Whitney Houston Hologram Maker Promises ‘Absolute Authenticity’

Whitney Houston will come to digital life as a hologram in 2016 as part of a new deal between the singer’s estate and Hologram USA. The company’s CEO Alki David talked to Billboard about the proposed touring stage show and attempted to dispel preconceived notions of what the show would entail. “The show will not just be Whitney comes on, sings and gets off,” David said. “The narrative will document parts of her life, her achievements and celebrate Whitney.”

The script for the Houston hologram show is still being finalized, but David said the “performance” would mix “live components” with the digital nature of the star, much like how Snoop Dogg interacted with a Tupac hologram at the 2012 Coachella festival. “The musical arrangement, the choreography right down to the lighting and the design will be done with the original artists and original technicians and composers who worked with Whitney in the past so as to maintain absolute authenticity,” David said.

Houston isn’t Hologram USA’s first musical foray into the technology: Chief Keef, who signed with David’s FilmOn.com, “performed” as a hologram at a Hammond, Indiana festival, although that concert was quickly shut down by police after Keef’s hologram transmitted “I Don’t Like.” David said Hologram USA is also working on similar holographic shows featuring Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline and Liberace.

“I was heartbroken when Whitney passed away in 2012,” Hologram USA and FilmOn CEO Alki David said in a statement after striking an agreement with Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister and the president of the Houston estate. “The opportunity to share her spectacular gifts with the world again is exactly what I hoped for when I built the hologram business. I’m confident we’ll create the ultimate celebration of Whitney’s amazing artistry.”