The Allen Room at New York City’s Lincoln Center was grooving last night, but it wasn’t to classical music. Instead, pop diva Whitney Houston hosted a star-studded party to introduce her first album in nearly seven years, I Look To You, which hits stores on Sept. 1.
Legendary producer Clive Davis helped Houston introduce nine tracks from the album, and judging from the response of the nearly 500 guests in attendance, Houston’s much anticipated comeback seems to be hitting all the right notes.
Since Houston’s last album – 2002’s Just Whitney – her life had seemingly spun out of control amid personal struggles that included numerous drug use allegations and a much publicized divorce from longtime husband Bobby Brown. But Houston promptly laid the past, and all rumors of voice problems, to rest as Davis spun the tracks to the resounding approval of the night’s guests.
The first track played, “Million Dollar Bill,” proved without a doubt that Houston’s comeback is for real, and that there’s not a thing wrong with her voice. Even the song’s composer, Alicia Keys, rose up out of her seat and danced as she took video with her personal camera. The moved prompted others in attendance to do the same, including Martha Stewart and Dionne Warwick, who is also Houston’s cousin.
Also included in the album are songs by Leon Russell (“A Song For You”), R. Kelly (“Salute”), Diane Warren (“I Don’t Know My Own Strength”), and Akon (“Like I Never Left”).
Houston appeared onstage after the final song and thanked the crowd for such an inspiring reception.