Gospel According To Whitney
Houston Preaches Optimism Over Her New Baby, New Movie And New Record

Date: December 10, 1996
By Bob Thompson

From The Toronto Sun
Submitted by: Larry A.


Whitney Houston is trying to look perky, but she's having a difficult time maintaining the posture.

So Houston, we've got a problem?

What I mean is, how do you feel?

"Oh, y'know - pregnant," she says, grimacing slightly to make her point.

But sacrifice she must and sacrifice she will, because her new film, The Preacher's Wife, is set for release Friday, while her newest edition won't show up until mid-July.

Uneasy queasiness aside, Houston has a selling job to do. So sell she does.

Yes, she says despite her nausea she's feeling pretty good about her preacher's wife role in the fantasy comedy also starring Denzel Washington.

Houston plays - and sings at well-timed intervals - the church wife to Washington's angel who is sent to earth to help the reverend (Courtney B. Vance) regain his confidence.

The Penny Marshall picture - loosely based on the 1947 film The Bishop's Wife - also examines the modern-day realities of an Afro-American community emotionally divided by potential re-development.

It's a subject Houston cares about, and it was one of the themes Washington used to convince Houston to take on the role when he was trying to develop the project.

There was another enticement - a Preacher's Wife gospel soundtrack.

It's bound to sell as many or more records than her earlier musical production from Waiting To Exhale, although maybe not as much as The Bodyguard.

"It just happens that way, I don't plan it," says Houston of her double successes. "The music and the movies just seem to go hand-in-hand.

"In this case, I grew up with gospel music, and I always wanted to do a gospel album. Of course, Denzel is a convincing guy, as well."

How much persuasion would it take? Not much.

Houston's singing-acting career has earned her more than $33 million over the last couple of years and that doesn't include the money from selling 33 million Bodyguard albums, a soundtrack record.

Yes, fame and fortune have been the least of her worries. As most know, the husband hassles have been something else again.

In '95, Houston was separated from Bobby Brown after he had a series of run-ins with the law. But his subsequent rehab treatment for substance abuse has put him back on track, Houston says.

So both are looking forward to having a playmate for three-year-old daughter Bobbi.

The family will get down to the nesting process "after I do Japan in January for a couple of weeks."

Meanwhile, she remembers this.

"I have had some rough times," admits Houston, "but I've had some great times, too. And the good times always outweigh the bad."

Houston pauses for effect.

"Weeping may endure the night," she says reverentially, "but joy will come in the morning."

Say amen, somebody.