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Whitney Houston is ready to dance with somebody — in Barbieland.
Mattel is honoring the late pop icon with a new Barbie Signature doll inspired by Houston’s colorful look from the 1987 music video for “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me).” The $60 collectible launches Aug. 8 at Target stores and online at Amazon, Walmart, Target and Mattel Creations.
The doll recreates Houston’s instantly recognizable ensemble from the video, complete with a purple tank dress, colorful drop earrings and bright eye makeup. Naturally, she also comes performance-ready with her own microphone stand.
Houston’s estate worked closely with Mattel on the collectible. Pat Houston, executor of the Estate of Whitney E. Houston and president of the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation, collaborated with the Barbie design team alongside Primary Wave Music, weighing in on everything from the doll’s wardrobe to the singer’s signature glam.
The Whitney Houston Barbie will make its official debut Saturday at the fifth annual Legacy of Love Gala in Atlanta, an event hosted by the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation. 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.
Released as the lead single from Houston’s sophomore album, “Whitney,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” became one of the singer’s defining hits and earned her the Grammy for best female pop vocal performance in 1988. The album itself made history as the first by a female artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while the song was part of Houston’s still-unmatched run of seven consecutive No. 1 singles.
The new release joins Barbie Signature’s growing roster of dolls modeled after musicians and cultural icons, which has previously included Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks, Gloria Estefan and Mariah Carey.
Shop the Whitney Houston Barbie here.
