It’s been a crazy ride for Whitney Houston! After marrying R&B singer Bobby Brown at the height of her career, rumors of drug and spousal abuse led to a decline in her album sales and her public image. Her personal troubles would be talked about more than any of her music, regularly appearing in the tabloid press. Houston began looking and sounding less like the singer people came to know and she stopped making public appearances.

Houston underwent two drug rehab programs in 2005 and 2006. Clive Davis forced her into the second one. After a successful second program in 2006, Houston divorced Bobby Brown and gained custody of their daughter, Bobbi Kristina. She has since been working on her 7th studio album with music mogul and close friend and mentor Clive Davis.

During the summer, Rapper Ne-Yo who was consulted on the comeback album said that he “is unimpressed by the CD as it is now. It is same the song performed 8 times. They all had the one same theme, which was ‘My name is Whitney Houston and this is my triumphant comeback’.

We all understand she has gone through a lot. I’m sure we all get that but I think she needs songs about regular everyday life. So that’s what I’m planning to add to the album – songs about everyday emotions.”

Last week, news broke out about a contract dispute between Houston and Sony. “Whitney Houston does not have a new contract with Arista Records/Sony BMG. She always had a contract.”

“In 2001, L.A. Reid handed her a check for $20 million. She spent it. Her recordings didn’t earn out. So now, still under contract, she’s making a new album. She’s in New York working on what she started in Los Angeles a few months ago. All systems are go.”

“Arista, meanwhile, has rejiggered her financial arrangements. They did not give her $10 million, as reported elsewhere. But sources at the company say that Houston has been compensated recently, they’re looking out for her, and making sure she’s happy and in good shape.”
 
How will it all turn out? Your guess is as good as mine.

The release date of Houston’s  album was expected to be next month, in time for the holiday season, but now some sources say it may be  early 2008.

Earlier this year, Whitney Houston’s fans  flocked to a New Jersey auction house to buy the cash-strapped singer’s castoff stained bustiers, feathered purses, scratched vinyl records, discarded underwear and other artifacts.

More than 400 lots were put up for sale, including pianos, keyboards, organs, drums, designer hats, shoes and outfits from well-known names like Giorgio Armani, Jean Paul Gaultier, Pamela Dennis, Gianni Versace and Dolce & Gabbana. Whitney could not pay her storage bills any longer and she fell behind on her property taxes at her estate in Atlanta.