Angela Bassett Personally Picked Deborah Cox for Whitney Houston Biopic!

Deborah Cox discussed her experience as the singing voice for Whitney Houston in the 2015 biopic about the late singer. She shared these insights during an episode of the "What Matters with Liz" podcast.

Becoming Houston's Voice

Cox revealed how Angela Bassett, the director of the Lifetime movie "Whitney," approached her to perform the music for the film. Despite a tight schedule, Cox flew from Miami to Los Angeles and recorded several songs within a day.

Working with Angela Bassett

Cox praised Bassett for her hands-on approach during filming, explaining that Bassett guided her through the emotional context of key musical moments. This collaboration aimed to capture the essence of Houston's iconic voice.

Musical Inspirations

Cox mentioned early influences like Billie Holiday, Gladys Knight, and Aretha Franklin, introduced by her mother. She also noted how discovering Houston further inspired her music career ambitions.

In 1994, Cox signed a deal with Clive Davis, known for working with stars like Janis Joplin and Alicia Keys. In 2000, she collaborated with Houston on a duet titled "Same Script, Different Cast."

Cox is currently starring in Titanique, a musical parody featuring Celine Dion’s songs. Her past stage roles include Glinda in The Wiz and the title role in Aida.