Whitney's Wingwoman: The Untold Story of Robyn Crawford (and Where the Heck Did She Disappear To?)
Whitney Houston. The name belts out a ballad of power, grace, and maybe a touch of questionable wardrobe choices (looking at you, "Sparkle" leotard). But behind every great diva is a... well, not always another diva. Sometimes it's a ride-or-die friend, confidante, and maybe even... gasp girlfriend? Enter Robyn Crawford, a name shrouded in almost as much mystery as Whitney's love for bathtub singing.
From Backup Singer to Backstage Pass: The Early Days
Robyn and Whitney were practically joined at the hip since their teens. Sharing a love for music (and, according to Robyn's tell-all memoir, a little more), they were like Sonny and Cher without the questionable fashion sense (well, until Whitney hit the solo scene, that is). Robyn wasn't just Whitney's BFF; she was her stylist, assistant, and personal hype-woman. Basically, Robyn was the Beyoncé to Whitney's Sasha Fierce (if Sasha Fierce wore shoulder pads and owned a lifetime supply of hairspray).
But Wait, There's More! The Shocking Truth Revealed (Maybe)
Here's where things get interesting. Rumors of a Whitney-Robyn romance swirled around Hollywood like a rogue feather boa. Now, Robyn's book, titled "A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston," throws some major shade at the rumor mill, claiming their relationship was purely platonic. Sure, Robyn, and Mariah Carey only uses glitter for arts and crafts. Let's be honest, in the 80s, a same-sex relationship in the music industry was about as common as a healthy backstage rider (RIP veggie platter dreams). Whether whispers were true or just Hollywood gossip fueled by too much Aqua Net, one thing's for sure: Robyn was Whitney's rock.
The Great Disappearance: Robyn Goes Rogue (But Not Really)
Fast forward to the 90s, and Whitney's career is on fire (pun intended, with all that onstage pyrotechnics). But Robyn? She takes a backseat, eventually leaving Whitney's employ altogether. Theories abound: Did Bobby Brown make Robyn an offer she couldn't refuse (to leave, that is)? Did Whitney's handlers think Robyn was bad for the image? Or did Robyn simply peace out to avoid becoming another sequin-clad casualty of Whitney's wild ride?
The truth, as always, is probably a little bit of everything. Robyn has since carved her own path, marrying her wife Lisa and living a quiet life (relatively speaking, when you were once Whitney Houston's BFF).
So, the next time you belt out a Whitney classic, remember the woman behind the voice. And who knows, maybe someday Robyn will bless us with a sequel, "A Song for You: And Why I Left That Crazy Diamond in the Dust."
