Whitney Houston gets a Barbie, more than 20 years after dreaming of one
More than two decades after Whitney Houston began discussing the possibility of having her own Barbie, the idea has finally become a reality.
On what would have been the late singer’s 63rd birthday, Mattel has released the first Barbie created in Houston’s likeness, drawing inspiration from her colorful 1980s pop era.
“This is just a dream realized by Whitney Houston. We’re just bringing it to fruition,” said Pat Houston, executor of the Estate of Whitney E. Houston and her sister-in-law.
The Barbie was unveiled Saturday night at the fifth annual Legacy of Love Gala hosted by the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation in Atlanta. The gala raises money to support young people from underserved communities, and this year’s event featured an auction of Houston’s dresses, sheet music and handwritten lyrics.
According to Mattel, the Barbie Dream Gap Project, an international initiative aimed at addressing gender inequality among children, will donate to the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation to support educational opportunities for youth.
The doll re-creates Houston’s look from the “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” music video, with a lilac dress, multicolored earrings and her signature bodacious, big 1980s hair. It also comes with a microphone, a fitting accessory for the singer affectionately known as “The Voice.”
The doll, part of the Barbie Signature line, was created in collaboration with Primary Wave Music and Pat Houston. It will be available for purchase in stores and online from Amazon, Mattel Creations, Target and Walmart.
The release has been more than two decades in the making.
Pat Houston said she and Whitney began discussing plans for a doll more than 20 years ago, and the singer was excited about the possibility of having her own Barbie.
Houston died in 2012 at age 48.
“Everything is about timing,” Pat Houston said in an interview. “I do everything on vibes, and I do everything that I know that Whitney would want.”
The estate ultimately waited until it found the right partner for the project.
“This doll celebrates (Houston’s) unmistakable style, joy and spirit,” said Nathan Baynard, vice president and head of Barbie at Mattel. “We hope it gives fans a meaningful way to celebrate the artist whose voice and influence continue to resonate around the world.”
The doll also celebrates an artist whose influence has stretched across generations.
More than four decades after launching her recording career, Houston remains the only artist in history to score seven consecutive No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
Houston, a New Jersey native, also had deep ties to metro Atlanta, buying a home in Alpharetta in 2003.
The Barbie arrives just weeks after Mattel released a doll honoring Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese, the first person to have a Barbie with ties to Atlanta, Mattel said. Houston would be the second.
Houston also joins a Barbie sisterhood of music icons that includes Mariah Carey, Ella Fitzgerald, Aaliyah and Tina Turner.
For Pat Houston, the doll is also a way to introduce Whitney to a younger audiences who never experienced her at the height of her career.
She said Barbie offers young girls another representation of someone they can admire.
“It is just another added avenue for the next generation — even the younger generation — to know how special and iconic (Whitney Houston) is, and to be able to have something that’s created in her image,” said Pat Houston. “It’s an amazing feeling.”