Rumors of a greatest-hits package had been flying, but as millions of converts held their breath, Whitney Houston headed into the studio only to emerge--amid a flurry of drama screaming "diva" (a live Web broadcast of the international press conference revealing the album, and a veil of secrecy shrouding the new material)--with her first nonsoundtrack album in eight years. So is it worth all the hype and hoopla? Probably. There are no real surprises (typical ballads such as "You'll Never Stand Alone," obligatory writer-producer-singer cameos from Babyface, Wyclef Jean, Missy Elliott, Faith Evans, and Kelly Price--this time in a worthy attempt to slot into the late-'90s soul scene), but she does try to defend her marriage on the Elliott-produced "In My Business." Elliott's other effort, the slow-burning "Oh Yes" is a high point, but the hands-down driving force of this record is the multiplatinum, multi-octave power pairing of Houston with Mariah Carey on "When You Believe." --Rebecca Wallwork
