Why Whitney Houston Was Replaced by Beyonce in This Movie
On the anniversary of Whitney Houston’s death, we reflect on her link to the movie musical
Dreamgirls.
Whitney Houston is an icon of the music industry. With over 170 million records sold in her time and countless singers inspired by her, Whitney Houston cemented her legendary status in her all-too-brief time on Earth. This was ratified by her posthumous induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November 2020 – Whitney coveted a spot on the list, telling Pat Houston, her sister-in-law and manager, “I’ve got to get the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame” in 2009.
Rodgers & Hammerstein s Cinderella. It s enchanting, it s magical, it is an amazing cast people that [viewers] probably know, and the music will change your life, Brandy tells PEOPLE ahead of the film s Friday streaming debut. And I feel like everybody that sees it will come away inspired, will come away happy and joyful. And I just hope that for everyone, because right now we need it more. Get push notifications with news, features and more. + Follow
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In the musical, which aired on ABC in 1997 to 60 million viewers, Brandy takes on the title role of Cinderella. The singer and actress made history as the first Black woman to play the character on the screen in a production that employed colorblind casting years before
Brandy can t wait for a new generation to discover
Rodgers & Hammerstein s Cinderella. ET s Rachel Smith spoke with Brandy to celebrate the news that the Whitney Houston-led version of the classic fairy tale What I love about this film,
Rodgers & Hammerstein s Cinderella, is that we re gonna see her in this enchanting light, Brandy says of Whitney, who died in 2012. This is how we need to see her. Her voice, her talent, her vision for, not just me, but this entire cast and bringing this whole film to life, it s unforgettable.
Brandy stars as the first Black Cinderella in the 1997 film, alongside Houston, who plays the Fairy Godmother. Whoopi Goldberg, Paolo Montalban, Victor Garber, Bernadette Peters and Jason Alexander also appear in the fan-favorite flick.