Whitney Houston: A VICTIM OF SUCCESS?

Whitney Houston was an attractive woman blessed with an extraordinary singing voice. Imagine selling more than 170 million music albums and commanding six figure incomes to deliver a ninety minute concert. However, despite her corporate successes, Whitney succumbed to major personal challenges. 

In a recent Good Morning America interview, Whitney’s friend Celine Dion talked freely about the consequences of success. Celine, also an extraordinary singer, believed Whitney allowed herself to become a victim of “the dark side to success.” This dark side of show business includes drugs, casual sex and a variety of vices that do not contribute to the profession. In reflecting on the destructive outcomes of these practices, Celine Dion concluded, “I’m so scared…I’m scared of show business…I’m scared of drugs…I’m scared of hanging out.”

But how could Whitney get so messed-up in this lifestyle; wasn’t she raised in the church? At the age of eleven, she was already singing in the church choir, under the watchful eyes of her parents, and especially her mother, who directed the music. How could a church-girl get into drugs like other entertainers? How could young church-influenced performing artistes succumb to behaviors so opposed to their upbringing? Agreed, the drift is subtle, but it is very common.

My wife and I had one memorable exposure to this drift in the mid-eighties. We went to see the play, Mama I Want to Sing in New York City. From a theatrical and business point of view, the play was a phenomenal success. The story line was simple: Doris Winter took her talent from church to Hollywood, just like Whitney Houston did.

The movie Church Girl took a similar story line – from church to Hollywood. The trend leaves critics asking, “why would our young people compromise their bodies and barter their souls?” One film critic was rather blunt in analyzing Church Girl and asked, “What would make a well-rooted church girl trade in her choir robe for a g-string?”

I shudder when I think of upcoming luminaries like Katy Perry. Raised by Christian pastor parents, Katy grew-up listening to gospel music and sang in her local church as a child. As of 2012, Perry has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards. However, as she climbs the entertainment ladder, her personal life has begun to fall apart. I pray, the same would not be said of last year’s America’s Idol winner, Scotty McCreery.

These talented musicians were raised in environments that encouraged giving glory to God, not to self. They were taught that the message of their music should be uplifting to their audiences. Our youth were taught to be both performers and role models to their audiences. Their early exposure to music was often set in a context of reflection and humility – they were appreciated but never glorified by their audience.

However, as our young people take advantage of the opportunities to go secular with their talent, do they naively anticipate audiences like those in church? Some believe they are leaving the church as ambassadors of Christian values. However, when confronted with attractive prospects, our young people are often unable to deal with the strings attached and challenges to compromise. Suddenly, opportunities become entrapments. Priorities change to please producers, managers and audiences, who do not share Christian values. Before long, performers are condoning and not analyzing negative behaviors.

Like in any industry, performers hang together. In the process, personal boundaries begin to blur and the corporate image would seem to be all that matters. In addition, that culture of affluence, fame and celebrity status is personally stressful. In order to relieve that stress, many artistes naively enter what Celine Dion refers to as “the dark side in the entertainment world.”

Thankfully, some of our young people have survived the entrapments in the industry and should be applauded and viewed as role-models. The journey of Michael W. Smith is rarely referenced as we enjoy his worshipful songs. Early in his quest for opportunities, he traveled the Nashville route performing at gigs and whatever else was available. Before long, he was participating in the lifestyle of his audiences. He cried out to God for help, not merely to therapists. Like the Prodigal Son, he returned home and the rest is history. He experienced God’s amazing grace.

As I was preparing this commentary, I came across today’s airing of Haven Today. In the program, Give Up Your Glory, Charles Morris interviewed Michael W. Smith and Brian Welsh. Both musicians agreed that superstars in any arena have a problem…other people want to worship them. (Like me, you too can order a CD at HavenToday.org.) However, the Christian artiste must never forget, only God should be worshipped. Anything else is idolatry.