Whitney Houston sweated profusely at a recent concert, tripped while
walking onstage and stopped mid-song to ask her husband for a glass of water.
Not exactly the rumor-stopper some had hoped for.
In her first gig since missing her Oscar-night performance (and promptly
launching rumors about drug use), Houston put on a disjointed show Monday
night for Arista Records' 25th anniversary tribute to her mentor, Clive Davis.
Attendees say Houston tried hard, but still struggled through a six-song,
20-minute medley of hits, before the crowd offered up a sympathetic standing
ovation.
The 36-year-old singer sweated profusely and talked through lyrics instead
of singing them, while back-up singers and her brother, Gary, kept the tunes
moving.
She then stopped right before the powerful end to her hit, "I Will Always
Love You," and asked offstage hubby Bobby Brown for a glass of water. Brown
walked out with water and a towel, and dabbed it on her forehead. Houston
took a sip, kissed her husband and laughed before launching back into the
tune.
Brown also reportedly popped onstage again, jumping around wildly before
grabbing his wife's mic and adding his own chorus.
Houston then finished up her performance with the cryptic message, "The record's
not over yet, remember."
Typical diva behavior, or more fodder for drug rumors?
Houston and other Arista labelmates converged in Los Angeles to honor embattled
label founder Davis--who first signed Houston when she was 19.
This follows a string of reportedly odd behavior and drug allegations.
According to a Hawaiian newspaper, the pop diva was busted carrying pot while
at the Keahole-Kona International Airport. Security guards at the airport
asked Houston to open her bag for routine inspection, and they discovered
15.2 grams of marijuana inside. Guards seized the bag and tried to detain
the Grammy winner, but she got on her United Airlines flight to San Francisco
anyway.
