Key dates from Whitney Houston's life

1963: Whitney Elizabeth Houston is born in East Orange, New Jersey, to gospel singer Cissy Houston on August 9.

1974: Starts performing as soloist in junior gospel choir at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey.

1978: Sings backup on mother's album Think It Over, beginning run of backup performances for artists including Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson and Lou Rawls.

1983: Arista Records executive sees her performing on stage with her mother, label head Clive Davis sees her soon after and signs her to contract.

1985: Debut album, Whitney Houston, is released, selling millions and spawning huge hits How Will I Know, 'You Give Good Love, Saving All My Love For You and Greatest Love of All.

1987: Multiplatinum follow-up album Whitney is released. Includes hits I Wanna Dance With Somebody, So Emotional and Where Do Broken Hearts Go.

1988: Records theme song for Seoul Olympics, One Moment In Time.

1991: Returns to limelight with performance of The Star Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl during the first Gulf War.

1992: Stars opposite Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard. The hit film makes Houston a Hollywood star and its theme song, I Will Always Love You, becomes a signature hit that tops charts for weeks and wins Grammys for record of the year and best female pop vocal.

1992: Begins high profile and tumultuous marriage to former New Edition member and soul-singing star Bobby Brown.

1993: Has daughter with Brown, Bobbi Kristina.

1995: Stars in movie Waiting to Exhale.

1996: Stars opposite Denzel Washington in The Preacher's Wife.

1997: Appears as fairy godmother in TV version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.

1998: Releases album My Love Is Your Love. Song It's Not Right But It's Okay brings Grammy for best female R&B vocal.

2003: Police respond to domestic violence call from Houston about Brown. Police find Houston with cut lip and bruised cheek.

2004: Briefly enters drug rehabilitation clinic.

2005: Returns to drug rehab under court order.

2005: Appears in reality TV show Being Bobby Brown.

2006: Files for legal separation from Brown.

2007: Divorces Brown.

2009: Comeback album I Look To You debuts at top of charts, eventually goes platinum.

2009: In a TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, declares herself drug free. She would return to rehab in 2011.

2012: Dies at age 48 in a hotel room in Beverly Hills, California, on February 11.