Houston and Chase then obtained the rights to the story of Dorothy Dandridge . Houston was to play Dandridge , the first African American actress to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress . Houston wanted the story told with dignity and honor . However , Halle Berry also had rights to the project and got her version going first . Later that year , Houston paid tribute to her idols , such as Aretha Franklin , Diana Ross , and Dionne Warwick , by performing their hits during the three-night HBO Concert '' Classic Whitney : Live from Washington , D.C. '' . The special raised over $ 300,000 for the Children 's Defense Fund . Houston received the Quincy Jones Award for outstanding career achievements in the field of entertainment at the 12th Soul Train Music Awards
12th Soul Train Music Awards
1998 Soul Train Music Awards
Whitney Houston