WHITNEY HAS ALREADY WON

"You keep saying kick it, quit it, Lord but have you every tried? To turn you sick soul inside out so that the world, so that the world, can watch you die."
Esther Phillips, Home Is Where The Hatred Is/From a Whisper to a Scream.

I'm writing this on the eve of what could be one of the greatest show business comebacks in history. After suffering a bad marriage and what appears to be years of drug abuse, Whitney Houston is attempting a comeback.

Houston released a new album on August 31...and as I write this, she's only 13 hours away from her first TV performance in seven years...a mini concert on ABC's Good Morning America. I know this because the GMA website has a special clock that's counting down the hours and minutes. So why am I writing about this?
Forget about Jack and the Bean Stalk and Hansel and Gretel. Hers is a cautionary fairly tale turned horror story that every African American child should learn by heart. She had everything...a talented voice, incredible looks, fame, and untold wealth. She was born into a famous show business family. Even her Godmother was famous. But all that fame and talent and money was no match for the drugs that consumed her. Yes, I said it. You don't consume drugs. They consumed you.

Houston apparently made the mistake all drug abusers make. She thought she was so clever she could control the drug. And like all the others she was wrong. No matter what your friends, spouse, lover, or the drug dealer promise you...the drug will always be stronger than you are. You cannot bargain with a thief.

Someone probably told Whitney you can't get hooked the first time. They probably led her to believe that her life would not be complete until she discovered "how good it was."
When I speak to young kids about drugs, I warn them. Sometimes it's best not to know how good something is. Because even if you manage to kick the habit, the desire for the drug will torture you for the rest of you life.

Although it airs tomorrow...Wednesday, September 2, Whitney actually taped the performance today(see the photo above). And some reports say it was less than perfect. But that doesn't really matter. The fact that she had the courage to face her demons head on means she's already won. Let's hope a victory for Whitney encourages others to face theirs.