In 1989 , Whitney Houston ( Yaya DaCosta ) is a worldwide phenomenon and household name with two highly successful self-titled albums under her belt . She attends the 3rd Annual Soul Train Awards with her high school friend and road manager Robyn ( Yolonda Ross ) , who is a lesbian . During a category in which Houston 's name is booed by the audience , she later performs at the ceremony . It is here that she meets fellow R&B singer Bobby Brown and they begin a courtship shortly after , due to her being impressed with Brown 's performance of " Every Little Step " . In August 1989 , Whitney invites Bobby to her lavish 26th birthday celebration , where Bobby discovers Whitney abusing cocaine . Whitney begins recording her third album '' I 'm Your Baby Tonight '' ( 1990 ) , the relationship between her and Brown continues to blossom consistently , leading to a sexual relationship between the two . Unbeknownst to her , Brown is in a relationship with his girlfriend Kim , who had just given birth to his daughter . Just as Houston discovers this , she is left heartbroken and infuriated . Bobby later severs ties with Kim , and Whitney later manages to pull through and persevere in the already hectic relationship . Sometime later , Brown is unable to replicate the success of his album '' Do n't Be Cruel '' , as his record label wants him to record a greatest hits compilation . Whitney and Bobby continue to date for a number of years , with Brown proposing to her by late 1991 , and the two are married by the summer of 1992 . It is around this time that Houston is hand picked by Kevin Costner to star in what will become her film debut '' The Bodyguard '' . Houston is reluctant at first , but is encouraged to film by her husband Bobby . While on the set of '' The Bodyguard '' , Houston suffers a miscarriage , causing her to become very sickly . Cissy visits and persuades Whitney to leave Bobby , but Whitney refuses . Whitney struggles to keep up with fame and placate Bobby , whose career has taken a back seat to hers , as she continues to dabble with drug use after the birth of their daughter Bobbi Kristina . Soon after , '' The Bodyguard '' and its subsequent soundtrack becomes a massive success , leading Whitney to go on an international tour for nearly two years
3rd Annual Soul Train Awards
1989 Soul Train Music Awards
Whitney (2015 film)