SAN DIEGO, February 11, 2012 – Upon the shocking news of Grammy-award winning singer Whitney Houston’s death at age 48, many Americans reacted the same way.
They immediately searched for a video of Whitney Houston performing “The Star Spangled Banner” at the 1991 Super Bowl between the New York Giants and the Buffalo Bills at Tampa Stadium.
The United States was at war in Iraq. Yellow ribbons blanketed the country. A decade before 9/11 and the heartache to come, we had America’s sons and daughters facing danger in the Middle East, and we felt fragile as a national family.
But families come together when times are tough, and there is no bigger occasion for the American family than the Super Bowl.
On January 25, 1991, Houston stepped to the microphone and sang a rendition of our National Anthem that moved a nation to tears. It set a standard that has not ever been equaled since.
Houston’s performance was one of those cultural moments where numerous elements converge to create something tremendously moving and unexpected. It was so overwhelming the game almost became an afterthought. (The Giants won that one too, if you don’t recall).
In the years since, many people have suggested that Houston’s version be played at every Super Bowl. Forget about finding the latest star to do the honors.
In 1995, the television special “Television’s Greatest Performances” included Houston’s performance. It included commentary from Americans who recalled what the anthem and the rendition meant to them, including Persian Gulf war veteran Lou Weaver.
Football great and announcer Frank Gifford, who introduced Whitney Houston at the game, called it “the most electric moment I’ve ever seen in sports.”
By the time you read this column, hundreds, perhaps thousands of Americans will have posted their comments on this video. Millions will have shared their thoughts about Houston’s death on Facebook. Celebrities are expressing their sadness on Twitter; among them Simon Cowell, LA Reid, Missy Elliott, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Queen Latifah, John Legend, Sean Combs, and Dolly Parton, who said "Mine is one of millions of hearts breaking…”
Heaven has a new angel in its choir. Whitney Houston performs at the 2009 American Music Awards. Photo: AP/Matt Sayles
They feel, all of us feel tremendous sadness about the girl with a voice from God who fell from grace as fallible human beings will do. The world has lost her talent but there is a new angel in Heaven’s choir.
Whitney Houston may have lived all too short a time, but she provided a shining moment in American history, one that as Americans we will all cherish forever. In doing so we will choose to remember her this way, and celebrate Whitney Houston for her gift to our nation.
Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, is President/Owner of the Falcon Valley Group in San Diego, California. Read more Media Migraine in the Communities at The Washington Times. Follow Gayle on Facebook and on Twitter @PRProSanDiego.
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