Estate Launches New Album and Barbie Doll to Honor Whitney Houston

What Happened

The estate of Whitney Houston, in collaboration with various partners, has introduced several new products and events to mark the singer's 63rd birthday. A new compilation album, WH1TNEY, was released on Friday, aggregating all 11 of Houston’s singles that reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100. The collection includes the 1987 hit "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)," which recently surpassed 1.7 billion streams on Spotify, making it her most-streamed track on the platform.

Simultaneously, Mattel has released the first Whitney Houston Barbie doll as part of its Signature collection. The collectible recreates the singer's aesthetic from the "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" music video, featuring a purple tank dress, colorful earrings, and a microphone stand. The doll’s development was a collaboration between Mattel, Primary Wave Music, and the singer's estate, based on discussions that the estate's executor, Pat Houston, says began more than 20 years ago.

Background

The new releases draw heavily from Houston's sophomore album, Whitney, which made history as the first record by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. The lead single from that album, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody," earned Houston a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1988 and was part of a record-setting run of seven consecutive number-one singles.

Key Facts

• The new album WH1TNEY contains all 11 of the singer's Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits.
• The Whitney Houston Barbie doll retails for $60 and is modeled after her 1987 music video appearance.
• "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" has achieved over 1.7 billion Spotify streams, surpassing "I Will Always Love You" in platform popularity.
• Industry veteran Clive Davis, who played a central role in Houston's career, died in June.
• The fifth annual Whitney Houston Legacy of Love gala took place in Atlanta, featuring a performance by Babyface.