Eleven years after Whitney Houston died, her estate has announced plans to release a posthumous album featuring the legendary singer’s gospel recordings and a documentary about her faith.
The estate revealed details on the two projects Thursday on Good Morning America. An accompanying press release said the album titled I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston will be released on March 24, 2023.
Houston died in Beverly Hills on Feb. 11, 2012. She was 48.
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According to her estate, the album will feature six never-before-released songs, with some recorded as early as 1981. The disc includes the gospel favorites “Jesus Loves Me” and “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” Among the unreleased tracks are “He Can Use Me” and a live version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Pat Houston, executor of Houston’s estate, said in a statement: “I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston is a testament of Whitney’s heart.”
“Her love for gospel music permeates through every song with love, compassion and conviction,” Pat added. “To love Whitney is to love what she represents to all that love the gospel. I salute this project knowing that Whitney always stood on a solid rock for her love of gospel music. I hope you enjoy this amazing project that was simply a labor of love for all involved.”
The album will be available on CD through Gaither Music Group and on all digital streaming platforms via Arista/Legacy Recordings.
The documentary, which carries the same title as the album, is hosted by Grammy-winning gospel singer CeCe Winans and produced by Barry Jennings. It’s scheduled to air Friday, March 24, at 8 p.m. ET on both UPtv and AspireTV.
Here’s the official description: “The documentary will take viewers on a journey from her first-ever performance in front of an audience to her many breathtaking appearances performing gospel songs through 1996’s The Preacher’s Wife soundtrack, the best-selling gospel album of all time. Select standouts on this visual treasure include unforgettable performances at the NAACP Image Awards, at the American Music Awards, and at Ebony’s 50th Anniversary TV special.”
“It has been an honor to work with the Estate of Whitney E. Houston and Primary Wave Music to create this special recording and documentary,” added Gaither Music Group President Paul Sizelove. “These collections capture the origin of her singing, celebrate some of her triumphant performances and detail the foundation of gospel music that was a passion and a source of strength for her.”
Below are additional details on the two projects.
Album Listing:
I Go to the Rock (The Preacher’s Wife Soundtrack)
Jesus Loves Me (The Bodyguard Soundtrack)
He Can Use Me – UNRELEASED TRACK
Joy to the World (The Preacher’s Wife Soundtrack)
Bridge Over Troubled Water (Whitney and CeCe Winans; VH1 Honors) – UNRELEASED TRACK
Testimony – UNRELEASED TRACK
I Look to You
His Eye Is on the Sparrow (Sparkle soundtrack)
Hold On, Help Is on the Way (The Preacher’s Wife Soundtrack)
This Day (VH1 Honors) – UNRELEASED TRACK
I Found a Wonderful Way – UNRELEASED TRACK
Joy (The Preacher’s Wife Soundtrack)
I Love the Lord (The Preacher’s Wife Soundtrack)
He/I Believe– UNRELEASED TRACK
Documentary Track Listing:
I Go to the Rock – Whitney Houston featuring The Georgia Mass Choir, Saturday Night Live, 1996
Guide Me O Thou, Great Jehovah – Whitney Houston, The Arsenio Hall Show, 1990
This Day – Whitney Houston, VH1 Honors, 1995
Jesus Loves Me – Whitney Houston, Live in Santiago, Chile, 1994
Wonderful Counselor – Whitney, Cissy, & Gary Houston, American Music Awards, 1988
Hold Up the Light – Whitney Houston and Bebe & Cece Winans, 21st NAACP Image Awards, 1989
Bridge Over Troubled Water – Whitney Houston and Cece Winans, VH1 Honors, 1995
I Look to You – Whitney Houston, 2009
I Love the Lord – Whitney Houston featuring the Georgia Mass Choir, 50th Anniversary of Ebony Magazine TV Special, 1996
Joy to the World – Whitney Houston featuring the Georgia Mass Choir, 50th Anniversary of Ebony Magazine TV Special, 1996