Great news for Whitney Houston fans who simply cannot wait for the release of her new album I Look To You, originally slated for release on September 1. Whitney‘s record company has decided to push up the release of Whit Whit‘s new album … BY A DAY! That’s right folks, instead of having to wait until September 1 to procure your copy of her new disc, you’ll now have the opportunity to purchase it one day earlier on Monday August 31!!

Fueled by the continuous excitement from last week’s much-buzzed about Whitney Houston album listening events in New York and Los Angeles, Arista Records has moved the release date of I Look To You up to August 31st. As a gift to her fans, a free download of the album’s title track, powered by Yahoo! Music, is available now at www.whitneyhouston.com until July 31st. “I Look To You,” a sweeping ballad with Whitney’s signature soaring vocals that fans have come to love, was written by R. Kelly.

That’s right folks, the good news doesn’t end there … head over to WhitneyHouston.com you’ll be able to download a FREE MP3 of Whitney‘s title track I Look To You for your listening pleasure. As you may recall I revealed that, after hearing Whitney‘s new album in full at the LA preview party last week, I Look To You was one of my fave tracks off the album … and now YOU can hear it FOR FREE right now. Get ya asses over to WhitneyHouston.com and download it … tell me what you think.

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So last night I was invited to attend the preview listening party for Whitney Houston‘s new album I Look To You which took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. I did my best to refrain from reading any of the reviews that came out from the previous listening parties that took place in London and NYC because I wanted to hear the music fresh. As soon as I arrived at last night’s event, I almost ran into Magic Johnson and his wife Cookie in the lobby … that man is a tree! We were not allowed to have cameras inside the venue but I was able to snap a pic of a large photo of Whitney‘s new album cover before we were led into the ballroom:

Little by little, celebs started filing in … Halle Berry, Jane Fonda, Jackie Collins, Penny Marshall, Brian McKnight, Janeane Garofalo, Barry Manilow, Stevie Wonder and more … they were all on hand to get the first listen of Whitney‘s new album. Clive Davis played host, extolling the triumphs of Whitney‘s career while getting folks excited for the new music. While he was a bit melodramatic at times (he loved telling stories about how people “wept” every time they heard one of her new songs) he did a great job hyping up the album. I found it so odd that he kept referring to songs as “copyrights” (kind of like how Variety magazine still calls TV programs skeins). Instead of saying, for example, Diane Warren wrote an amazing song. He said, Diane Warren wrote an amazing copyright. He kept doing that all night long … it made him sound old and out of touch. The man is a genius tho, it’s just that he’s still a bit old skool.

So … the music. The album is loaded with hits. The songs are really strong, Whitney‘s voice is bold and triumphant. It remains to be seen, well, heard what she sounds like singing these songs live but on the album she sounds amazing. The songs that really hit me most were Million Dollar Bill (written by Alica Keys), Call You Tonight (written by Stargate), I Look To You (written by R. Kelly) and my fave song of the album is Worth It (written by Dante Austin). These songs are a good mix of uptempo tracks and ballads … they really represent Whitney‘s music very well. The Stargate song is a new sound for her but the rest of the album is classic Whitney. She will belt these songs out and they will be hits, I’m sure of it. The first song that leaked from the album, I Didn’t Know My Own Strength was written by Diane Warren and was produced by David Foster — and it shows. It’s a powerful ballad that soars but, IMHO, I prefer the title track as her new Greatest Love of All-type song. I envision her singing the song in an empty theater with a single spotlight on her just belting it out (at least, that’s the image in my head … mebbe a music video?). I was very impressed with the album … Whitney is back, y’all. She really is.

When Whitney came out at the end, she was met to thunderous applause and a standing ovation. It was so cool hearing her thank the special people in her life who were in the audience. She fawned over her family and friends … and she looked amazing doing so. I can’t wait for all y’all to hear the album … I’m dying to hear other opinions on the music. One of the first things that Whitney said when she took the stage was, “I’m back home. I’m back home where I belong.” On behalf of her fans everywhere, it’s great to have you home again :)

After the event, I met up with my friends Tony and Jordan for a boy’s night out. We grabbed drinks and grub at Marix and had a great night. I ended up oversleeping today so I’m still playing catch-up … I think those margaritas really did me in :) Tonight, I’m hanging out with Mike for a belated birthday celebration for him … it should be fun!!! I hope all y’all will be having great weekends wherever you are!!

Last week Whitney Houston and music mogul Clive Davis were on hand at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London, England to world premiere her new album I Look To You in front of an audience of press folks. Earlier this week Whit Whit appeared at the Lincoln Center in NYC to premiere her album in front of press and celeb friends. Last night, Whitney and Clive made their way to the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA for the third and final premiere event for her new album, due out in stores on September 1. Here are a few photos from last night’s star-studded event and a report from E! News‘s Marc Malkin:

Whitney Houston’s comeback album drops in just six weeks. And it was the superstar diva herself who best summed up the excitement for her return when she took center stage at last night’s VIP-only album listening party in Beverly Hills. “I’m back home,” she said. “I’m back home where I belong.” Among the VIP guests packed into a ballroom at the Beverly Hilton hotel to hear nine songs from I Look to You were Halle Berry, Stevie Wonder, Magic Johnson, Barry Manilow, Penny Marshall, model Beverly Johnson and a slew of music industry heavyweights … Sitting in a front row seat was Jane Fonda, who attended with her music producer boyfriend Richard Perry. “When they told me you were here tonight, I almost croaked,” Houston said to the Oscar winner after the two embraced. “I was like, ‘Jane Fonda is at my listening party? How cool am I?’” Sony music honcho and Houston’s mentor since he discovered her oh-so-many years ago Clive Davis hosted the evening. And Ms. Whitney looked fantastically fabulous last night (she kept it simple with a short black dress, killer heels and little makeup). The music was true Houston. Among the songs Davis introduced and played for the crowd were the Alicia Keys-written “Million Dollar Bill,” the up-tempo “Nothing But Love,” the ballad “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength,” the island song duet with Akon “Like I Never Left,” and the title track, one of two collaborations with R. Kelly. The album took about three and a half years. “For the years we were apart, I felt kind of lost,” Houston said to Davis, referring to her troubled past. “But I’m home where I truly belong, don’t ya think?” The audience went wild. Pointing to Bobbi Kristina, her daughter with ex-husband Bobby Brown, Houston smiled, “There’s my baby, my inspiration. Mama loves you so much.” Looking out to Berry, Houston cooed, “How’s the baby?” “Fantastic,” Berry said. And we have a feeling Houston’s fans will be saying the same and a whole lot more when I Look to You drops on Sept. 1.

I, too, was fortunate enough to attend last night’s listening party and let me tell you … I was floored. I’ll have all of my personal thoughts on the album in a post a little later on today. But let me assure you, Whitney Houston — the voice, the diva, the legend — is back. I Look To You is packed with amazingly strong songs … powerful ballads, hip upbeat dance tracks and quite a few candidates for hit singles. It was truly an honor to be among the first people to hear Whitney‘s new album in full … I can’t wait to tell you all about it later on today. After the jump, check out a few photos of Whitney posing with some of the celebrity friends who came out to the Beverly Hilton Hotel last night to share the night with Whitney and Clive …

Last week we got our first look at the cover artwork for Whitney Houston‘s new album I Look To You (due out in stores on September 1) after she and music mentor/mogul Clive Davis previewed the album at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London’s Knightsbridge. Today we learn that Whit Whit has made her way back home to the US and just flew into NYC lookin’ all kinds of amazing:

We also learn today that the official tracklisting of I Look To You has been released as well! After the jump, check out the album tracklist and a short video of Whitney and Clive premiering her new music for the assembled folks in London last week …

Earlier today we learned that a fabulous-looking Whitney Houston was on hand in London, England last night to preview tracks off of her upcoming new album I Look To You. At the event, a couple of promo images were on display and I guessed that one of them might be the coverphoto of her album … and I was right. WhitneyHouston.com has just been updated with our first look at the album artwork for I Look To You:

Whitney looks resplendent in this photo. She is a diva, y’all. I love this cover. Next up … we need a music video. Hopefully we’ll get more promo materials from this new album soon. For those of you who cannot wait for this album’s release, you can place your pre-orders on Amazon HERE.

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Yesterday we saw photos of diva Whitney Houston making her fabulous arrival in London, England where she is doing some promo this week for her new album I Look To You, due out in stores in September. Today we get to see a few photos from an event that Whitney hosted, with music mogul Clive Davis, to preview some tracks of her new disc. At the event, a couple of promo photos were heavily featured … might one of them be the photo that will be used as her album coverphoto?

WHITNEY HOUSTON is clearly ready to dance with somebody again. Back in 2005, the singer appeared dishevelled and fragile following mounting rumours she’d become addicted to crack cocaine. Fast forward four years and Whitney’s resurrected the glammed-up pop diva who first shot to fame in the 1980s. Showing off a healthy complexion and classy clothes, the star was all smiles at last night’s London playback of her comeback album I Look To You – due for release on August 31.

From the Daily Mail: The 45-year-old arrived last night to launch I Look To You, her first studio CD in seven years, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London’s Knightsbridge. She wore a black belted mac which she removed once inside to reveal a flattering black and white Dolce & Gabbana dress. The crowd, including Top Shop billionaire Sir Phillip Green, gave Whitney a standing ovation. Tracks have already been leaked on the internet, where they have met with a mixed response – the most critical claiming her voice has been ruined. But music mogul Clive Davis, who discovered the soul diva 25 years ago, disagrees. “You won’t forget it after you hear it,” he said, calling the album a labour of love for all involved. “There is a song on this album which is called ‘I Didn’t Know My Own Strength’ and it really speaks for Whitney. She tumbled but she didn’t crumble.”

No question, Whitney cleans up very well. She looks fab. I cannot WAIT for her album … I’m dying. She looks pretty spectacular in these new promo photos … will one of them be her new album cover? It was previously announced on her official website that the album artwork would be debuted very soon … but we might’ve gotten a sneak peek in these new photos :)

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Whitney Houston has taken her faboo ass to London, England this week to do a bit of early promo for the release of her new album I Look To You which hits stores in September. Here are a couple pics of Ms. Thang emerging from her limo lookin’ all kinds of fierce:

Whitney looks STUNNING, y’all! I am so happy that she is back on the scene. She has been away for far too long. I am anxiously awaiting the release of her new album — as are many of you, I’m sure. Keep on bringing the fierceness, Whit Whit. And welcome back!!

[Photo credit: WENN, thanks Marcus]

Here are a few photos of überdiva Whitney Houston making her way thru LAX Airport with her only child Bobbi Kristina bound for their departing flight out of LA. As all y’all should be well aware, Whitney will release her new album I Look To You this September … so my guess is that she was in town to do some preliminary promo for her album release:

I’m sure Whit Whit will be quite bizzy in the weeks leading up to the much-anticipated release of her new album. I assume she and Bobbi were flying back to their home in Atlanta or mebbe NYC for a spell but they’ll be back in LA in no time. It’s GREAT having our dear Whitney back on the scene again. In case you missed it earlier, you can preview Whitney‘s new single I Didn’t Know My Own Strength HERE.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin]

Earlier this month we learned the AMAZING news that Whitney Houston is FINALLY releasing a new album this Fall and today we learn the title of said new album. In a new message sent out to mailing list subscribers, Whitney announces that the title of her new album is I Look To You:

On the real, I’m not all that jazzed by the album title but I am so freakin’ excited to hear new music from the amazing Whitney Houston. She has been away for far too long and we have been dying for new music from her all the while. I imagine her new single will be released soon … I.Can’t.Wait!!!

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After many, many rumors and a few false starts it seems that Whitney Houston is FINALLY ready to release a new album. The as-yet untitled disc is due for release on September 1, 2009 and, according to the press release that was just sent to me, is really being released this time!

WHITNEY HOUSTON’S NEW ALBUM SET FOR RELEASE

THE MOST ANTICIPATED ALBUM OF THE YEAR ARRIVES SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 (New York, NY – June 4, 2009) Whitney Houston’s new album will be released worldwide September 1, 2009 on Arista Records. This is Whitney’s 7th studio album. Since her 1985 self-titled debut, she has built an illustrious career that has generated over 170 million combined worldwide sales of albums, singles and videos. Cited by the Guinness Book of World Records as music’s “most awarded female artist of all time,” with an unsurpassed tally of 411 awards, inclusive of 6 Grammy Awards, 2 Emmy Awards, 23 American Music Awards and 16 Billboard Music Awards…Houston remains a singular force in music today.

OMFG!!! It’s about time … and I am FREAKING out! Whitney Houston has been away for so long, I had almost given up hope that we’d ever get a new album from her … but it’s finally happening! Head over to WhitneyHouston.com to check out the countdown clock for the album’s release (89 days and counting) and sign up to join her mailing list in order get clued in on the latest info about this new disc! Woot!!! I am sooo excited. Welcome back, Whitney! We’ve missed you!

[Photo credit: Patrick Demarchelier; Source]