Dionne Warwick: ‘Whitney Houston was the daughter I never had’

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June 23, 2024

Press

Dionne Warwick has opened up about her relationship with her cousin Whitney Houston, her love of Britain and racism in a new interview with The Observer.

Speaking about Whitney Houston’s death in 2012, Warwick said: “I didn’t mourn her then and I don’t intend to now. I prefer to celebrate his life. She gave so much of herself. She was a wonderful girl. I always used to say she was the daughter I never had. And we still have it: his legacy is his music. You hear it every day on the radio. This is how she will continue to live.

Warwick then reflected on his love for Britain ahead of his performance at the Love Supreme Festival: “Britain has always been very good to me. I feel his wonderful embrace. I’ve been there so often that I’m sometimes asked if I live in the UK.

She also spoke about her first encounter with racism: “I’m from New Jersey, so I had never really encountered racism until I was asked to perform in front of a segregated audience in the deep south. I just didn’t understand why someone would be so hostile to someone just because of different skin pigmentation.

Warwick also discussed his role in raising awareness of the potentially harmful effects of misogynistic lyrics in rap music: “I helped lead the opposition to gangster rap’s often violent and undeniably misogynistic lyrics. I invited Snoop Dogg and his band to my house early one morning. They arrived around 7 a.m. I asked them if they really wanted the kids to hear the aggressive lyrics they were singing. Then I pointed out to Snoop Dogg that he might one day have a daughter (which turned out to be the case) who would hear young women called sluts. Was he comfortable with that?

Dionne Warwick will soon be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.