Spiritual Theme Timely, Houston Says

Date: December 13, 1996
By Bobby Rockel, Staff Writer

From Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK)
Submitted by: Larry A.


What we do know is that Whitney Houston can sing.

What we're still finding out is whether the 33-year-old beauty can act.

Ask Houston and she'll give you a resounding "yes." In fact, so sure is Houston of her talent, she almost rejected her latest role in "The Preacher's Wife," a remake of the 1947 MGM tearjerker, "The Bishop's Wife."

She thought the role of Julia Biggs, the title character, was too weak.

But to reject it would have bordered on the insane, considering the Grammy Award winner had done only two films, "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting To Exhale."

Still, there's something about Houston, something naturally easy on the eyes, that allows her to dominate a scene. Which is why she, with her commanding voice, was perfect for the role and recommended by the film's leading man, Denzel Washington.

"With her background in the church and voice, I knew she was perfect, but I just had to convince her," Washington said. He did, and the two of them teamed up with director Penny Marshall to carve out the holiday film.

Touchstone Pictures paid for reporters to fly to New York, see the movie and interview the stars.

"I didn't do the film because of Denzel or because of Penny," said Houston, dressed in a black pantsuit and sporting a diamond the size of a small foreign car. "I did it because it's the sign of our times. It's a substantial theme and says a lot about our world." Houston's character is ignored by her preacher husband Henry, played by Courtney Vance, who is on the verge of losing his church. Henry cries for help, and it arrives in the form of Dudley the angel, played by Washington. Dudley's job is to rescue Henry and revive Julia and Henry's love.

Houston belts out 10 songs in the film and likened the experience to spiritual encounters.

"I can remember singing I Love the Lord,' and even after Penny yelled Cut!' we just kept going," she said. "I think we ended up praising the Lord for 30 to 45 minutes. It was really something special."

Her gospel roots run deep. Her mother, Cissy, is a well-known singer in gospel circles.

Houston's debut album, "Whitney Houston," went sextuple platinum, one of the top debuts ever - all at the impressionable age of 20. Houston is No. 23 on the Forbe's list of money-making entertainers.

But it has been an arduous road for her. She has endured rumors about an alleged relationship with her executive assistant Robyn Crawford. She has had to deal with reports of her husband's (singer Bobby Brown) alleged extramarital affairs, and she has become a mother once, and is about to do so again.

"I'm thankful for all of this," she said. "God had given me a gift. There's not a lot of people with a voice like this, and I'm grateful every day for it.

"Sure, you can get tired of the hassle, but to be able to stand up and deliver a message, your own message, to 20,000 people is awfully special. I know I still have things to learn as an actress, but I think it's worth it. I know where I'm going, and I know where I've been."