Mattel unveils Whitney Houston Barbie doll recreating iconic 1987 music video look

The doll

Mattel has unveiled a Whitney Houston Barbie Signature Doll that recreates the singer's ensemble from her 1987 "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" music video. The $60 collectible comes with a purple tank dress, iridescent heels, colorful beaded drop earrings, a black microphone and mic stand, and the singer's signature big hair paired with purple and gold eye makeup. The doll launched August 8 at Target stores and online through Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Mattel Creations. The music video was an instant hit on MTV and BET upon release.

Estate collaboration

Mattel worked closely with Pat Houston, the singer's sister-in-law and executor of The Estate of Whitney E. Houston, throughout the creative process. Pat Houston, who is married to Whitney's brother Gary and serves as president of the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation, helped shape the doll's design and contributed what Mattel called "thoughtful details." Primary Wave Music also collaborated with the Barbie design team on the project, weighing in on everything from the doll's wardrobe to the singer's signature glam.

“Today, we celebrate more than the release of a doll; we celebrate the enduring legacy of an icon. The new Whitney Houston Barbie honors a woman whose voice, grace, beauty, and spirit inspired generations around the world. May this doll remind every child and every collector that dreams have no limits, excellence leaves a lasting imprint, and true greatness never goes out of style. Thank you, Mattel, for making one of Whitney's dreams come true.”

Official debut

The doll made its official debut on August 8 at the fifth annual Legacy of Love Gala in Atlanta, a charity event hosted by the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation. The release joins Barbie Signature's roster of musician-themed dolls, which has previously included Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks, Gloria Estefan, and Mariah Carey. Its arrival comes as Houston's estate continues to celebrate more than four decades since the singer first emerged as one of pop music's most formidable voices, with her self-titled debut album released in 1985.

The song and its legacy

"I Wanna Dance with Somebody" was released as the lead single from Houston's 1987 sophomore album, "Whitney." The album made history as the first by a female artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and the song was part of Houston's still-unmatched run of seven consecutive No. 1 singles. It earned Houston the Grammy for best female pop vocal performance in 1988 and topped Billboard's list of the 500 Best Pop Songs of All Time. The track also lent its name to a 2022 biopic starring Naomi Ackie as the music legend.

Houston's career by the numbers

Throughout her career, Houston won six Grammy Awards out of 25 nominations. Her hits include "I Will Always Love You," "I Wanna Dance with Somebody," and "How Will I Know." Houston died in 2012 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame posthumously in 2020. She also holds a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records, and her songs on Spotify have accumulated over 8.8 billion streams.