Long before her rise to global stardom, Whitney Houston was already rooted in gospel music—a heritage nurtured by her mother, acclaimed gospel singer Cissy Houston, and shaped by her own spiritual foundation. In 1981, at just seventeen years old, Whitney recorded three gospel tracks—”He Can Use Me,” “Testimony,” and “I Found a Wonderful Way.” These recordings surfaced years later, offering a rare insight into her earliest vocal promise.
The project featuring these tracks, I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston, was posthumously released on March 24, 2023. The album includes fourteen tracks, six of which were previously unreleased—including the three from 1981 sessions—highlighting Whitney’s youthful but unmistakable gospel intensity and spiritual conviction.
“He Can Use Me” opened the album rollout, following the earlier release of “Testimony” as a promotional single. Both songs were recorded in 1981, before Whitney’s debut studio album in 1984–85. These demos revealed a depth of emotional resonance unmatched in many contemporary productions. Even in her late teens, Whitney’s voice carried the hallmarks of power, range, and emotional clarity that would define her future.
“I Found a Wonderful Way,” another of the 1981 recordings, completed this trio of early material. Though little known until the compilation’s release, the song further demonstrated Whitney’s spiritual depth and technical maturity even in adolescence, underlining how gospel music shaped her vocal and emotional artistry.
The posthumous release of these tracks was accompanied by a documentary directed at celebrating her gospel journey—from childhood performances in New Hope Baptist Church to her later secular success. The project was helmed by Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law and estate executor, and hosted by Grammy-winning gospel artist CeCe Winans, airing on UPtv and AspireTV.
Critics and fans alike hailed these early gospel recordings as illuminating. They showcased Whitney not just as a future pop icon, but as a daughter of the Black church, conveying faith with talent and authenticity. Each track is a reminder that gospel wasn’t just a genre for Whitney—it was her musical and emotional foundation.
Moreover, the release underscored the enduring connection between her spiritual roots and mainstream legacy. Whitney Houston went on to break records in pop and R&B, selling millions worldwide—but gospel remained central. Songs like “I Go to the Rock” and her soundtrack contributions (notably The Preacher’s Wife in 1996) reaffirmed that connection throughout her career.
In sum, these three 1981 songs—“He Can Use Me,” “Testimony,” and “I Found a Wonderful Way”—offer more than musical rarity. They illuminate the origins of one of the most iconic voices in modern music, grounded in faith, shaped by gospel, and destined to leave an indelible mark on both sacred and secular stages.