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Mattel Launches $60 Whitney Houston Barbie on 63rd Birthday

8/9/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Mattel released the first Whitney Houston Barbie doll on August 9, 2026, the day the singer would have turned 63.
Pat Houston, executor of the Whitney E. Houston estate and foundation president, helped create the 12-inch doll that mirrors Houston’s 1987 “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” look.
The $60 doll debuted at the Legacy of Love Gala in Atlanta and is sold online at Amazon, Walmart, Target and Mattel’s websites.

History

Historical Context

Mattel’s 1995 Madonna-inspired Barbie built on the pop star’s record-breaking commercial power, documented by IFPI in 2006 when her albums had sold over 200 million copies worldwide. That precedent showed how licensing a top-selling artist can spark multi-million-dollar sales, a model Mattel repeats with the 2024 Whitney Houston Barbie, now stocked by major retailers.

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Story summary

Mattel released the first Whitney Houston Barbie doll on August 9, 2026, the day the singer would have turned 63.
Pat Houston, executor of the Whitney E. Houston estate and foundation president, helped create the 12-inch doll that mirrors Houston’s 1987 “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” look.
The $60 doll debuted at the Legacy of Love Gala in Atlanta and is sold online at Amazon, Walmart, Target and Mattel’s websites.

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