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One of the greatest artists of all time is adding another honor to her legacy, as Barbie unveils an official Whitney Houston doll, available to buy online now.
The Whitney Houston Barbie Signature Doll captures the singer’s memorable look from her “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” music video, complete with a purple tank dress, iridescent heels and colorful beaded drop earrings. The singer’s big hair is an instant nod to the 80s era (the song was released in 1987), as is her purple and gold eye makeup. The collectible doll comes with a black microphone and mic stand.
OFFICIAL COLLECTIBLE
Whitney Houston Official Barbie Doll
The Whitney Houston Barbie is an officially-licensed release from Mattel and the late singer’s estate. The doll comes in a collectible window pane display box, with images of the singer and her signature in the background. The MSRP is $60.
Mattel says it worked closely with Pat Houston, the singer’s sister-in-law, throughout the creative process, adding that she helped to “shape the doll’s design” and gave “thoughtful details” into what the finished Barbie doll should look like (Pat Houston is married to Whitney’s brother Gary, and she is the executor of The Estate of Whitney E. Houston, and president of the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation).
In a press release, Pat Houston thanked Mattel “for making one of Whitney’s dreams come true,” adding that “we celebrate more than the release of a doll, we celebrate the enduring legacy of an icon.”
“The new Whitney Houston Barbie honors a woman whose voice, grace, beauty, and spirit inspired generations around the world,” she says. “May this doll remind every child and every collector that dreams have no limits, excellence leaves a lasting imprint, and true greatness never goes out of style.”
GET THE ALBUM
Whitney (Vinyl Edition)
It’s been more than four decades since Houston burst onto the music scene with her self-titled album in 1985. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” meantime, was taken from her 1987 album, Whitney, and quickly became one of the singer’s signature anthems. The music video was also an instant hit on MTV and BET. The song went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, and its legacy has continued to this day, with “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” topping Billboard’s list of the 500 Best Pop Songs of All Time, among other accolades.
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody” was also the name of the well-received 2022 Houston biopic, which starred Naomi Ackie as the music legend.
WATCH THE FILM
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Blu-ray)
The film is streaming free on Prime Video, though you can also rent it or purchase the movie on Blu-ray (the Blu-ray disc includes a digital code that you can redeem for a download of the film online).
The Whitney Houston Barbie doll was officially unveiled on August 8 at the 5th Legacy of Love Gala, an annual charity event hosted by the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation in Atlanta. The doll is sure to be an instant collectible for Houston fans and pop culture fans alike. You can find it on sale online through Amazon and Walmart.
Houston’s Barbie doll comes on the heels of other musician Barbie releases, including a Miley Cyrus edition and a Kylie Minogue doll, both of which were released this year. Other musicians who have been honored with a Barbie doll in the past include Diana Ross, Tina Turner and Elton John.
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