Whitney's new album?

[Sylph]

I wouldn't know about that, but her ninth studio album will be out in 5 days (already leaked, BTW):

[SFK]

Well I would definitely say that Mary is closer to being the Queen of '90s R&B than Whitney ever would be, Whitney never was an R&B singer (though she could have been). She was branded as a pop singer from the beginning, a pop singer rooted in Gospel and R&B.

Whitney, Dionne, Cissy, all blessed with stunning soprano voices, but by no means blessed with cords of steel. Cigarettes (and other smoked products) have taken big tolls on their voices. Of all of them, the smoky "patina" has served Cissy the best as primarily a Gospel singer. We have Cissy to thank for Whitney (it's Cissy who's singing the soaring soprano background in Aretha's classic "Ain't No Way": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2KW-zzimwc ). But she still tries to hit those crazy notes, and it's so sad that they're lost in a warble. Age would have done it eventually, but I'm afraid that's where Whitney is already. Maybe she can work with someone to help her get some of it back.