The Fairly OddParents (sometimes abbreviated FOP) is an American animated television series created by Butch Hartman about the adventures of Timmy Turner, who is granted fairy godparents named Cosmo and Wanda. The series started out as cartoon segments that ran from September 4, 1998 to March 23, 2001 on Oh Yeah! Cartoons and was later picked up as a series. It is produced by Frederator Studios and Billionfold Studios (season 6–present) for the cable network Nickelodeon. After the episode Meet The OddParents, the series entered a long hiatus, but this will end with either the episode Farm Pit or the premiere of the 9th season in 2012.

Plot[link]

At the beginning, Vicky was the main, and apparently only, antagonist. As the series progressed, however, more villains were added. For example, his teacher, Mr. Crocker, firmly believes in fairy godparents and has been searching for them a very long time, suspecting that Timmy has fairy godparents. He is dangerous to Timmy because, according to "Da Rules", a large rulebook that defines what children can and cannot wish for and how fairy godparents must behave, nobody else can know about his fairy godparents, or else they will be taken away from him. At his school, he is often bullied by Francis, a vicious boy who claims to be the toughest student in school, but reveals to Timmy that he only takes out his anger on him because of his rough home life and abusive parents, proving he is somewhere in-between as a protagonist and an antagonist. Jorgen Von Strangle, an enormous and tough fairy with an Austrian accent, often described like Arnold Schwarzenegger, personally dislikes Timmy and his fairies (although in "Teeth for Two" he states Cosmo and Wanda are his closest friends, claiming he punches many others). Timmy is also loathed by his unwished wishes, for wishing them out of existence. Well into the series, Timmy is introduced to his archenemy, Remy Buxaplenty. He is joined by his fairy and ex-boyfriend of Wanda, Juandissimo Maqnifico. Remy is very jealous of Timmy for having two fairies while he only has one. He is also jealous of his loving parents. Remy's parents are constantly ignoring him, which led to him getting fairies. Juandissimo is constantly trying to woo Wanda, much to Cosmo's annoyance.

Cast[link]

Main characters[link]

• Tara Strong as Timmy Turner, Baby Poof
• Daran Norris as Cosmo
• Susanne Blakeslee as Wanda
• Grey DeLisle as Vicky
• Ibrahim Haneef Muhammad and Gary LeRoi Gray as AJ
• Frankie Muniz and Jason Marsden as Chester McBadbat
• Carlos Alazraqui as Denzel Crocker

Recurring cast[link]

• Daran Norris as Mr. Turner, Jorgen Von Strangle, Anti-Cosmo, Mr. Chris, the April Fool, George Washington, and Pappy
• Susanne Blakeslee as Mrs. Turner, Anti-Wanda, and Blonda Fairywinkle #1
• Carlos Alazraqui as Juandissimo Magnifico, Mayor, Chompy the Goat, and Sheldon Dinkleberg
• Grey DeLisle as Tootie, Veronica, Chad, Principal Geraldine Waxelplax, AJ's Mom, Tooth Fairy, and Happy Peppy Betty, Kid, Bird, Aunt Gertrude Crab, Chicken, Dino, Female Protozoa, Female Stomach Flu, Star, Mr Whiskers, Female Newscaster, Kid #2, Female Fairy #2, Ms. Dimmsdale, Fan #2, Receptionist, Fat Fairy, Fairy #1, Blob #3, Computer Nerd, Girl Fan #2, Researcher, Astronaut, Boy #2, Snerd Kid, Girl #2, Salon Woman #1, Soap Actress, Betty, Little Kid, Dad's Dolphin Voice, Tough Kid #2, Nerd #1, Vicky the Kid, Teacher, Fairy Contestant, Woman #2, Child, Bearded Woman, Blonde Woman, Trillie, Beverly Boulevard, Old Woman, Sanjay's Mom, Joan Jett, Tour Guide, Assistant, Female Make-up Artist, Waitress, Pup Tart, Babysitter Robot, Tom Sawyer, Lunchlady, Mandie, Girl, Bike Teen, James, Vickybot, Molly, Princess Mandie, Mary Lou, Dr. Tina Tune-Up, Trucker
• Dee Bradley Baker as Elmer, Sanjay, Binky Abdul, the Bronze Kneecap, Thomas Jefferson, Remy Buxaplenty, Shallowgrave, and Brad
• Faith Abrahams as Francis
• Dionne Quan as Trixie Tang
• Rob Paulsen as Mark Chang, King Gripploun, Bucky McBadbat, and Happy Peppy Gary
• Tara Strong as Blonda Fairywinkle #2, Tad, Princess Mandie, Vicky's Mom, and Britney Britney
• Jay Leno as the Crimson Chin and Nega-Chin
• Tom Kenny as Cupid
• Jim Ward as Mr. Bickles, Dr. Rip Studwell, Doug Dimmadome, Vicky's Dad, and Chet Ubetcha
• Jane Carr as Mama Cosma
• Tony Sirico as Big Daddy
• Kevin Michael Richardson as Dark Laser, Santa Claus, and AJ's Dad
• Ben Stein as the Pixies
• Chris Kirkpatrick as Chip SkyLark and Skip Sparkypants
• Adam West as Himself and Catman
• Gilbert Gottfried as Dr. Bender and Wendell
• Norm Macdonald and Robert Cait as Norm the Genie (other appearances)
• Eric Bauza as Foop
• S. Scott Bullock as Flappy Bob
• Alec Baldwin as Older Timmy
• Butch Hartman as Dr. Rip Studwell (other appearances)
• Laraine Newman as Queen Jipjorrulac
• Robert Costanzo and Danny DeVito as Easter Bunny (other appearances)
• Dana Carvey as Schnozmo Cosma
• Richard Dean Anderson as MacGyver

Guest stars

Throughout the course of the show, many celebrities have guest starred on The Fairly OddParents. Some of the most notable are recurring characters Adam West (Catman) and Jay Leno (The Crimson Chin and a parody of himself in one episode). Some other famous stars were Norm Macdonald (Norm the Genie), Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC (Chip SkyLark), Alec Baldwin (Older Timmy), Ben Stein (The Pixies), Gilbert Gottfried (Dr. Bender and Wendell), Brendan Fraser (Turbo Thunder), Patrick Warburton (M.E.R.F. agents), Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley (themselves), Steve Irwin (the Bad Parent Hunter, a self parody of "The Crocodile Hunter"), and Tom Arnold (Santa).^{[citation needed]}

Though not featured as guests on the show, references have been made to other public figures, including Bill Gates (shown as a child with Cosmo and Wanda as fairy godparents), Tina Turner (also one of their godkids), Billy Crystal (parodied as Billy Crystal Ball), Sylvester Stallone (parodied as Sylvester Calzone), Britney Spears (parodied as Britney Britney), and President George W. Bush (a U.S. president was depicted in one episode, and he bore resemblance to then-president Bush). In the episode "Remy Rides Again," Remy hires a scientist to help Timmy with his math who uses a wheelchair and uses a computer to communicate, resembling Stephen Hawking. There is also references to "Jorgen Von Strangle," appearing to be a parodied Arnold Schwarzenegger, due to his large physique and thick accent. However, Arnold was also parodied in the Fairly OddParents where he was labelled "Arnold Schwartzen-German". He also quoted, "To be, or not to be, Annihilated!", which is a spoof from the movie "Last Action Hero" and Hamlet.^{[citation needed]}

Production history[link]

Early origins (1998–2001)[link]

Producer Butch Hartman originally created The Fairly OddParents as a seven minute short film entitled "Fairy Godparents,"^{[dead link]} one of 39 short cartoons in the first season of Fred Seibert's Oh Yeah! Cartoons.^{[citation needed]} Butch Hartman made six more short films for the show in Season 3. Nickelodeon agreed to a six episode order (consisting of two 11-minute stories) of "The Fairly Oddparents", which began airing on March 30, 2001, in the half hour after Invader Zim. On April 11, 2006, Nickelodeon UK aired nine Oh Yeah! Cartoons shorts in three episodes.^{[citation needed]} These stories include "Where's the Wand", in which Vicky uses Wanda's wand, and "Too Many Timmys", in which Timmy makes copies of himself. Each episode lasts for about 7 minutes.^{[citation needed]} Unlike the half-hour series, the animation in the shorts is not as smooth, and the designs are notably different (including Timmy's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Turner, who are only seen from the neck down with their faces hidden in the pilot episodes and are not as dumb as they were in the original series, yet still easily duped by Vicky's meanness). Other notable differences include voices like Timmy Turner, who was voiced by another actress (Mary Kay Bergman), instead of Tara Strong and Cosmo's voice is a lot deeper and he is much smarter than in the original series. Wanda is shown to be less intelligent and less of a nag. Vicky is much less evil than in the original series. She also call calls Timmy by his name as opposed to the more often used "twerp". Originally, Butch wanted Timmy to wear a blue hat, but since he ran out of blue ink, he decided to make it pink. Wanda was originally going to be named "Venus".^{[citation needed]}

Early popularity (2001–2004)[link]

The Fairly OddParents was immediately popular, greatly increasing its lead-in rating from Invader Zim. In fact, no matter what time slot Nickelodeon placed the show in, Nick's ratings soared. The series attracted a wider than anticipated audience, appealing to all ages, a feat only matched by SpongeBob SquarePants.^{[citation needed]} Other than SpongeBob, it was later Nickelodeon's highest rated show. Early 2002 and 2003 was the first peak of popularity for The Fairly OddParents. Ratings sky-rocketed, and it briefly passed SpongeBob SquarePants. However when "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" was released, SpongeBob gained much more popularity than Fairly Oddparents.^{[citation needed]} The show saw its quick rise to the top in Australia and United States in summer of 2002 and 2003 when the show's first TV special, Abra-Catastrophe!, was aired. The film was a success and many products were merchandised.^{[citation needed]}

After Abra-Catastrophe!, creator Butch Hartman created a new project for Nickelodeon called Danny Phantom. A second Fairly OddParents TV special was made, titled Channel Chasers. Since then, there have been other specials, like The Secret Origin of Denzel Crocker, Crash Nebula, School's Out! The Musical, Fairy Idol, the "Jimmy-Timmy" crossovers, Fairly OddBaby, Wishology, Anti-Poof and the live-action movie Grow Up Timmy Turner!.

End and resumption of production (2005–2007)[link]

Nickelodeon ceased the production of the show late in 2005, with "The Jerkinators (The Jimmy Timmy Power Hour 3)" as the actual season finale of the sixth season, though in the U.S. the episode "Timmy the Barbarian!/No Substitute for Crazy!" was shown after The Jerkinators as the 5th season finale. Butch Hartman made the official announcement on his forum on January 24, 2006. However, Butch announced on February 2, 2007 on his forum that Nick has granted Fairly OddParents twenty more episode slots and that the show had resumed production.

A theatrical movie was planned for release by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies and by international Warner Bros. Pictures , but was eventually dropped due to a regime change by Paramount, though the script was written. Hartman stated on his website^[1] that he would like to release the movie to DVD one day, but did not have any definitive plans to do so.^[1] The Fairly OddParents have appeared in a $50 Best Western travel card over the 2006 summer period and again over the 2007 summer period.^{[citation needed]}

Revival and tenth Anniversary (2008–present)[link]

After a one year hiatus, Nickelodeon announced on TV that they would begin the broadcast of a television movie called Fairly OddBaby as the beginning of at least 20 episodes of Season 6, and to carry the show to at least the year 2011.^[2] A huge hit, Fairly OddBaby aired on February 18, 2008, becoming the top entertainment program across broadcast and basic cable TV for the year among kids.^[3] Also, four new episodes aired each day at 5:00 p.m. EST beginning on Monday, March 10 after a rerun of the Fairly OddBaby special, and ending on Thursday (3–13) of that week. Another new episode week aired from May 12–16, 2008. The Fairly Oddlympics aired on August 1, 2008, as part of the lead-up to the 2008 Summer Olympics, which began on August 8, 2008. Another premiere week aired through August 11–15, 2008. Four new episodes of The Fairly OddParents aired during Super Stuffed Nicktoons Weekend. The next three Fairly OddParents movies, Wishology, aired in three one-hour installments during the first weekend of May 2009. This is the first Fairly OddParents movie to be nearly three hours long (or, excluding commercials, 144 minutes) and to be presented in HD and widescreen, and they are the last episodes of the season.^{[citation needed]}

Another Fairly OddParents special was released on Nickelodeon called Anti-Poof. This was the tenth Fairly OddParents special. It aired on July 10, 2009 and it followed a week of brand new Fairly OddParents episodes airing from July 6 to July 9, 2009. The special followed all of the new episodes aired in succession and was only episode length itself. It premiered on July 10, 2009 at 7:00 pm est. And on August 10–14 there was a premiere of brand new episodes of the Fairly Oddparents at 6:00 P.M. est. On October 19, 2009 – October 23, 2009 @ 4/3c. The fairly oddparents aired one new episode February 6 part of Super Secret Crush Weekend. Currently Fairly Odd Parents Episodes air only on Saturday and Sunday mornings. A new episode premiered on September 11 at 11:30 a.m and September 18 at 11:30 EST. In February, Love Triangle premiered on the 12th and "Spellementary School" and "Operation Dinkleberg" premiered on the 26th. More new episodes began airing on February 11, 2011, including a live action TV movie called "A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!" that was premiered on July 9, 2011.

After the airing of "A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!" in July, more episodes aired between seasons 7 and 8, throughout the month of July and August 2011. It was also announced that new specials have aired in the Fall of 2011. Starting with the double length episode titled "When L.O.S.E.R.S. Attack" airing in October. Followed by the recent 1 hour length movie called "Timmy's Secret Wish" that aired in November during the week of Thanksgiving. (The movie aired on different days in November throughout other countries). The third announced title, "Meet the OddParents", aired in December where Timmy's Godparents are seen by Timmy's parents. The featured headgag is that of Dudley Puppy's, the main character of another popular Butch Hartman television series named T.U.F.F. Puppy. After about a 4-month hiatus, "Farm Pit" aired on May 26, 2012. ^[4]

Crossovers[link]

The Fairly OddParents has crossed over with The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius in the Jimmy Timmy Power Hour trilogy. Expanding into three total one-hour specials, the cross over features the mixed adventures with the cast of The Fairly OddParents and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Their first encounter consisted of Jimmy and Timmy ending up in their opposite dimension, and taking on their sudden conflict that the other character would normally face (Where Jimmy Neutron faces Mr. Crocker in Timmy's World, and Timmy Turner would face Evil Goddard in Jimmy's World). When it came to Episodes 2 and 3, more characters were given a significant role as Jimmy and Timmy, and appear in the others' dimension. Where, additionally, Jimmy's Friends also get to appear in 2D animation and Timmy's friends appear in CGI animation. The first production of the trilogy was released in 2004, while the final two productions of the trilogy both aired in 2006 in two respectful different times of the year. In Episode 1, Denzel Crocker from The Fairly OddParents is the main antagonist. In Episode 2, Professor Finbar Calamotus from The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius was the main antagonist. In Episode 3, Shirley, a villain created by Jimmy and Timmy to battle because they were bored, is the main antagonist.

Episodes[link]

As of December 29, 2011, a total of 157 episodes have aired in 128 1/2 shows. An 8th season aired on February 12, 2011, featuring episodes 121-126. After the episode Meet the OddParents the series entered a big hitaus. However, it will end with either the episode Farm Pit or the 9th Season premeire (which ever comes first).

Seasons[link]

[edit] The Fairly OddParents special episodes

Fairly OddParents TV movies[link]

Jimmy Timmy Power Hour saga[link]

Awards[link]

Primetime Emmy Awards

• 2005 – Outstanding Individual in Animation – Gordon Hammond for ("Shelf Life") (won)

Daytime Emmy Awards

• 2010 – Outstanding Sound Mixing – Live Action and Animation – Michael Beiriger and Ray Leonard (won)^[5]
• 2010 – Outstanding Individual in Animation – Dave Thomas for ("Dadbracadabra") (won)^[6]

DVD and VHS[link]

See also[link]

	Nickelodeon portal
	Animation portal
	Television portal
	Cartoon portal

References[link]

External links[link]

Look up Appendix:The Fairly OddParents in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: The Fairly OddParents

• The Fairly Oddparents at Frederator Studios
• Production blog
• The Fairly OddParents quiz
• The Fairly OddParents at the Internet Movie Database
• The Fairly OddParents! at the Big Cartoon DataBase
• The Fairly OddParents at TV.com

Regine Velasquez
Velasquez performing live in her Duel Of The Divas Concert on September 20, 2008 at Newark Symphony Hall in Newark, New Jersey
Background information
Birth name	Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez
Born	(1970-04-22) 22 April 1970 (age 42) Manila, Philippines
Genres	OPM, pop, adult contemporary, soul, Ballad , Broadway
Occupations	Singer, actress, record producer, TV host, stage director, fashion designer, model
Instruments	Vocals (Lyric coloratura soprano)
Years active	1986—present
Labels	Vicor (1990—1991) Polygram (1993—1998) VIVA (1998—2006) Universal (2006—present)
Website	www.reginemultimedia.com Regine Velasquez's autograph

Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez-Alcasid (born April 22, 1970), known as Regine Velasquez, is a Filipino singer, actress, record producer and TV host. She won the 1989 Asia Pacific Singing Contest in Hong Kong,^[1] and is widely known for possessing an extensive vocal range.^[2][3]

Velasquez is the first Asian artist to stage a solo concert at the Carnegie Hall in New York, as part of Carnegie Hall's centennial-year concert series.^[4][5]

In 1994, Polygram Records produced her first Asia-released album, Listen Without Prejudice.^[6] It is considered as Velasquez' most successful album to date, selling more than 700,000 copies in Asia.^[7] The album has sold over 100,000 units in the Philippines, 300,000 units in China and 20,000 in Thailand.^[6][7]

She has collaborated with artists such as Paul Anka,^[8][9] David Hasselhoff, 98 Degrees, Brian McKnight, Mandy Moore, Ronan Keating, Stephen Bishop, Jim Brickman,^[10] Peabo Bryson,^[11] Jeffrey Osborne, Dave Koz, Grasshopper, Coco Lee, Michel Legrand, David Pomeranz, Eduardo Capetillo, Fernando Carrillo, Billy Crawford, and Singaporean vocal band Skritch. "In Love With You", a duet with Jacky Cheung, landed the top spot in MTV Asia's Top 20 Asian Videos in 2000.

In 2000, She performed the country's millennial theme Written In The Sand together with 2,000 children in the top-roof of The Peninsula Manila,^[12] televised in 67 broadcast networks throughout the world to coincide with midnight in Manila for the BBC's millennium special 2000 Today.^[12]

She has also embarked on several television and film projects, receiving a Best Actress award for her portrayal of a mentally challenged woman in a Maalaala Mo Kaya episode entitled "Lobo".^[13][14] Velasquez formed IndiMusic (iMusic), a record label partnered with Bella Tan's Universal Records.^[15] She is currently managed by Aria Productions.^[16]

Biography[link]

1970–1985: Early life and discovery[link]

Velasquez is the first child of Teresita and Gerardo Velasquez, born in Tondo, Metro Manila, Philippines on April 22, 1970. Her family moved to Hinundayan, Southern Leyte, where Velasquez studied at the Hinundayan Central School. Music figured largely in her early development; her father always sang Frank Sinatra songs to the children and her mother accompanied on guitar. Velasquez always loved music and even before she could read, she was singing along with the family. Her father signed her up for small local singing competitions. He helped train her voice by having her sing while neck-deep in the ocean. Her mother also helped by teaching her how to move on stage and interpret songs. At the age of six, Velasquez participated in a nationally-televised amateur singing competition, The Tita Betty's Children's Show. Her piece, "Buhat Nang Kita'y Makilala" (Since I Met You), won third place. Velasquez continued to compete in more singing competitions in small towns around the country. By nine, Velasquez and her family had moved to Balagtas, Bulacan, where she studied at Balagtas Central School. She later studied at St. Lawrence Academy, where she won Vocal Solo and Vocal Duet awards for her school at the annual BULPRISA (Bulacan Private School Association) competition. At fourteen, Velasquez entered the senior division of Ang Bagong Kampeon (The New Champion), a nationally-televised singing competition, hosted by Bert "Tawa" Marcelo and Pilita Corrales.^[17] Her father suggested that she audition with "Saan Ako Nagkamali" (Where Did I Go Wrong). She won for eight straight weeks and became the first grand champion of the show. The show's musical director, Dominic Salustiano, suggested her winning piece, George Benson's "In Your Eyes". She won a contract with OctoArts, recording the single "Love Me Again" as Chona Velasquez, her nickname at the time. She then joined the Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), an organization of Filipino singers, performing in music lounges all over Metro Manila. Members of OPM helped her out by giving her industry advice and by lending their gowns for her performances.

1986–1987: Debuts[link]

At the behest of friend and fellow OctoArts recording artist, Pops Fernandez, Velasquez guested on the GMA 7 Variety TV show, 'Penthouse Live', on February 16, 1986. Martin Nievera, Pops' husband and co-host of the show, suggested to Velasquez that she drop the name "Chona" and use Regine as her screen name. That year, her father resigned from his job as a construction estimator to fully attend to his daughter's blossoming career.^[18]

Viva Records signed Velasquez to a contract in 1987, releasing her self-titled debut album Regine. The album contained the songs "Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang," "Isang Lahi, " and "Urong Sulong." Her first regularly televised performances were musical variety shows with ensemble casts, such as ABS-CBN's Triple Treat and the Sunday variety show Teen Pan Alley. Velasquez and Alley's Janno Gibbs continued to collaborate throughout the years, creating the musical Kenkoy at Rosing, recording the cover song "Magkasuyo Buong Gabi," and performing duets in concert.

1988–1991: International exposure[link]

In 1988, Velasquez cut her hair short out of protestations that she was not given a chance to stage her first concert entitled, "True Colors" because "The Jets" were performing on that same day which was on her 18th birthday.

In 1989, Velasquez was chosen to represent the Philippines in the Asia-Pacific Singing Contest held in Hong Kong. On Dececember 23, 1989, Velasquez won the grand prize with "You'll Never Walk Alone" from Carousel and "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls. After the competition, media started calling her Asia's Songbird.^[19]

Jose Mari Chan, picked Velasquez to do a duet for his album entitled Constant Change. The album was awarded a Certified Diamond Record Award by the PRIMA. Gary Valenciano penned the song 'Each Passing Night' which they sang together for his album 'Faces of Love'.^[20]

Velasquez signed with Vicor records and released several albums, starting with Nineteen 90. The album included t "Narito Ako" ("Here I Am"), her first Ogie Alcasid-penned song, "I Have To Say Goodbye, " and "Promdi". Her first major solo concert, Narito Ako, was standing-room only at the Folk Arts Theater, with Gary Valenciano as a guest performer. Velasquez's debut United States solo concert, Narito Ako sa New York (Here I Am in New York), was held at the Main Hall of Carnegie Hall on October 11, 1991. Her special guest was Ray-An Fuentes. The concert was a roaring success that earned three standing ovations from the audience.

She sang "Urong-Sulong" and "Narito Ako" plus "I'm Your Baby Tonight" "Greatest Love of All," "You'll Never Walk Alone," "We Can Work It Out," "Somewhere" and a Barbra Streisand medley and romance medley with guest Ray An Fuentes.

She next released an album, Tagala Talaga ("A Genuine Tagalog Lady"). It comprises her renditions of classic Filipino compositions by Nonong Pedero, Willy Cruz, George Canseco, Louie Ocampo, Freddie Aguilar, and National Artists for Music Awardees Ryan Cayabyab, Lucio D. San Pedro, and Levi Celerio.

1992–1998: Asian music scene[link]

"Sana Maulit Muli" (1993) noicon One of Velasquez biggest hits in the 1990s, with a strong arrangement and sure, strong vocals. "In Love With You" (1994) noicon Velasquez collaboration with Jacky Cheung is one of her biggest singles in Asia. "Days Like These" (1995) noicon Days Like These contained outlandish musical effects and high vocals. "Fly" (1996) noicon Velasquez first single from her album Retro with a sample of September by Earth Wind and Fire. "Hold On To Your Dreams" (1996) noicon "Hold On To Your Dreams" included in her album Love Was Born On Christmas Day.

Problems listening to these files? See media help.

In 1992, Velasquez continued to guest on variety shows in the Philippines. In July 1993, she was discovered by Alex Chan and Norman Cheng, the Regional Marketing Manager of Polygram Far East and President of Polygram Far East while watching Velasquez' "Music and Me" concert. Afterwards, they approached and told Velasquez that they wanted to manage her Asian career.

First, they featured Velasquez in a duet with Paul Anka entitled "It's Hard to Say Goodbye"^[9] which is included in her fourth album, Reason Enough, which was released in 1993 and achieved platinum album status. It featured "Sana Maulit Muli," "Babalikang Muli," and a duet with Gary Valenciano, "Slip Away."

In November 4, 1994, Velasquez performed with Janno Gibbs and Ariel Rivera at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. About 6,100 people came. Then on November 12, 1994 they performed at Cow Palace Auditorium in San Francisco; ticket sales exceeded 8,200. On November 18, 1994 they performed at the Beacon Theatre in New York wherein 400 standing-room-only tickets were released along with 3,000 seats sold out two weeks before the concert date.^[21]

PolyGram Records produced her first Asian album, Listen Without Prejudice. "In Love With You," a duet with Jacky Cheung, turned platinum in Taiwan seven days after its release. In its year-end sales of 1994, Listen Without Prejudice reported sales of over 300,000+ units in Asia in three months.^[6] It was reportedly the first huge success of PolyGram in Asia.

Velasquez' second album, My Love Emotion,^[22] featured "You've Made Me Stronger," composed by Trina Belamide. Velasquez said that this album was born from a live performance in Singapore. She performed in Singapore for the Perfect 10 Music Awards in 1995. She was nominated in two categories (Favorite New Act and Favorite Performance in a song for "In Love With You") but lost. She sang "In Love With You" with a Singaporean singer and "What Kind of Fool Am I?". After singing "What Kind of Fool Am I?" Phil Buckle (the guitarist of Southern Sons, an Australian band) congratulated Velasquez and told her that he'd like to write her a song. Phil composed "My Love Emotion," which is the title of the album. She did two videos for "You've Made Me Stronger" and "My Love Emotion" and sold 100,000 copies Asia-wide on the first month of its release. In the year-end sales of "My Love Emotion," it sold more than 250,000 units across Asia.^[22]

As a part of her My Love Emotion Japanese album launch, Velasquez was invited to perform in many concert guestings, Asian music gatherings, and festivals such as Yoshinogari Ruins in Saga Prefecture 1994 and 1995 when she did the opening and closing numbers.

Before Velasquez participated in the Asian music scene in Manila in October 18, 1996, her third Asian album Retro was released. The album contains re-arrangements of her favorite songs. She and Remus Choy made a video for the duet "I Can't Help It."

As a part of her Retro album promotion, Velasquez guested and performed with some of the songs included in her album at the event called The Open Concert in South Korea.^[23][24]

Velasquez joined Ryan Cayabyab's musical adaptation of José Rizal's Noli Me Tangere at the CCP in 1995. She played the tragic role of Maria Clara opposite Audie Gemora's Crisostomo Ibarra, directed by Nonong Padilla.^[25] Vic Del Rosario of Viva saw her performance and offered her the lead in Wanted: Perfect Mother, a movie adaptation of the Mars Ravelo comic book series, loosely based on The Sound of Music.^[26] Martin Nievera wrote the theme, "You Are My Song," one of Velasquez's original hit singles.^[27] The movie was her first starring role and first pairing with Christopher De Leon.

On April 20, 1996, she did a free concert at the UP Sunken Garden to celebrate her tenth year in show business. It was her way of thanking her country for supporting her all these years. The special guests were Ivy Violan, Nanette Inventor, Bernardo Bernardo, the Tux, Louie Ocampo, Janno Gibbs and Cacai Velasquez. Velasquez herself was the stage director and she conceptualized the show. The musical director was Ryan Cayabyab. They were backed up by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.^[28] In the same year, Velasquez recorded a Christmas album, Love Was Born on Christmas Day, her final album under Polycosmic Records. She also ended her contract with Primeline, Inc., opting to manage her own career with her sister, Cacai Velasquez.^[29]

June 7, 1997, Velasquez and Philippine Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma staged the "Power of 2" concert in San Francisco and Pasadena in the U.S. The show was huge with over 12,000 people in attendance. Afterwards, she had a Canada concert tour (Toronto, Winnipeg and Calgary) and shows with Pops Fernandez in Italy which were all successful.^[28]

Viva Records released her multi-platinum R&B and hip hop album Drawn, produced by Mark J. Feist,^[30] featuring a portrait made by Velasquez on the cover. Songs like "How Could You Leave,"^[31] "Never Ever Say Goodbye," and more upbeat songs like "Once in a Lifetime" and "Messin' With My Head" celebrated her vocal power, technique, and versatility.^[32] A mix of original and cover tracks with an R&B flair comprised the album. The only Filipino track in the album, "Ikaw (You)," was the theme song of her movie with matinee idol Aga Muhlach. The single "Emotions" was produced by Mark Feist, who later produced the Destiny's Child cover of the same song in 2001 with very little variation. Velasquez also developed a more sexy public image, distancing herself from her former demure one.^[33]

Drawn was the one of Velasquez best selling albums: Two weeks after its release, it turned platinum with 40,000 copies sold and ended up on 8x Platinum (350,000+ copies sold).^[34] It was considered the figure two weeks after the set of its release. Drawn was officially available on November 22, 1998 but, according to VMG advertising and promotion manager Bambi Diploma, a number of outlets sold the album around November 16, 1998.^[34]

Eventually, her star shone brighter year after year. Velasquez became an international star and released three multi-platinum albums in Asia. She toured the Philippines and other countries, captivating jam-packed crowds with her performances. She was really a crowd favorite, in large part to her charm and endearing personality. "I work hard at what I do. I try to do better all the time," she says.

1999–2005: Transition and independence[link]

	"On The Wings Of Love" (1999) noicon Velasquez biggest hit in 2000.
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

In November 10, 1999, Velasquez released her album R2K a mnemonic of (Regine 2000)^[35] which consists covers of international artists.^[35] It went platinum (40,000) within 2 weeks of its release on Nov. 27, 1999, it is also the first album by a local artist to include a bonus VCD that is available only include in the album, contains 6 videos of songs from the audio CD.^[35] In 2001R2k reportedly ended up with the certification of Octuple Platinum Record Award which equivalent in the Philippines of 8X Platinum (350,000+ copies sold).^[36] But in 2004 it was reportedly certified 12X Platinum (480,000+ copies sold), but never awarded by its own label.^[36]

On the evening of 31 December 1999, Christian Lanzar a Hemophilia stricken child was joined by more than 2,000 children, some who arrived as early as 10:00 a.m. to rehearse, at the top of Manila Peninsula Hotel. "I was gathering enough energy and strength to face a magnificent milestone in my life," said Christian. Velasquez joined the contingent to perform the country's millennial theme,^[12] "Written in the Sand" was beamed to 67 major broadcast networks in Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and Africa — reaching more than a billion of people. The first to view the broadcast were the people of the Kiribati Islands in Fiji, and the song crossed 24 time zones, culminating in the Samoa Islands.^[37]

Two years later, Velasquez released an all-original album titled Reigne. The album included songs like "To Reach You," "Dadalhin," and "Sa Aking Pag-iisa"which had a remix version. She also worked with singer Marvi Napoles in reviving Mariah Carey/Brian Mcknight Whenever You Call.

Velasquez became the spokesperson for American fast-food chains like KFC and Wendy's in Asia. As an actress, she appeared in a number of Filipino films. In 2002, she won Best Actress from Star Awards for Television in her portrayal of a retarded woman seeking acceptance and love. She also released the film "Ikaw Lamang, Hanggang Ngayon" and received an MTV Asia award for "Best Philippine Artist,". She was named the "Box Office Queen" award the same year from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial foundation.

She also staged the Bantay Bata Benefit concert, One Night with Regine, set at the stairs of the Philippine National Museum which won Best Musical Special at the 2003 Asian Television Awards. Her MTV Asia special entitled Speak Your Mind was nominated for the UNICEF Child Rights Awards. The production was highly commended for its agenda on child welfare, documenting the plight of homeless children swarming the streets of Metro Manila, in an effort to protect and safeguard their rights.^[38]

She also hosted the amateur singing contest Star For A Night which aimed to discover new talents. The weekly show was aired on IBC-13 and was a co-production with Viva.

Velasquez became the first and second recipient of the MTV Favorite Artist Award (Philippines) in 2002. During the 2002 award ceremony held in Singapore, she sang "Cry" in a duet with Mandy Moore, one of the hosts.^[39][40]

In 2003, Velasquez reunited with Martin Nievera in the Martín Nievera and Regine Velasquez World Concert Tour. The concert was an artistic and commercial success. The first quarter of 2004 saw Velasquez and co-artist, singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid in much-anticipated back-to-back concerts entitled The Songbird and the Songwriter. Velasquez formed her own record label called Songbird Music in that same year. She produced an album for Gabby Eigenmann who was her co-host in SOP. Velasquez won her MTV Favorite Artist Award (Philippines) for the second time in MTV Asia Awards.^[39]

In 2004, Velasquez released Covers Vol. 1, comprising cover songs including Original Pilipino Music (OPM) classics of male singers like Basil Valdez, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Side A, True Faith, and Ariel Rivera. Velasquez transferred her amateur singing contest to GMA-7 and changed the name to Search For A Star.

Velasquez starred in GMA's telenovela Forever In My Heart opposite Richard Gomez, Dawn Zulueta, and former flame Ariel Rivera. December 2004 was Velasquez return to major solo concert performance. She staged in a 24,000 seat Araneta Coliseum another set of back-to-back concert performances regally titled Reigning Still. The show was triumphant amidst a series of typhoons that ravaged Manila and nearby provinces. Reigning Still wasn't a culmination of Velasquez' career, it was a bridge to a new level in her career – maturity – in performance and in work. She moved on with the event and for two consecutive nights, Regine conquered the Araneta Coliseum again on her own. The concert was not full to its maximum capacity on the first night (considering that Manila's streets are still flooded at that time) but the second night was a real full house. Never mind since it has been declared Sold Out two weeks before the concert which means even if people didn't make it, tickets were already bought and sold. That's very important especially that Velasquez donned the hat of producer and director. The concert was a showcase of what Velasquez has learned in her craft through the years. It is a spectacle of her running concepts, ideas and style where you can see a Velasquez touch in every detail of it. The concert though was more pop in nature, high spirited, experimental and upbeat, following the trend of recent concerts by Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, and Christina Aguilera In 2005, Velasquez and singer Pops Fernandez performed a concert, Queens On Fire, later taking it on an eight-city U.S. tour.

Velasquez held the Reflections Concert series at Aliw Theatre late that year. The stage was decorated with mannequins wearing her gowns from the past decade which were later auctioned for the benefit of GMA's Kapuso Foundation. The concert featured the prodigies "Wyeth Gifted Kids" (saxophonist Jacob Sarreal, violinists Joseph Valdés and Paulina, and classical cellist Pocholo Gutiérrez). The concert featured songs by her favorite singers or the foreign female singers who have influenced her career. The concert consisted of numerous medleys of hits by Barbra Streisand, Anita Baker, Sheena Easton, Spice Girls, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion.

Velasquez hosted Pinoy Pop Superstar (a singing competition on GMA 7 which started last 2005 until 2008) which launched the career of Jonalyn Viray (1st Pinoy Pop Superstar Grand Champion who also competed at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Hollywood where she won five golds for Broadway, Original, Pop, R&B and Variety categories & was declared "Overall Champion Female Solo" in Broadway, Pop and Original).

She recorded the theme song "Di Na Nag-iisa" for the Darna TV series, based on the Darna comic book character created by Mars Ravelo. The theme song was composed by South Border's Jay Durias and the song was nominated for an Aliw Award for Best Song Made For Television. The song was also used in the movie Till I Met You and is included in the original sound track.

2006–2008: 20th Anniversary and independent record label launch[link]

2006 marked Velasquez 20th Anniversary in showbiz. She released the album Covers Volume 2, featuring covers of international hit songs including Elvis Presley's "Blue Suede Shoes" and The Beatles' "Come Together". All of the songs were presented with new arrangements in various musical genres. The first single was "Hold Me In Your Arms," covering the Southern Sons song.

Her Valentine concert at the Araneta Coliseum, Forever After, co-starred Ogie Alcasid, Rico Puno, and Ai Ai Delas Alas. She and Pops Fernandez staged the North American leg of the Queens on Fire concert tour in the spring of 2006. The Forever After tour was staged in key US cities and at the Wembley Arena in London.

On August 13, 2006, the Sharon Cuneta Show devoted an to Velasquez. In the middle of 2006, together with manager Cacai Velasquez, boyfriend Ogie Alcasid, and brother-in-law Raul Mitra, Velasquez launched the IndiMusic record label. As part of her 20th anniversary celebration, she staged Twenty concert, at the Araneta Coliseum in mid-October 2006. Velasquez also recorded "Maghihintay Ako," the theme song for the sci-fi telenovela Atlantika.

In 2007, People Asia magazine's "People of the Year" honored her with the Exemplary Achievement Award, shared with three others. On March 14, Velasquez together with Kuh Ledesma represented the Philippines in the Mosaic International Music Festival in Singapore held at the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.^[41]

Her movie, Paano Kita Iibigin, opened on May 30, 2007. The movie was the first co-production between Viva Films and Star Cinema which is owned by media conglomerate ABS-CBN. A soundtrack, featuring solos and duets by the co-stars, was released by Star Records, the first time Velasquez produced an album outside Viva Entertainment. The theme song was penned by Ogie Alcasid.

In August 2007, Velasquez and Alcasid started hosting Celebrity Duets (Philippines) on GMA 7. The show pairs up local personalities with local professional singers. Velásquez also endorsed Vicki Belo's "Belo Essentials," which includes singer Zsa Zsa Padilla and model/TV personality Lucy Torres. This year she recorded the theme song of GMA's remake of MariMar. In October 2007, she appeared on the cover of the fashion magazine "Preview".

Velasquez attended the 2007 Aliw Awards held at Palacio de Maynila and won "Best Major Concert Act (Female)" for her 20th year anniversary concert at the Araneta Coliseum. Velasquez was also awarded "The Most Successful Artist of the Year" award by Walk Of Fame Philippines on December 4, 2007 in Eastwood, Quezon City.

Velasquez had a featured performance on Korean television KBS1 entitled Window of Asia showcasing her life.

She also starred a weekly musical variety show on GMA7 titled Songbird which premiered May 15, 2008. The "Up Close and Personal" solo U.S concert tour started in May 2008.

A series of concerts with Lani Misalucha started with a tour of the US and Canada in September 2008 before moving to Manila in 2009. Also in 2008, Velasquez released her 15th studio album, Low Key, which earned a certified gold status three days after its release.^[42] In December 2008, she performed with Pops Fernandez, Kuh Ledesma, and Zsa Zsa Padilla in the biggest concert of the year at the Araneta Coliseum dubbed as Divas 4 Divas.

[edit] 2009–2011: Directorial Debuts, Fantasy, Marriage, Motherhood & Career Break

Velasquez's Low Key under Universal Records became the first platinum album of 2009.^[42]

Velasquez also played Anna in the series Totoy Bato, a soap in GMA-7. In March and May 2009, she went on tour in the US to stage The Divas 4 Divas US Tour; also, in 2009, Velasquez hosted the GMA singing competition, Are You The Next Big Star? which Frencheska Farr ended up as the grand champion.

Velasquez did a docu-biography show aired last May 24, 2009 on GMA Network^[43] as part of her month-long birthday celebration entitled "Roots To Riches." The show featured untold stories, "going back to Regine's roots from her amateur singing days in Malolos, Bulacan up to where she is now."^[43] She also gave citation to her young rival in singing competitions, Minerva "Eva" Castillo. They joined in one stage singing, "Ako Ang Nagwagi", a Dulce hit-song.^[44]

After being scheduled to perform at a concert with Charice Pempengco, Velasquez was forced to pull out after contracting the swine flu. She has since recovered.^[45]

At the final requiem mass for President Corazon Aquino, August 5, 2009, Velásquez sang a duet with Martin Nievera, "The Prayer."

In August 1 and 8, Velasquez held a two-night sold-out concert entitled "Regine... Most Requested" at the SkyDome, SM North EDSA, which marked her return to the Viva fold. As the theme of the concert Velasquez performs most-requested radio airplay classics, OPM and popular hits of different artists such as the rock band Heart, Grammy-winning band Chicago, and Pinoy Rock band Eraserheads, Eva Castillo appeared as her special guest.^[46][47][48] The TV Coverage of her concert later shown in November 21 in her home network GMA7.^[49] Early December, she started her most requested concert in provincial places and early next year she is scheduled to finish her provincial tours.^[50]

In August 28, 2009, Velasquez launched a perfume collection via Bench. The two new scents are branded as Reigne and Songbird. Reigne has a touch of sophistication but of a more pronounced charm of floral and fruit combined; Songbird has floral and powdery feel to it symbolic of daintiness that is light enough for everyday use.^[51]

Velasquez is also a big part of her husband Ogie Alcasid project- "Kaya Natin Ito" the CD. The said project will be supported by Gawad Kalinga to help the Ondoy and Pepeng victims in the disaster.

In 2010, Velasquez started the year by accepting a comic-villain role in GMA-7's Darna. She starred as Darna’s latest nemesis Elektra – Queen of Planet Women, Velasquez said it would be a different experience indeed because her character belongs to the evil side hence It's a new experience for her to play this role.^[52][53][54] At the same time, went on to conclude the provincial tour of her SRO 2009 concert series, "Regine Most Requested". Also in March 2010, she starred again in a new prime time offering of GMA Network for their 60th Anniversary titled Diva again with Mark Anthony Fernandez and supporting role of Glaiza de Castro. The series was highly acclaimed by critics for its being innovative, as well as viewer-friendly to all ages. She also did a concert tour entitled Heart 2 Heart with Ogie Alcasid.

Velasquez attended the inauguration of the 15th president of the Republic of the Philippines Noynoy Aquino at the Quirino Grandstand on June 30, 2010, performing Aquino's first campaign jingle "Hindi Ka Nagiisa" and "Bagong Pilipinas" together with other Filipino artists.^{[55][56][57][58]}

For the fourth time (2000-9, 2001–4, 2002–7), Velasquez was ranked 8th in the top 10 of FHM Philippines 100 Sexiest Woman In The World.^[59] In November 2010, Velasquez started shooting for her new GMA-7 teleserye, "I Heart U Pare" opposite Dingdong Dantes. A great deal of the story will tackle the colorful and burlesque world of gays and drag queens. Set to premiere on early 2011, this is Velasquez's 5th series for the GMA network.^[60]

Velasquez released an album under Universal Records entitled Fantasy, a 2-CD album containing 22 tracks.^[61] Fantasy also has two sets of packaging. Each box-set contains 10 sets of post-cards that are in color and in black and white. Fantasy was awarded a Gold Record Award two weeks after its release, and after one month it was awarded as Platinum Record Award making it one of the fastest selling albums of 2010 in Philippine albums history.^[62]

In February 7, 2011, Velasquez TV series I Heart You, Pare premieres.^[63]

In March 15, 2011, the Asia's Songbird became the recipient of the MYX Magna Award during the 6th MYX Music Awards 2011 to commemorate her 25th year anniversary in OPM Music Scene. Before she accepts the special award, she was given a tribute by Yeng Constantino, Julie Anne San Jose, Frencheska Farr, Kyla, Mark Bautista, Rachelle Ann Go, Christian Bautista and her husband Ogie Alcasid who sang her hit-songs.^{[64][65][66][67]}

In June 2011 Velasquez was nominated as Coolest Female Singer in 2011 Yahoo Philippines OMG Awards, She got 43% of the over all votes, but she lost it to Charice Pempengco with 54% of over all votes .^[68]

2012-Present: Comeback[link]

After her nine-month career break, Velasquez made a comeback in her Sunday variety show Party Pilipinas on February 12, 2012 to promote her Valentine concert. Along with co-hosts Jaya, Rachelle Ann Go, Kyla and Jonalyn Viray, Velasquez did an impromptu/unrehearsed performance to give tribute to one of their biggest music influences, American singer Whitney Houston who died hours before the show started. Velasquez sang a medley of Houston's hits such as All the Man That I Need, The Greatest Love of All and I Will Always Love You together with the other singers who also gave a tribute.^[69] Prior to her performance, Velasquez gave testimony on the influence Ms Houston made on her, "The songs of this diva shaped and inspired the singer that I am today, to commemorate her, this is my tribute to Whitney Houston" "I’m deeply saddened by her passing. She influenced me, especially when I was just starting. I’m a fan and will always be one. Rest in peace, Ms Houston..".^[70][71]

As part of her grand comeback, Velasquez had a sold-out joint concert with husband, singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid, entitled Mr. & Mrs. A on February 14, 2012 (Valentine's Day) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. This was their very first concert together as husband and wife after Velasquez gave birth to their firstborn son. Love and emotions outpour as the couple sings timeless songs that unravel their life and love stories which surely engaged viewers in the beauty of love. The concept of the show is also based on Velasquez' experience in wonderful and challenging sides of marriage and being a mother. The jam-packed Smart Araneta Coliseum proved that the Asia's Songbird still reigns the Philippine concert scene. The most talked-about and successful Valentine/comeback concert of the Songbird featured artists from both ABS-CBN and GMA-7 networks. The guests were Dingdong Dantes, R&B Princess Kyla, the first-ever "Star Power" winner Angeline Quinto, Prince of Pop Erik Santos and Vice Ganda. American Idol Season 7 runner-up David Archuleta surprised the Big Dome when he showed up and performed with the power couple. ^{[72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79]}

In April 2012, Velasquez' firstborn son, Nathaniel James Alcasid, was featured in her television commercial with husband Ogie Alcasid entitled "Experience Love for Sun Life Financial". Their TVC for Sun Life Financial was first aired on April 9, 2012.^[80]

Acting career[link]

Velasquez' first movie role was in the film The Untouchable Family. She soon ventured into comedy films. She was cast in the 1988 film Pik Pak Boom. She then co-starred in the flick Elvis and James.

Velasquez' returned to the cinema in 1996 for her first lead role in the film Wanted Perfect Mother. Also in that same year, she was one of three lead actresses in the musical comedy DoReMi alongside Donna Cruz and Mikee Cojuangco. Despite being part of the movie, Velasquez' vocals were not part in recording of the movie's soundtrack, as it was an then-upcoming VIVA Records singer named Krystine, who sang vocals on her part.^[81] In the movie version, Velasquez was able to record her vocals just in time before the movie was released.

In 1998's Honey Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako, she played a ghost who died in a car accident days before her wedding day. Also, Velasquez co-starred with Aga Muhlach in the romantic film Dahil May Isang Ikaw. Later, in 2000, she starred in Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw with Robin Padilla. In 2001 she starred in Pangako Ikaw Lang which earned her a Box-Office Queen award from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation.

Velasquez acted in two more romantic films in 2002 and 2003; Ikaw Lamang, Hanggang Ngayon and Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka. In December 2003, she appeared in Captain Barbell.

Velasquez returned to the romance genre in 2006 and 2007 with Till I Met You and Paano Kita Iibigin. In June 2008, she was the voice of Urduja in the animated film Urduja.

In 2009, Velasquez, conceptualized the story for OMG (Oh, My Girl!) and she will appear in a cameo role as a production assistant.^[82]

Velasquez is currently filming Mrs. Recto, an indie film under the direction of Director Dante Nico Garcia. Her third reunion movie with Aga Muhlach, Of All The Things.

Personal life[link]

Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid announced their engagement at Party Pilipinas on August 8, 2010 after 7 years.^[83] By December 22 of the same year, Velasquez married long-time partner Ogie Alcasid in Terrazas de Punta Fuego in Nasugbu Batangas.^[84]

Velasquez wore a red wedding gown during her star-studded "Wedding of the Decade". The dress was specially designed by Monique Lhuillier for reportedly $8,000 (although some people claimed it cost more), a gift for her by Dr. Vicki Belo who stood as one of the 20 principal sponsors who also included Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde, GMA big boss Felipe L. Gozon, GMA exec Wilma Galvante, TV5 boss Manny V. Pangilinan, Sharon Cuneta, Jose Mari Chan, Viva boss Vic del Rosario Jr., Tony Tuviera, German Moreno, Ida Henares, Nanette Inventor, Orlando Ilacad, Anastacia Puno, Dr. Crisanta Villanueva, US-based concert producer Ma. Rosario Legarda, Ronnie Henares, Freddie Santos and Michel Lhuillier and wife Amparito Llamas-Lhuillier (Monique’s parents).^[85]

President Benigno Aquino III was one of the groomsmen during the wedding.^[86]

In April 2011, She and her husband confirmed the news of her pregnancy through the same afternoon-variety show, Party Pilipinas.^[87]

In November 8, 2011, Velasquez gave birth to her and husband Ogie Alcasid's first born, Nathaniel James Velasquez Alcasid at the Makati Medical Center.^[88]

Philanthropy and other activities[link]

In 1994 Velasquez become the and ambassador of Duty Free Philippines anti-drug campaign has an aim to fight drugs in the Philippines.

In 1995 Velasquez performed to the Singapore's National Kidney Foundation, the HongKong AIDS Foundation, the Hong KongPhilharmonic Orchestra. The proceeds goes to the cited charitable event.

In 1999 Velasquez and the Municipality of Pasig did a fund raising event called Muling Aawit ang Pasig it was the concert were Velasquez performed, the proceeds goes to the rehabilitation of Pasig River. Later on it was followed with another event called Piso Para sa Pasig also starred by Velasquez all the proceeds goes to the cited recipient.^[89]

In 2002 Unicef picked Velasquez as the one of their Ambassadors in Asia. As one of her first project, Velasquez did a documentary MTV Asia special entitled Speak Your Mind which was nominated for the UNICEF Child Rights Awards.^[90] The production was highly commended for its agendum on child welfare, documenting the plight of homeless children swarming the streets of Metro Manila, in an effort to protect and safeguard their rights.^[38]

In May 2002, Velasquez staged the Bantay Bata Benefit concert, One Night with Regine, set at the stairs of the Philippine National Museum which won Best Musical Special at the 2003 Asian Television Awards.^[91]

In 2005 Velasquez sold 40 of her gowns in an auction sale launched on October 23, 2005 on the Mel & Joey talk show with the proceeds going to GMA 7's Give a Gift: Alay sa Batang Pinoy project which desires to give some needs for those in need. The auction resulted in more than P 800,000 (Philippine Peso).^[92][93]

In response to Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, Velasquez joined other celebreties who donated more than P 300,000 for the victims and she did a relief works in the affected areas.^[94] In December 2009, Velasquez did a Musical Special called After The Rain starring the stories of the families that has been affected by the Typhoon.^[95]

In 2010 Velasquez was named as one of the ambassadors of Operation Smile a non-government organization, which provides medical treatment to children with cleft palate.^[96]

Discography[link]

• Regine (1987)
• Nineteen '90 (1990)
• Tagala Talaga (1991)
• Reason Enough (1993)
• Listen Without Prejudice (1994)
• My Love Emotion (1995)
• Retro (1996)
• Love Was Born On Christmas Day (1996)
• Drawn (1998)
• R2K (1999)
• Reigne (2001)
• Covers, Vol. 1 (2004)
• Covers, Vol. 2 (2006)
• Low Key (2008)
• Fantasy (2010)

Theatre[link]

Filmography[link]

Films

Television

Notable guest appearances

• 1993: Mr Kupido — "Reason Enough", with Apa Ongpin and Jenine Desiderio
• 1994 : Ober Da Bakod
• 1994: Spotlight — with Ariel Rivera
• December 22, 1996: Ikaw, Ako At Ang Awit with Gary Valenciano
• 1996: Muling Aawit Ang Pasig: GMA Foundation featuring Regine Velásquez
• February 26, 1997: Mikee – "The Black Triangle", with Donna Cruz and Mikee Cojuangco
• May 26, 1999: Mikee Forever
• September 7, 1999: Kool Ka Lang
• September 13, 2000: Pwedeng Pwede
• July 4, 2001: Larawan with Dingdong Dantes
• August 22, 2001: Beh Bote Nga
• April 27, 2003: Huling Yakap Sa Tag-araw with Dingdong Dantes
• May 2003: OK Fine Whatever
• December 2003: Idol Ko si Kap
• May 2004: Tanging Ina, TV Series

See also[link]

• List of awards and nominations received by Regine Velasquez
• Honorific nicknames in popular music in the Philippines
• Honorific nicknames in popular music

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Regine Velasquez

• Regine Velásquez at the Internet Movie Database

v t e Regine Velasquez Albums Singles Filmography Tours Awards and Nominations Studio albums Regine Nineteen 90 Tagala Talaga Reason Enough Listen Without Prejudice My Love Emotion Retro Love Was Born On Christmas Day Drawn R2K Reigne Covers, Vol. 1 Covers, Vol. 2 Low Key Fantasy Live albums Regine Live: Songbird Sings The Classics Compilation albums Regine: Collector's Edition Very Special Unsolo The Songbird And The Songwriter Platinum Collection Two Of A Kind Duets Silver Series: Greatest Hits Silver Series: Movie Theme Songs Silver Series: Duets 18 Greatest Hits 54 Greatest Hits Magpakailanman Ogie And Regine: Ever After Extended Plays Regine Velasquez: Special Edition Shine Reigne:The Book EP Soundtrack albums Wanted:Perfect Mother Adarna: The Mythical Bird Do Re Mi Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw Pangako… Ikaw Lang Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka Captain Barbell Till I Met You Paano Kita Iibigin Urduja Filmography The Untouchable Family Pik Pak Boom Elvis and James 2 Wanted: Perfect Mother Do Re Mi Honey Nasa Langit na Ba Ako? Dahil May Isang Ikaw Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw Pangako Ikaw Lang Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon Captain Barbell Masikip Sa Dibdib Till I Met You Paano Kita Iibigin Urduja Kimmy Dora OMG (Oh, My Girl!) Mrs. Recto Of All The Things Related articles IndiMusic Songbird Music Make-A-Wish Foundation Operation Smile Unicef Reigne: Fragrance By Regine Velasquez Songbird: Fragrance By Regine Velasquez Category:Regine Velasquez albums

Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston performing at Good Morning America in Central Park on September 1, 2009
Background information
Birth name	Whitney Elizabeth Houston
Born	(1963-08-09)August 9, 1963 Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	February 11, 2012(2012-02-11) (aged 48) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Genres	R&B, soul, pop, dance, gospel
Occupations	Singer, actress, model, film producer, record producer, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, piano
Years active	1977–2012
Labels	Arista, RCA
Associated acts	Cissy Houston, Dionne Warwick, Dee Dee Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Jermaine Jackson, Mariah Carey, Enrique Iglesias, Bobby Brown
Website	Official website Whitney Houston's autograph

Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American recording artist, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most-awarded female act of all-time.^[1] Houston was one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide.^[2][3] She released seven studio albums and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which have diamond, multi-platinum, platinum or gold certification. Houston's crossover appeal on the popular music charts, as well as her prominence on MTV, starting with her video for "How Will I Know",^[4] influenced several African American female artists to follow in her footsteps.^[5][6]

Houston is the only artist to chart seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits.^[7] She is the second artist behind Elton John and the only female artist to have two number-one Billboard 200 Album awards (formerly "Top Pop Album") on the Billboard magazine year-end charts.^[8] Houston's 1985 debut album Whitney Houston became the best-selling debut album by a female act at the time of its release. The album was named Rolling Stone's best album of 1986, and was ranked at number 254 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.^[9] Her second studio album Whitney (1987) became the first album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart.^[9]

Houston's first acting role was as the star of the feature film The Bodyguard (1992). The film's original soundtrack won the 1994 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Its lead single "I Will Always Love You", became the best-selling single by a female artist in music history. With the album, Houston became the first act (solo or group, male or female) to sell more than a million copies of an album within a single week period under Nielsen SoundScan system.^[9] The album makes her the top female act in the top 10 list of the best-selling albums of all time, at number four. Houston continued to star in movies and contribute to their soundtracks, including the films Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher's Wife (1996). The Preacher's Wife soundtrack became the best-selling gospel album in history.^[10]

Life and career[link]

1963–1976: Early life[link]

Whitney Houston was born in what was then a middle-income neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey, the second child of Army serviceman and entertainment executive John Russell Houston, Jr. (September 13, 1920 – February 2, 2003), and gospel singer Cissy Houston (née Emily Drinkard).^[11] She was of African American, Native American and Dutch descent.^[12] Her mother, along with cousins Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, godmother Darlene Love^[13] and honorary aunt Aretha Franklin^[14] were all notable figures in the gospel, rhythm and blues, pop, and soul genres.^[15] She met her honorary aunt at age 8, or 9, when her mother took her to a recording studio.^[16] Houston was raised a Baptist, but was also exposed to the Pentecostal church. After the 1967 Newark riots, the family moved to a middle-class area in East Orange, New Jersey, when she was four.^[17]

At the age of 11, Houston began to follow in her mother's footsteps and started performing as a soloist in the junior gospel choir at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, where she also learned to play the piano.^[18] Her first solo performance in the church was "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah".^[19] When Houston was a teenager, she attended Mount Saint Dominic Academy, a Catholic girls' high school in Caldwell, New Jersey, where she met her best friend Robyn Crawford, whom she described as the "sister she never had".^[20] While Houston was still in school, her mother continued to teach her how to sing.^[5] In addition to her mother, Franklin, and Warwick, Houston was also exposed to the music of Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, and Roberta Flack, most of whom would have an impact on her as a singer and performer.^[21]

1977–1984: Early career[link]

Houston spent some of her teenage years touring nightclubs where her mother Cissy was performing, and she would occasionally get on stage and perform with her. In 1977, at age 14, she became a backup singer on the Michael Zager Band's single "Life's a Party".^[22] In 1978, at age 15, Houston sang background vocals on Chaka Khan's hit single "I'm Every Woman", a song she would later turn into a larger hit for herself on her monster-selling The Bodyguard soundtrack album.^[23][24] She also sang back-up on albums by Lou Rawls and Jermaine Jackson.^[23]

In the early 1980s, Houston started working as a fashion model after a photographer saw her at Carnegie Hall singing with her mother. She appeared in Seventeen^[25] and became one of the first women of color to grace the cover of the magazine.^[26] She was also featured in layouts in the pages of Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Young Miss, and appeared in a Canada Dry soft drink TV commercial.^[27] Her striking looks and girl-next-door charm made her one of the most sought after teen models of that time.^[27] While modeling, she continued her burgeoning recording career by working with producers Michael Beinhorn, Bill Laswell and Martin Bisi on an album they were spearheading called One Down, which was credited to the group Material. For that project, Houston contributed the ballad "Memories", a cover of a song by Hugh Hopper of Soft Machine. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice called her contribution "one of the most gorgeous ballads you've ever heard".^[28] She also appeared as a lead vocalist on one track on a Paul Jabara album, entitled Paul Jabara and Friends, released by Columbia Records in 1983.^[29]

Houston had previously been offered several recording agencies (Michael Zager in 1980, and Elektra Records in 1981), however her mother declined the offers stating her daughter must first complete high school.^[22][30] In 1983, Gerry Griffith, an A&R representative from Arista Records, saw her performing with her mother in a New York City nightclub and was impressed. He convinced Arista's head Clive Davis to make time to see Houston perform. Davis too was impressed and offered a worldwide recording contract which Houston signed. Later that year, she made her national televised debut alongside Davis on The Merv Griffin Show.^[31]

Houston signed with Arista in 1983, but did not begin work on her album immediately.^[1] The label wanted to make sure no other label signed the singer away. Davis wanted to ensure he had the right material and producers for Houston's debut album. Some producers had to pass on the project due to prior commitments.^[32] Houston first recorded a duet with Teddy Pendergrass entitled "Hold Me" which appeared on his album, Love Language.^[33] The single was released in 1984 and gave Houston her first taste of success, becoming a Top 5 R&B hit.^[34] It would also appear on her debut album in 1985.

1985–1986: Rise to international prominence[link]

With production from Michael Masser, Kashif, Jermaine Jackson, and Narada Michael Walden, Houston's debut album Whitney Houston was released in February 1985. Rolling Stone magazine praised Houston, calling her "one of the most exciting new voices in years" while The New York Times called the album "an impressive, musically conservative showcase for an exceptional vocal talent".^[35][36] Arista Records promoted Houston's album with three different singles from the album in the US, UK and other European countries. In the UK, the dance-funk "Someone for Me", which failed to chart in the country, was the first single while "All at Once" was in such European countries as the Netherlands and Belgium, where the song reached the top 5 on the singles charts, respectively.^[37]

In the US, the soulful ballad "You Give Good Love" was chosen as the lead single from Houston's debut to establish her in the black marketplace first.^[38] Outside the US, the song failed to get enough attention to become a hit, but in the US, it gave the album its first major hit as it peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and No. 1 on the Hot R&B chart.^[32] As a result, the album began to sell strongly, and Houston continued promotion by touring nightclubs in the US. She also began performing on late-night television talk shows, which were not usually accessible to unestablished black acts. The jazzy ballad "Saving All My Love for You" was released next and it would become Houston's first No. 1 single in both the US and the UK. She was then an opening act for singer Jeffrey Osborne on his nationwide tour. "Thinking About You" was released as the promo single only to R&B-oriented radio stations, which peaked at number ten on the US R&B Chart. At the time, MTV had received harsh criticism for not playing enough videos by black, Latino, and other racial minorities while favoring white acts.^[39] The third US single, "How Will I Know", peaked at No. 1 and introduced Houston to the MTV audience thanks to its video. Houston's subsequent singles from this, and future albums, would make her the first African-American female artist to receive consistent heavy rotation on MTV.^[26]

By 1986, a year after its initial release, Whitney Houston topped the Billboard 200 albums chart and stayed there for 14 non-consecutive weeks.^[40] The final single, "Greatest Love of All", became Houston's biggest hit at the time after peaking No. 1 and remaining there for three weeks on the Hot 100 chart, which made her debut the first album by a female artist to yield three No. 1 hits. Houston was No. 1 artist of the year and Whitney Houston was the No. 1 album of the year on the 1986 Billboard year-end charts, making her the first female artist to earn that distinction.^[40] At the time, Houston released the best-selling debut album by a solo artist.^[41] Houston then embarked on her world tour, Greatest Love Tour. The album had become an international success, and was certified 13× platinum (diamond) in the United States alone, and has sold a total of 25 million copies worldwide.^[42]

At the 1986 Grammy Awards, Houston was nominated for three awards including Album of the Year.^[43] She was not eligible for the Best New Artist category due to her previous hit R&B duet recording with Teddy Pendergrass in 1984.^[44] She won her first Grammy award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for "Saving All My Love for You".^[45] Houston's performance of the song during the Grammy telecast later earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.^[46]

Houston won seven American Music Awards in total in 1986 and 1987, and an MTV Video Music Award.^[47][48] The album's popularity would also carry over to the 1987 Grammy Awards when "Greatest Love of All" would receive a Record of the Year nomination. Houston's debut album is listed as one of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and on The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Definitive 200 list.^[49][50] Houston's grand entrance into the music industry is considered one of the 25 musical milestones of the last 25 years, according to USA Today.^[51] Following Houston's breakthrough, doors were opened for other African-American female artists such as Janet Jackson and Anita Baker to find notable success in popular music and on MTV.^[52][53]

[edit] 1987–1991: Whitney, I'm Your Baby Tonight and "The Star Spangled Banner"

With many expectations, Houston's second album, Whitney, was released in June 1987. The album again featured production from Masser, Kashif and Walden as well as Jellybean Benitez. Many critics complained that the material was too similar to her previous album. Rolling Stone said, "the narrow channel through which this talent has been directed is frustrating".^[54] Still, the album enjoyed commercial success. Houston became the first female artist in music history to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and the first artist to enter the albums chart at number one in both the US and UK, while also hitting number one or top ten in dozens of other countries around the world. The album's first single, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)", was also a massive hit worldwide, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and topping the singles chart in many countries such as Australia, Germany and the UK. The next three singles, "Didn't We Almost Have It All", "So Emotional", and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" all peaked at number one on the US Hot 100 chart, which gave her a total of seven consecutive number one hits, breaking the record of six previously shared by The Beatles and The Bee Gees.^[55][56] Houston became the first female artist to generate four number-one singles from one album. Whitney has been certified 9× Platinum in the US for shipments of over 9 million copies, and has sold a total of 20 million copies worldwide.^[57]

At the 30th Grammy Awards in 1988, Houston was nominated for three awards, including Album of the Year, winning her second Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)".^[58][59] Houston also won two American Music Awards in 1988 and 1989, respectively, and a Soul Train Music Award.^[60][61][62] Following the release of the album, Houston embarked on the Moment of Truth World Tour, which was one of the ten highest grossing concert tours of 1987.^[63] The success of the tours during 1986–87 and her two studio albums ranked Houston No. 8 for the highest earning entertainers list according to Forbes magazine.^[64] She was the highest earning African-American woman overall and the third highest entertainer after Bill Cosby and Eddie Murphy.^[64]

Houston was a supporter of Nelson Mandela and the anti-apartheid movement. During her modeling days, the singer refused to work with any agencies who did business with the then-apartheid South Africa.^[65][66] On June 11, 1988, during the European leg of her tour, Houston joined other musicians to perform a set at Wembley Stadium in London to celebrate a then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday.^[65] Over 72,000 people attended Wembley Stadium, and over a billion people tuned in worldwide as the rock concert raised over $1 million for charities while bringing awareness to apartheid.^[67] Houston then flew back to the US for a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City in August. The show was a benefit concert that raised a quarter of a million dollars for the United Negro College Fund.^[68] In the same year, she recorded a song for NBC's coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics, "One Moment in Time", which became a Top 5 hit in the US, while reaching number one in the UK and Germany.^[69][70][71] With her world tour continuing overseas, Houston was still one of the top 20 highest earning entertainers for 1987–88 according to Forbes magazine.^[72][73]

Houston performing "Saving All My Love for You" on the Welcome Home Heroes concert in 1991

In 1989, Houston formed The Whitney Houston Foundation For Children, a non-profit organization that has raised funds for the needs of children around the world. The organization cares for homelessness, children with cancer or AIDS, and other issues of self-empowerment.^[74] With the success of her first two albums, Houston was undoubtedly an international crossover superstar, the most prominent since Michael Jackson, appealing to all demographics. However, some black critics believed she was "selling out".^[6] They felt her singing on record lacked the soul that was present during her live concerts.^[25]

At the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards, when Houston's name was called out for a nomination, a few in the audience jeered.^[75][76] Houston defended herself against the criticism, stating, "If you're gonna have a long career, there's a certain way to do it, and I did it that way. I'm not ashamed of it".^[25] Houston took a more urban direction with her third studio album, I'm Your Baby Tonight, released in November 1990. She produced and chose producers for this album and as a result, it featured production and collaborations with L.A. Reid and Babyface, Luther Vandross, and Stevie Wonder. The album showed Houston's versatility on a new batch of tough rhythmic grooves, soulful ballads and up-tempo dance tracks. Reviews were mixed. Rolling Stone felt it was her "best and most integrated album".^[77] while Entertainment Weekly, at the time thought Houston's shift towards an urban direction was "superficial".^[78]

The album contained several hits: the first two singles, "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "All the Man That I Need" peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; "Miracle" peaked at number nine; "My Name Is Not Susan" peaked in the top twenty; "I Belong to You" reached the top ten of the US R&B chart and garnered Houston a Grammy nomination; and the sixth single, the Stevie Wonder duet "We Didn't Know", reached the R&B top twenty. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and went on to be certified 4× platinum in the US while selling twelve million total worldwide.

In 1990, Houston was the spokesperson for a youth leadership conference hosted in Washington, D.C. She had a private audience with President George H. W. Bush in the Oval Office to discuss the associated challenges.

With America entangled in the Persian Gulf War, Houston performed "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium on January 27, 1991.^[79] Due to overwhelming response to her rendition, it was released as a commercial single and video of her performance, and reached the Top 20 on the US Hot 100, making her the only act to turn the national anthem into a pop hit of that magnitude (Jose Feliciano's version reached No. 50 in November 1968).^[80][81] Houston donated all her share of the proceeds to the American Red Cross Gulf Crisis Fund. As a result, the singer was named to the Red Cross Board of Governors.^[79][82][83]

Her rendition was considered the benchmark for singers and critically acclaimed.^[84] Rolling Stone commented that "her singing stirs such strong patriotism. Unforgettable", and the performance ranked No. 1 on the 25 most memorable music moments in NFL history list. VH1 listed the performance as one of the greatest moments that rocked TV.^[85][86] Following the attacks on 9/11, it was released again by Arista Records, all profits going towards the firefighters and victims of the attacks. This time it peaked at No. 6 in the Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.^[87]

Later in 1991, Houston put together her Welcome Home Heroes concert with HBO for the soldiers fighting in the Persian Gulf War and their families. The free concert took place at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia in front of 3,500 servicemen and women. HBO descrambled the concert so that it was free for everyone to watch.^[88] Houston's concert gave HBO its highest ratings ever.^[89] She then embarked on the I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour.

[edit] 1992–1994: Marriage to Bobby Brown and The Bodyguard

Throughout the 1980s, Houston was romantically linked to American football star Randall Cunningham and actor Eddie Murphy, whom she dated.^[90] She then met R&B singer Bobby Brown at the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards. After a three-year courtship, the two were married on July 18, 1992.^[91] On March 4, 1993, Houston gave birth to their daughter Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown, her only child, and his fourth. Brown would go on to have several run-ins with the law, including some jail time.^[91]

With the commercial success of her albums, movie offers poured in, including offers to work with Robert De Niro, Quincy Jones, and Spike Lee; but Houston felt the time wasn't right.^[90] Houston's first film role was in The Bodyguard, released in 1992 and co-starring Kevin Costner. Houston played Rachel Marron, a star who is stalked by a crazed fan and hires a bodyguard to protect her. USA Today listed it as one of the 25 most memorable movie moments of the last 25 years in 2007.^[92] Houston's mainstream appeal allowed people to look at the movie color-blind.^[93]

Still, controversy arose as some felt the film's advertising intentionally hid Houston's face to hide the film's interracial relationship. In an interview with Rolling Stone in 1993, the singer commented that "people know who Whitney Houston is – I'm black. You can't hide that fact."^[21] Houston received a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Actress. The Washington Post said Houston is "doing nothing more than playing Houston, comes out largely unscathed if that is possible in so cockamamie an undertaking",^[94] and The New York Times commented that she lacked passion with her co-star.^[95] Despite the film's mixed reviews, it was hugely successful at the box office, grossing more than $121 million in the U.S. and $410 million worldwide, making it one of the top 100 grossing films in film history at its time of release, though it is no longer in the top 100 due to rising ticket prices since the time the film was released.^[96]

The film's soundtrack also enjoyed big success. Houston executive produced and contributed six songs for the motion picture's adjoining soundtrack album. Rolling Stone said it is "nothing more than pleasant, tasteful and urbane".^[97] The soundtrack's lead single was "I Will Always Love You", written and originally recorded by Dolly Parton in 1974. Houston's version of the song was acclaimed by many critics, regarding it as her "signature song" or "iconic performance". Rolling Stone and USA Today called her rendition "the tour-de-force".^[98][99] The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for a then-record-breaking 14 weeks, number one on the R&B chart for a then-record-breaking 11 weeks, and number one on the Adult Contemporary charts for five weeks, thus becoming the first single to top those three charts simultaneously for five weeks.^[100]

The single was certified 4× platinum by the RIAA, making Houston the first female artist with a single to reach that level in the RIAA history and becoming the best-selling single by a female artist in the US.^{[101][102][103]} The song also became a global success, hitting number-one in almost all countries, and one of the best-selling singles of all time with 12 million copies sold.^[104] The soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 chart and remained there for 20 non-consecutive weeks, the longest tenure by any album on the chart in the Nielsen SoundScan era, and became one of the fastest selling albums ever.^[105] During Christmas week of 1992, the soundtrack sold over a million copies within a week, becoming the first album to achieve that feat under Nielsen SoundScan system.^[106][107] With the follow-up singles "I'm Every Woman", a Chaka Khan cover, and "I Have Nothing" both reaching the top five, Houston became the first female artist to ever have three singles in the Top 11 simultaneously.^{[108][109][110]} The album was certified 17× platinum in the US alone,^[111] with worldwide sales of 44 million,^[112] making The Bodyguard the biggest-selling album by a female act on the list of the world's Top 10 best-selling albums, topping Shania Twain's 40 million sold for Come On Over.^[113]

Houston won three Grammys for the album in 1994, including two of the Academy's highest honors, Album of the Year and Record of the Year. In addition, she won a record 8 American Music Awards at that year's ceremony including the Award of Merit,^[114] 11 Billboard Music Awards, 3 Soul Train Music Awards in 1993–94 including Sammy Davis, Jr. Award as Entertainer of the Year,^[115] 5 NAACP Image Awards including Entertainer of the Year,^{[116][117][118]} a record 5 World Music Awards,^[119] and a BRIT award.^[120] Following the success of the project, Houston embarked on another expansive global tour, The Bodyguard World Tour, in 1993–94. Her concerts, movie, and recording grosses made her the third highest earning female entertainer of 1993–94, just behind Oprah Winfrey and Barbra Streisand according to Forbes magazine.^[121] Houston placed in the top five of Entertainment Weekly's annual "Entertainer of the Year" ranking^[122] and was labeled by Premiere magazine as one of the 100 most powerful people in Hollywood.^[123]

In October 1994, Houston attended and performed at a state dinner in the White House honoring newly elected South African president Nelson Mandela.^[124][125] At the end of her world tour, Houston performed three concerts in South Africa to honor President Mandela, playing to over 200,000 people. This would make the singer the first major musician to visit the newly unified and apartheid free nation following Mandela's winning election.^[126] The concert was broadcast live on HBO with funds of the concerts being donated to various charities in South Africa. The event was considered the nation's "biggest media event since the inauguration of Nelson Mandela".^[127]

[edit] 1995–1997: Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher's Wife, and Cinderella

In 1995, Houston starred alongside Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon in her second film Waiting to Exhale, a motion picture about four African-American women struggling with relationships. Houston played the lead character Savannah Jackson, a TV producer in love with a married man. She chose the role because she saw the film as "a breakthrough for the image of black women because it presents them both as professionals and as caring mothers".^[128] After opening at number one and grossing $67 million in the US at the box office and $81 million worldwide,^[129] it proved that a movie primarily targeting a black audience can cross over to success, while paving the way for other all-black movies such as How Stella Got Her Groove Back and the Tyler Perry movies that have become popular in the 2000s.^{[130][131][132]} The film is also notable for its portrayal of black women as strong middle class citizens as opposed to stereotypes.^[133] The reviews were mainly positive for the ensemble cast. The New York Times said "Ms. Houston has shed the defensive hauteur that made her portrayal of a pop star in 'The Bodyguard' seem so distant."^[134] Houston was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for "Outstanding Actress In A Motion Picture", but lost to her co-star Bassett.