Whitney Houston talks about the men in her life - and the rumors, lies and insults that are the high price of fame - interview

Ebony, May, 1991 by Lynn Norment

When asked if the rather large diamond ring (5.5 karats) dominating her left had is the present Murphy reportedly gave her that night, Whitney flashes a broad, girlish smile and casually extends her hand. The baguette diamonds sparkle in the sunlight. "Isn't it beautiful?" she asks. "Yes, Edward gave me this ring."

It is the only piece of jewelry she wears other than a diamond cross - from her mother, Cissy Houston - in one ear.

"Yeah, we're friends," she says of Murphy. "Just two very friendly people, the kind of friends that don't really have a got-to-see-you, got-to-have-you kind of relationship. Because of my career and his career - I'm here and he's there; I'm there and he's here - it's hard to establish a relationship. Even when you have two people who have the money, the fame and the same kind of status. It's the time factor - having the time to establish a relationship and to try to keep it."

Whitney says she was introduced to Murphy by Arsenio Hall ("Arsenio is my buddy. We have a different kind of closeness than Eddie and I.") about three years ago, and "We've been dating ever since." But, she admits, there are times when she does not want to even think about Eddie Murphy. "Like with any man, he can get on your nerves," she says. "Forget about the other stuff. He's still just a man!"

Whitney says she prefers to date men with a sense of humor "who know the Lord" and "who know who they are" and can just be themselves. "Basically," she says, "if you put Whitney Houston aside, what you'll find is a woman. You put Eddie Murphy aside, you'll find a man. You put Arsenio aside, you'll find a man. All that other stuff is just the |gravy' we have become. But before we were this, we were humans. People. That's the bottom line."

So, Whitney, when you strip the "gravy" away from Randall Cunningham, what do you find?

"A tall, fine, good-looking man!"

Her rich, sensuous laughter reflects the powerful, vibrant singing voice. "Randall is a warm, very caring, very giving and loving young man," she says, gently stroking her Angora cat, Misteblu. "He's a great talented athlete. I have a lot of respect for him, because it's very hard to get out there and bang heads, and get banged. He's somebody I can talk to. Randall's a Christian. He's a good person."

Whitney says she is neither pregnant nor engaged, as the tabloids report, but she emphasizes that marriage and children are important to her. "I'm a very patient woman," she explains, adding that she's had her share of heartbreaks. "I don't want to fall in love; I want to walk in and find out what I'm loving. I don't want to get hurt; nobody does."

Those who have lambasted Whitney for lacking rhythm and not dancing are in for a surprise when her nationwide concert tour begins this spring. Her double-platinum I'm Your Baby Tonight album presents a harder-edged, more streetwise Whitney Houston, thanks to hit producers L.A. & Babyface. Hitmakers Narada Michael Walden and Michael Masser also contribute their talents, as they did on the first two albums. And so do her good friend Luther Vandross ("Who Do You Love") and her idol, Stevie Wonder, who writes, produces and joins her for the duet, "We Didn't Know."