A trove of Whitney Houston artifacts comes to Newark, her hometown

Jim Beckerman | NorthJersey

Artifacts can tell you a lot. And Whitney Houston, like King Tut, left a lot of them behind.

As a matter of fact, the two weren't so dissimilar, as you can learn at the "Whitney!" temporary exhibit, opening Oct. 19 at the Grammy Museum Experience Prudential Center, in Newark, Houston's home town.

Both had opulent lifestyles. Both died too young. Both had some great bling.

The big difference is that King Tut was a minor pharaoh, who would be totally forgotten if he hadn't left left a cache of fabulous gewgaws in his tomb. Whereas Whitney was queen of queens.

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"In her prime, there was no bigger star than Whitney Houston," says Bob Santelli, founding executive director of the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, which has opened satellite museums in Mississippi, Tennessee, and — in October 2017 — New Jersey. The "Whitney!" exhibit will remain on view in Newark until mid-spring.

"She would sell out concerts around the world, her records routinely went to No. 1, and she had a promising career as an actress," Santelli says. "There was no bigger female star than Whitney Houston."

Some 60 artifacts will help tell the story of Whitney's rise from dutiful daughter of Newark gospel legend Cissy Houston to diva supreme, with 200 million records sold, 415 awards (among them six Grammys and two Emmys), a string of hits including "How Will I Know," "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" and "I Will Always Love You," and ancillary careers as a model and a movie star in films like "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale."

There are stage costumes, photos, awards, a scrapbook from Houston's modelling career, and clips from Grammy award shows, among many other treasures. Also two bibles — one from her childhood, and one that was in her possession at the time of her death.

"She was obviously very religious, especially in her early years," Santelli says. "She was also chased by a number of personal demons. In terms of solace, she would turn to the bible. It represents that struggle, but also that place of comfort for her."

You'll learn something, too, about that fraught personal life, her substance abuse and her marriage to rapper Bobby Brown, and all the other problems that culminated in her accidental bathtub drowning in February, 2012 at age 48.

"If Whitney Houston was an artist without any demons, yes we would still be talking about her," Santelli says. "But it seems like demons chase some of the greatest stars. Michael Jackson, for instance. The tragedy adds to the legacy, in a sad way. But also hopefully teaches a lesson."

The "Whitney!" show is very much on-message for the Grammy Museum Experience, which has been shining a spotlight on Jersey music legends since it opened last October. Springsteen, Sinatra, and Bon Jovi are all featured there. It was a no-brainer that "Whitney!" would begin its career in the Garden State before it begins touring the rest of the country in 2019.

"Whitney Houston is basically a chapter in the ongoing story of how New Jersey in general, and Newark in particular, connect to the great American music story," says Santelli, himself a Jersey native who has lived in Jersey City and Point Pleasant.

"Before Whitney Houston, there was Dionne Warwick, Cissy Houston, Sarah Vaughan, a number of great American jazz artists," he says. "And what you have in Whitney Houston is maybe the biggest shining light. It's important to know."

WHAT: Whitney! temporary exhibit

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, starting Oct. 19.

WHERE: Grammy Museum Experience Prudential Center, 165 Mulberry St, Newark. (973) 757-6600 or grammymuseumexp.org

HOW MUCH: $7 to $10

Email: beckerman@northjersey.com

Twitter: @jimbeckerman1