Whitney Houston News

Multichannel retailer HSN today announced plans for a special primetime homage to the late superstar and music legend, Whitney Houston. HSN Live Presents Whitney Houston's Greatest Hits will premiere on November 5 at 11 p.m. (ET) on HSN, HSN.com and via HSN Mobile. Music industry powerhouse and trusted friend and advisor, Clive Davis will appear on HSN to give his first network interview regarding Whitney since her passing in February. Through his compelling stories and unique insight, HSN will celebrate the life and talent of this amazing artist.

Grammy® Award and Tony Award-Winner, and soon-to-be turning heads on the West End stage in London, UK, Heather Headley, releases her latest CD, Only One In The World. The CD, which bows today, features new songs penned by Headley, R&B hits, familiar favorites and a cut from the upcoming production of The Bodyguard: A New Musical in which Headley makes her London West End debut this fall in Whitney Houston's role, Rachel Marron. Only One In The World is released by in:ciite Media, distributed by EMI-CMG/EMI Distribution.

Lifetime's all-new docuseries THE HOUSTONS: ON OUR OWN, premiering Wednesday, October 24, at 9pm ET/PT with back-to-back episodes, will chronicle those closest to the pop music icon, including her daughter Bobbi Kristina (Krissy); Pat Houston, Whitney's sister-in-law and manager; Pat's daughter Rayah; Whitney's brother Gary; mother, Grammy(R) Award-winning singer Cissy Houston, and family friend Nick Gordon, as they try and pick up the pieces after her untimely death.

Bounce TV (www.bouncetv.com) -- The nation's first-ever broadcast television network designed for African-American audiences -- will turn one on Sept. 26 and its first year on-the-air has been overwhelmingly successful, with accelerated growth and expansion among station groups and distribution, advertisers and viewers alike.

The About Face Theatre Associate Board presents HOMOTOWN 3: A Tribute To Etta, Whitney & Donna tonight, September 24, 2012 at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Doors open at 6 pm, show begins at 7 pm. All proceeds benefit About Face Youth Theatre. Tickets are available at www.aboufacetheatre.com.

Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts, today announced the full cast and creative team for the world premiere of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder withbook by Robert L. Freedman; music by Steven Lutvak; lyrics by Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak; and directed by Darko Tresnjak. A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder will be on stage October 11 to November 11 and will feature Tony Award-winner Jefferson Mays, playing eight of the more than 20 characters.

This week saw the second Britney Spears-centric episode of the musical dramedy series GLEE, "Britney 2.0", as well as the second three-hour block of new episodes of the reality singing competition THE X FACTOR, the latter featuring none other than new judge Britney Spears as it continued to offer up even more preliminary auditions as the arbiters hone in on a Top 20 and we gear up for the live shows starting soon. While the theme of Thursday night on Fox may have very well been their $15 million investment given glam, grand primetime treatment as only the network AMERICAN IDOL and GLEE built really could, both shows proved that the pop princess of the 21st century is at the top of the entertainment heap for very good reason, leaving X FACTOR fans, gleeks and entertainment junkies alike left requesting one thing and one thing only by the time 11 o'clock rolled around: "Gimme gimme more."

The X Factor was headed to Greensboro in tonight's episode, and that means lots of country music, Simon asking 'to try a grit,' and even more singers vying for the attention of the judges. Whether you missed the show or just want to re-live an audition, read on for a full recap of tonight's show!

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), in association with Robert D. Wachs (producer of the hit films Beverly Hills Cop, Beverly Hills Cop 2, Coming to America), present the developmental lab of the new disco musical, Last Dance, featuring songs by the legendary Academy, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning pop master Paul Jabara (Enough is Enough, It's Raining Men, Last Dance, and more) with book by Shaun McKenna (Lord of the Rings, The Musical).

According to NBC, The Voice is a show, "Where our coaches push buttons strictly on voice alone," which makes this a talent show unlike others. Tonight, week two of The Voice continued with an hour of a plethora of amazing singing, emotional reactions, and the usual crazy fun from the coaches.

THE HOUSTONS: ON OUR OWN, an all-new docu-series, will follow the lives of the late Whitney Houston's family, led by Pat Houston, Whitney's sister-in-law and manager, and including Pat's daughter Rayah, Whitney's brother Gary, daughter Bobbi Kristina and mother, Grammy(R) Award-winning singer Cissy Houston.

The About Face Theatre Associate Board presents HOMOTOWN 3: A Tribute To Etta, Whitney & Donna on Monday, September 24, 2012 at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Doors open at 6 pm, show begins at 7 pm. All proceeds benefit About Face Youth Theatre. Tickets are available at www.aboufacetheatre.com.

CBS Television Distribution's Inside Edition begins its new season as television's longest-running, top-rated and most-honored syndicated newsmagazine on September 10, 2012. Inside Edition is the No. 2 syndicated magazine on the air and has ranked among the top 10 first-run syndicated programs every season for the past 24 seasons.

Grammy and Tony Award-Winner Heather Headley's new CD, Only One In The World, is slated for release on September 25, 2012, featuring new songs penned by Headley, R&B hits, familiar favorites and a cut from the upcoming production of The Bodyguard: A New Musical, in which Headley makes her London West End debut this fall. Listen to Headley performing Whitney Houston's famed song 'Run To You' from The Bodyguard - also featured in The Bodyguard: A New Musical - below!

Grammy and Tony Award-Winner Heather Headley's new CD, Only One In The World, is slated for release on September 25, 2012, featuring new songs penned by Headley, R&B hits, familiar favorites and a cut from the upcoming production of The Bodyguard: A New Musical, in which Headley makes her London West End debut this fall. The highly-anticipated CD project is released by in:ciite Media and its distribution partner EMI-CMG Distribution. Listen below to Headley sing the title track 'Only One In The World' from the new album!

On Monday, October 15 at 7pm, Broadway at Birdland is proud to present multi-Grammy and Tony nominated composer Frank Wildhorn in his monthly concert series called "Frank & Friends." Joining Frank onstage will be award-winning jazz vocalist Jane Monheit and renowned Las Vegas/Cafe Carlyle headliner Clint Holmes.

Starring Heather Headley as Rachel Marron and Lloyd Owen as Frank Farmer in the roles made famous on film by the late Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, THE BODYGUARD is currently taking bookings until 27 April 2013 for the production's first booking period. Previews begin on 6 November 2012, twenty years after the release of the Oscar nominated film. Opening night is 5 December. In the video below, go inside the recording studio with Headley, as she sings the show's anthem- 'I Will Always Love You.' Click below to check it out!

Today we are focusing a super-special spotlight on one of the Fall's most intriguing musical entries trying out in New York, the York Theatre Company's lab mounting of the new Paul Jabara jukebox musical LAST DANCE, by talking to the show's lead, recognizable TV and film star Rob Morrow, and the show's lead producer, noted comedic shepherd and filmmaker Robert D. Wachs, whom filled me in on all aspects of the show in a comprehensive chat late last week just prior to this week's start of rehearsals. In this all-encompassing conversation, Morrow, Wachs and I discuss the genesis of the new disco-themed musical celebrating the life and career of Jabara, the accomplished Emmy, Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer of Broadway shows (RACHAEL LILY ROSENBLOOM… AND DON'T YOU EVER FORGET IT), movie songs ("Last Dance" from THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY; the titular "The Main Event") and numerous pop/rock/disco hits, such as "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls, Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer's epic disco duet "Enough Is Enough (No More Tears)" and his many solo hits, as well as the finer points of the story, concept, casting and the ultimate goals of the new Philip William McKinley-directed production, which features a book by Shaun McKenna. Additionally, Morrow and Wachs each generously share showbiz tales from their storied careers involving such big names as Eddie Murphy, Michael Bennett, Jonathan Larson, Tony Scott and many more and both copiously convey their infectious enthusiasm for the forthcoming fully-produced lab presentation of the new musical that will play for five performances beginning September 20 as they prepare for its first viewing before a paying audience. All of that and much, much more awaits!

It's quite an achievement for any theater company to mount a credible "Dreamgirls," frankly, with its casting challenges, costume budget and high energy performance level. But Robin's Marriott "Dreamgirls" succeeds on many levels. It never stops moving, and it frequently moves the audience as well....

The 2012 World Tour of TOPS IN BLUE will be presented at the Omaha Civic Auditorium tonight, August 30, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.