From the moment she crooned onto the scene in the early 80's, the world knew it had found a superstar in Whitney Houston. On today's Pop Confidential, Jamey Giddens, Luke Kerr, Jillian Bowe, Regan Cellura and Melodie Aikels look back on the life and legacy of Whitney Elizabeth Houston, the world's most-awarded musical act of all time.

The PC gang charts the early success of Houston's self-titled debut album Whitney Houston, released on Valentine's Day in 1985,  producing such unforgettable jams as "You Give Good Love," "Saving All My Love For You," "How Will I Know" and "The Greatest Love of All."

Then they reflect on Houston's second record, 1987's pop-heavy Whitney, which yielded a whopping four Number One hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100 charts ("I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)," "Didn't We Almost Have It All," "So Emotional" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?," making Houston the first female singer to achieve such a feat.

Next they discuss Houston's third album, the R&B-tinged I'm Your Baby Tonight from 1990, produced by uber producers L.A. Reid and Babyface. While this record didn't have the crossover appeal of Whitney, Houston's third effort produced several notable songs the gang fondly remembers, including the title track “I’m Your Baby Tonight” and Jamey's favorite kiss-off song "My Name Is Not Susan."

It was Houston's next musical collection, coupled with her big screen debut, which cemented her status as a pop culture deity. In 1992, the diva starred opposite Kevin Costner in the interracial romantic thriller The Bodyguard. It was for that hit film's soundtrack Houston recorded what would become her most popular track of all time. Her sultry version of country music legend Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" became the best-selling single by a female artist of all time.

In addition to "I Will Always Love You," cuts like "Run to You," "I Have Nothing," "Queen of the Night" and Houston's remake of Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman," helped The Bodyguard soundtrack become the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time. Tune in to hear Mel, Jillian and the rest of the PC gang recall what The Bodyguard phenomenon was like for them.

After the twin successes of The Bodyguard and its soundtrack, Houston continued to release music in conjunction with her work as an actress for years to come. In 1995, she starred alongside Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine and Lela Rochon in the film adaptation of Terry McMillan's New York Times’ Best-Selling novel Waiting to Exhale and performed the title track “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” for the ultimate chick flick’s soundtrack. Tune in to hear PC’s Regan speak about how Exhale’s message of women being sick and tired of their guys’ b.s. transcended color barriers.

The next year, Houston—by this point one of Hollywood’s highest paid actresses—starred opposite Denzel Washington in The Preacher’s Wife, a remake of the classic film The Bishop’s Wife. The accompanying soundtrack became the best-selling gospel CD of all-time, and even made a fan of our generally pop culture-challenged Luke, who at the time was tucked away at boarding school, rocking out to Houston’s soul-stirring jams. You’ll want to download this podcast to hear Jillian, Jamey, Regan and Mel’s stunned reactions to that particular revelation! READ MORE

Taylor Swift, who performed on last night’s Grammys with The Civil Wars, has premiered their new video for The Hunger Games.  The track, entitled “Safe & Sound,” is just one of many to be included on the upcoming soundtrack.  Like the Titanics and Twilights before it, Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond promises to be a musical event.

Other artists featured include The Decemberists, Arcade Fire, Punch Brothers, and Kid Cudi.  Basically, this thing’s going to be awesome.  See below for a complete track listing, and to watch the somberly-chilling Tay Swift video.  READ MORE

We've been following him since her covered soaps for TV Guide. Now one of the magazine's senior writers, Damian Holbrook, is back to talk all things boob tube with the Pop Confidential gang!

During the zany hour, Holbrook dishes the latest dirt from the Winter TCA press tour, proving PC's Jamey Giddens, Luke Kerr, Jillian Bowe, Regan Cellura and Melodie Aikels with more tea than Queen Elizabeth could drink, about such shows as Once Upon a Time, GCB, Grimm and of course the gang's guiltiest pleasure — Revenge!

Who does Holbrook think died that night on the beach in the Hamptons? You'll have to download the eppy to find out!

Holbrook also breaks down what went wrong with Are You There, Chelsea? How could a series based on such a hilarious book by funny lady Chelsea Handler have turned out so badly?

Speaking of things that turned out badly, Holbrook gives insider deets on how the amount of rape jokes that made their way into the scripts of the CBS sitcom Two Broke Girls landed the sitcom in hot water!

What did Holbrook think of little Lily's cursing fit on Modern Family? How is he coping with the approaching end of his beloved One Tree Hill? Does he believe Smash can save NBC? Considering he's seen the first four episodes of the musical soap, you'll wanna hear what he has to say about it and so much more!

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The admission by Paula Deen that she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2008 has propelled the cook from her butter-dripping frying pan into the fire. In 2011, the National Enquirer reported Deen had been diagnosed with the disease. However, it wasn’t until this week, and after she’d negotiated an endorsement deal for the diabetes drug Victoza, that Deen confirmed her diagnosis.  

TMZ reports the endorsement deal elicited a withering response from chef Anthony Bourdain on Twitter,

"Thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business, so I can profitably sell crutches later.”

 

Bourdain has been a vocal critic of Dean, TMZ quotes him calling her the “most dangerous person to America" who's "proud of the fact that her food is f**king bad for you."

Meanwhile, The Huffington Post points out the unfortunate choice words Deen selected for her six-word memoir, which is published in O Magazine’s Feburary issue.

"Might as well eat that cookie."

 

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On today’s Pop Confidential podcast Jamey Giddens, Luke Kerr, Jillian Bowe and Melodie Aikels dish all the latest pop culture headlines, including:

Beyonce gives birth to a baby girl. Katy Perry and Russell Brand get a divorce. Chaz Bono is saving up to for a surgery.

Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice announces its new cast. Chelsea Handler gets a new studio. Kathy Griffin gets a talk show on Bravo. Tyler has a meltdown on Revenge. Damon and Elena kiss on The Vampire Diaries. Is The Secret Circle better than TVD? Teddy finds out her husband died on Grey’s Anatomy.  Shameless returns for its second season. House of Lies premieres on Showtime. Which midseason series are the PC gang looking forward to most?

The Devil Inside scares its ways to the top of the Box Office.

Selena Gomez is putting her music on hold to focus on movies. Jason Derulo cancels UK tour after fracturing his neck. 

All this and much more on today’s Pop Confidential podcast.

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On today’s Pop Confidential podcast Jillian Bowe joins Larry Flick and Keith Price in studio on The Morning Jolt With Larry Flick. During her visit they discuss the rapidly nearing end of One Life to Live, the state of General Hospital, Revenge, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Love & Hip Hop and Mob Wives. They are then joined by stars of VH1’s Mob Wives who share behind-the-scenes dish about its juicy second season. If you’re addicted to Mob Wives, like Jillian Bowe is, this is a podcast you won’t want to miss.

Visit Sirius/XM for more on The Morning Jolt With Larry Flick and follow Larry Flick and Keith Price on Twitter.

All this and more on today's Pop Confidential podcast.

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