Whitney Houston to Sing in China for First Time

SHANGHAI, China – Whitney Houston will make her debut concert appearance in China with a July 22 show in Shanghai.

“Whitney has said that China is her favorite country, so it will definitely be an emotional show,” chief sponsors Shanghai Wenguang News and Media Group said in a news release.

Houston, 40, is widely known in Asia for her rendition of “I Will Always Love You,” from the movie “The Bodyguard.”

Whitney entered a drug rehabilitation center in March but received a lifetime achievement award at the Women’s World Awards earlier this month in Germany.

Backed by China’s highest family incomes, Shanghai has recently hosted shows by acts ranging from Mariah Carey to Deep Purple to Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.

Britney Spears is also planning upcoming China shows.