Whitney Houston is seen in the kitchen with her parents Cissy and John in 1987, a landmark year in her career. That summer, she released her second album, Whitney, the first by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200.

The record produced four chart-topping singles, including 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody', cementing her global stardom. Despite the whirlwind, Houston remained closely connected to her gospel-singing mother, who had shaped her earliest vocal training.

Liked this? Click the Like button above. And click the Follow button above for more great stories from loveMONEY

Step inside the private homes of 19 music legends in rare photos