Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown: A Match Made in... Well, Not Exactly Heaven
They were the ultimate R&B power couple: Whitney Houston, the voice of a generation, and Bobby Brown, the bad boy of New Jack Swing. But before the whirlwind romance, the tabloid headlines, and the Grammy-less duet of "Something in Common," there was... their first meeting. But how old was Whitney Houston when she bumped into Bobby Brown and set the course for musical history (and future VH1 specials)?
Buckle Up, We're Going Back to the 80s (with questionable shoulder pads)
The year was 1989. Big hair was even bigger, neon was the new black, and a young Whitney Houston, already a megastar at the age of 25, was at the Soul Train Music Awards. Now, Whitney wasn't there to win awards (she basically had a shelf dedicated to them already), she was there to, you know, chill. Maybe bop her head to some tunes, chat with fellow music legends, that kind of thing.
Enter Bobby Brown: Suave, Smooth, and Slightly Grumpy
Meanwhile, across the room, a 20-year-old Bobby Brown was fresh off the success of his album "Don't Be Cruel." He was riding high on the charts, oozing charisma, and... apparently a little grumpy? Yes, according to Whitney herself in a Rolling Stone interview, their meet-cute wasn't exactly out of a fairytale.
Whitney: (Bumping into Bobby while celebrating with friends) "Oh my gosh, I am SO sorry!"
Bobby: (With a less-than-thrilled expression) "Yeah, well, just don't let it happen again."
Now, some people might be discouraged by this icy response. But Whitney, bless her heart, found it intriguing. Maybe it was the challenge, maybe it was the hint of a bad boy lurking beneath the shiny exterior. Whatever it was, a spark flew.
From Grumpy to Grammy-less (but still iconic)
That chance encounter at the Soul Train Awards led to a whirlwind romance, a much-discussed wedding in 1992, and a relationship that would become tabloid fodder for years to come. They even released a duet, "Something in Common," which won't be winning any Grammys anytime soon, but hey, it's a bop in its own way.
So, the next time you hear "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)," you can also remember Whitney Houston, the 25-year-old superstar, accidentally bumping into a slightly grumpy Bobby Brown and setting the stage for musical history (and questionable fashion choices).
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