No. 1 position extends across the globe and claims the top spots in Canada, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Led by the dual release of the album title track and “Million Dollar Bill” at radio, coupled with presale promotional campaigns on Amazon.com, QVC and iTunes, and a heavily promoted appearance on Good Morning America, the chart-topping result marks the official return of “The Voice.” And the critics agree! The New York Times boasts that Whitney “re-emerges with full diva qualifications,” USA Today said: “Strong, confident and ready, she clearly hadn’t forgotten how to sing imbuing the material with emotional power.” The Washington Post cites I Look To You “hits all the right marks” and the Associated Press states “the pop queen still has a dazzling voice that can leave you spellbound.”

As you may recall, last week we learned that Whitney was on track to debut at #1 and this news confirms that she not only topped the chart here but she also topped charts worldwide. I am just so happy that Whitney is enjoying success again … we may have lost her for a few years but she’s back, at long last. Congrats on your new accolades, Whit Whit … they are much deserved.

[Photo credit: Patrick Demarchelier]

In just 5 days Oprah Winfrey kicks off the 24th season of The Oprah Winfrey Show with a 2-part interview with Whitney Houston, who you may or may not know is in the midst of making her musical comeback. According to Oprah herself, this interview with Whitney is “the best interview [she's] ever done”. I understand that no topic was off-limits and Whitney opened up like never before. Here is a new promo pic released of Oprah and Whitney together and a preview of what we can expect of Oprah’s “best interview ever”:

Oprah Winfrey’s upcoming interview with Whitney Houston is said to be a, “jaw-dropping, open, honest and candid” conversation that the daytime talk show queen is calling, “the best interview I’ve ever done.” Winfrey sits down with Houston for a two-day interview starting on Monday, Sept. 14, where Houston discusses her marriage with Bobby Brown, drugs, rehab and how her family saved her. “I think it’s the best interview I’ve ever done. But I guess you’re supposed to let other people say that about yourself. I can’t think of a moment, ever, when I had a stronger connection to the person I was interviewing,” Winfrey said in a statement to Access Hollywood. “My approach to this interview was to not be judgmental in any way, and not to go in trying to get her to say things to make a ‘moment.’ I just wanted to be able to have an honest conversation with her. One woman to another woman. And the day of the interview I literally prayed about that all day long. I just wanted a connection between the two of us. And that is what happened.” With friends and family looking on, including Clive Davis and her daughter Bobbi Kristina, Houston brings down the house with an emotional performance of “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” from her new album “I Look To You,” which is expected to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. “I think whether you liked or loved Whitney Houston before you will certainly have a deeper appreciation for what she has been through as a human being,” Winfrey continued. “And I mean, the fans are just going to love her even more.” “The Oprah Winfrey Show: Season Premiere: Oprah And Whitney Houston – The First Interview” airs Monday, Sept. 14. “The Oprah Winfrey Show: Season Premiere Part II: Whitney Houston’s Show-Stopping Surprise” airs Tuesday, Sept. 15.

On the one hand, I am having a hard time believing that this interview with Whitney Houston is really Winfrey’s “best interview ever” and on the other hand, having seen many of Oprah’s softball interviews, I can see how it really wouldn’t be difficult for any particular interview to be the best ever. While I expect that Whitney will open up and bare her soul, I don’t expect that we’ll learn any stunning revelations. I think Diane Sawyer’s “Crack is whack” interview will remain THE interview that enlightened Whitney Houston the most to audiences. Best or not, I am very anxious to see this interview in full … the fact that it will air over 2-days is an excellent way to ensure that Oprah’s 24th season of her talk show kicks off with a bang. Will you be tuning in?

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According to hearty sales of Whitney Houston’s new album I Look To You, which went on sale this past Monday August 31 (just in time to make it eligible for Grammy Award contention next year), it looks as if Whitney is going to enjoy the fruits of another #1 album, y’all!!

Whitney Houston’s comeback is complete. Her Arista/RMG album, I Look to You, taking advantage of its Monday release date to be eligible for this year’s Grammys, will debut at #1, with a robust sales figure of 250-275k. That’s based on two-day sales reports from those among our crack group of retail reporters who haven’t yet paved paradise and put up a parking lot. Her second day, Tuesday, which would have been the normal release date, proved every bit as busy as the first. Miley Cyrus’ seven-song Wal-Mart exclusive, The Time of Our Lives, which leaked before street date to the tune of 60k+, debuting at #2 on this week’s chart and foreclosing an expected diva duel, will nevertheless remain the runner-up, with a total between 140-150k for the Hollywood Records release … The market was up 2% vs. last week, down 19% vs. same week last year and still down 15% year to date.

Despite this encouraging news, I’m gonna hold off on extending my official congratulations until the album is actually certified as the #1 album of the week. Still, this is great news for Whitney … all of her hard work is starting to pay off. While she may have sounded a bit shaky on Good Morning America this morning, there is no denying that she is standing firmly on solid ground when it comes to fan devotion.

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Yesterday we saw photos from Whitney Houston’s “comeback” concert performance in Central Park, NYC which was taped live yesterday for airing on Good Morning America today. Taking a page from Madonna’s playbook that says it’s cool to bring one’s daughter on stage during live performances, Whitney brought her daughter Bobbi Kristina onto the GMA stage with her to the delight of all her fans … behold:

It took nearly a decade, but Whitney Houston made her comeback to television in a four-song concert in Central Park broadcast on Good Morning America on Wednesday. “I’m overwhelmed,” Houston said after performing her opening number, “Million Dollar Bill,” written especially for her by Alicia Keys. “I love you all saying hello to me. I never left, I never left.” Wearing tight black pants and a tan trenchcoat over a grey blouse, the 46-year-old wowed a crowd of 5,000 who had waited hours to see the singer make her long-awaited return. She hadn’t been on television in seven years, and hadn’t made a major live appearance since 2004. “You never left,” GMA host Robin Roberts said during a break in the concert, which was prerecorded on Tuesday. “You can see the love here.” But Houston said it was the love she felt that brought her back – and that guaranteed that observers worried about her onetime drug use and personal problems need not have worried. “I was worried for you,” Diane Sawyer said. “Well, don’t be worried anymore,” Houston responded. Asked by Sawyer what brought her back to the stage after such a long absence, she answered, “My faith, the love and support of my fans, which I do have. That’s basically what it is.” Family was close in more than words – Houston serenaded her mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston, during “I Look to You,” the title track to her new album. During “My Love Is Your Love,” she proudly brought her 16-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina onstage to join her in singing. But the emotions – and interviews – that accompanied her comeback evidently fatigued the former concert-circuit stalwart. After four songs, Houston apologized to the audience and signed off. “I’m so sorry. I did Oprah. I’ve been talking for so long. … I talked so much, my voice,” she said. “I shouldn’t be talking. I should be singing.”

I watched Whitney’s performances on GMA this morning and I have to say, I thought Diane Sawyer was really rude to say “I was worried for you” to Whitney’s face. Yes, we were all worried but I don’t think it was the right time/place to bring up the matter … especially when Whitney is trying to make people forget about those dark days and focus on her comeback. After the jump, check out video of Whitney performing the first single from her new album Million Dollar Bill and see for yourself if Whitney is back on track …

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