It’s Women’s Month, and this Thursday at 8:30PM, e.tv brings you Sparkle, the inspirational story of a sensational all-female group.
In 1968, the Motown sound is sweeping America and talented sisters Delores (Tika Sumpter), Sister (Carmen Ejogo) and Sparkle (Jordin Sparks) are taking Detroit by storm. The late great Whitney Houston shines as the girls’ disapproving mother, Emma. A former singer whose daughters were conceived with musicians who abandoned her, Emma has turned to the church and forbids her daughters from pursuing music careers.
The movie was Houston’s last before her death in 2012. Here are four interesting facts about this remarkable woman:
1. Like many other famous singers, Houston got her musical career started by performing at churches. She started performing at the age of 11 as a soloist in the junior gospel choir at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark.
2. At 15, Houston sang background vocals for Khan’s song, “I’m Every Woman”. She also went on to cover the song in 1993, and Chaka Khan appeared in the video.
3. In the early 1980s, Houston began modeling, and she was one of the first African American women to be featured on the cover of Seventeen Magazine.
4. Throughout her career, Houston achieved an impressive 11 number one hits. “I Will Always Love You” spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and she is the only female artist who released seven consecutive number one hits, between the years of 1985 and 1988.
Set your reminder and watch Sparkle on Thursday, 11 August at 8:30PM.