Whitney Houston Superstar. The golden singing bird with the 5-octave-voice has just finished her world tour (to the 8 planned concerts in Germany 9 more had to be added - and those were sold out immediately, too); her album My Love Is Your Love has been on the German charts for 1 1/2 years and almost naturally reached Platinum status. Everything this woman touches seems to be a success. Want some more superlatives? The soul queen's last 3 studio albums sold more than 100 million copies worldwide (plus 33 million soundtracks of the Bodyguard), 13 No. 1 singles, Grammys, American Music Awards and many more. So it is obvious to finally release a Greatest Hits album with 35 songs: Here you can find all her smash hit ballads from Greatest Love Of All to Where Do Broken Hearts Go and I Will Always Love You, which was No. 1 in the USA for 14 weeks and has been in everybody's ears worldwide. There can be found 4 duets she recorded for this album: George Michael joined her on If I Told You That, as well as her young colleagues Deborah Cox, Enrique Iglesias and Q-Tip.

On the second album you can exclusively find remixes of her up-tempo songs. Even Whitney Houston knows how important it is to stay up-to-date, because on her last album she already used the help of younger colleagues such as hip hop icon Missy Elliot or the Fugees' Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean in order to make it into the nineties. In addition to the young, up-to-date sounds and funky beats, she has gotten a completely new styling: sexy outfits and a trendy haircut. "I've got a husband whom I have to thank for introducing me to the newest sounds. He makes sure that I know the newest hip hop trends. Not only is the music changing, but so are outfits and styles." So this time the hottest remixers were giving I Wanna Dance With Somebody, I'm Every Woman and It's Not Right But It's Okay an up-to-date dance floor groove.

Whitney is beautiful. Whitney even manages to be a wife and mother -- according to rumors she's even attending meetings with the teachers at her daughter's school or she is organizing field trips. In addition she is taking care of her own foundation for homeless children. But now and then there is also a "scandal-Houston," about whom we can read in the tabloids in detail. Whereas in the past it were the rumors about her husband Bobby Brown, they now have allegations about too much alcohol and drugs. The diva is also famous for her entourage. She's traveling to public appearences such as concerts, TV and award shows with an entourage of staff, friends and family and is impressively competing with Mariah Carey about who is more important. For years she's been avoiding the press and she seldom gives any interviews: "Some things keep surprising me over and over again," says Whitney Houston. "Part of it are the tabloids that are more interested in my private life than my music. They just want to know what's happening in my bedroom."

But the music is affected by those negative sides of the hard show business, too: This year she has been excluded from the Oscars, because Whitney's voice allegedly was not in good shape. Then in an interview with New York magazine "Jane" last March that left the journalist puzzled -- after coming hours late, due to an appointment with her dentist, she had reportedly had trouble keeping her eyes open.

As undisciplined as the 36-year-old may seem during public performances, is as disciplined she is in the studio: Top-producers such as Babyface and David Foster rave about her: "She's like a thoroughbred race horse. She comes into the studio, takes off her jacket, goes to the microphone and starts off. Always going, always full of power. She's an amazing demonstration." The believing Baptist is getting this power from her family, especially from her daughter Bobbi Kristina: "Raising my daughter the right way is my greatest challenge!" She's not thinking about keeping the 7-year-old out of the showbiz life -- it is matter-of-course that she joins her in the studio. And at some of her concerts, the little girl was singing a duet with her Mommy.

Now, Mrs. Houston-Brown is making a musical pause and will be shooting another movie. In "Anything For You" she will costar with America's new movie darling, MIB Will Smith - and both are going to work on the soundtrack together! This is another sector where Whitney has already been successful: Her first movie, The Bodyguard with Kevin Costner, was succeeded by Waiting To Exhale and The Preacher's Wife. On that soundtrack, she was able to realize her long time dream of recording a gospel album -- that's where her roots are. "I'm child of show business. I had been singing in the studio with my mother and I learned from the best. I had a great time - if I die tomorrow I would know that I didn't miss anything."