Whitney Houston’s deep-rooted connection to gospel music is powerfully showcased on the posthumous compilation album, I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston. Released on March 24, 2023, by Arista Records, Legacy Recordings, and Gaither Music Group, this fourteen-track project fulfills the late icon’s long-standing desire to release a full-length gospel album. Known for her unparalleled voice and record-breaking pop and R&B career, Houston’s impact on music is legendary. As a multi-Grammy winner and one of the best-selling artists of all time, she transcended genres, but her spiritual foundation remained a constant thread throughout her work. This collection serves as a powerful tribute to that legacy, featuring six previously unreleased recordings.
Within this album, the song “Joy” is a standout track, featuring the Georgia Mass Choir. This collaboration highlights Whitney Houston’s ability to seamlessly blend her superstar status with the raw energy and communal spirit of traditional gospel music. The song is a celebration of spiritual elation and a testament to her mastery of the genre. The album, which also includes the title track “I Go to the Rock” and a moving live duet with CeCe Winans on “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” is a diverse collection that not only showcases her powerful renditions of gospel classics but also gives new insight into her personal faith journey. “Joy” adds to the album’s atmosphere of worship and praise, firmly establishing the project’s place in the gospel genre.