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Robyn Crawford
Born (1960-12-17) December 17, 1960 (age 63)
Spouse(s) Lisa Hintelmann
Children 2

Robyn Crawford (born December 17, 1960) is an American author, producer, and former assistant to and creative director for Whitney Houston. Her credits include The Bodyguard (1992), Waiting to Exhale (1995), The Preacher's Wife (1996), In Between (1987), and Cinderella (1997).

Early life

Crawford was born in Newark, New Jersey, but grew up as one of three siblings in East Orange, New Jersey. Crawford's mother left her father due to his abuse. Both her mother, Janet Crawford, and her brother, Marty, were diagnosed with HIV, and both died of AIDS related illness in the ’90s.

Relationship with Whitney Houston

Crawford met Whitney Houston in 1980, when Crawford was 19 and Houston was 16, the pair having both been counselors at an East Orange summer camp.

Crawford claims in her book A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston, published in 2019, that she had a same-sex relationship with Houston that faded as they prioritized Houston's career. Crawford left school to aid Houston's career. They lived together as a couple. Crawford was ostracised and sidelined by Houston's family and management as Houston's fame grew and her career progressed, and she married Bobby Brown.

Her book A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston became a New York Times Best Seller.

Personal life

Crawford lives in New Jersey with her wife Lisa Hintelmann, with whom she adopted twins. Lena Waithe has cited Crawford as an early inspiration.

Filmography

Year Title Role
1987 In Between Script supervisor
1992 The Bodyguard Executive assistant to Whitney Houston
1995 Waiting to Exhale Executive assistant to Whitney Houston
1997 Cinderella Associate producer
2017 Kevyn Aucoin: Beauty & the Beast in Me Herself
2017 Whitney: Can I Be Me Herself

(archival footage)

2018 Whitney Herself

(archival footage)

In print

  • Oprah Magazine
  • The Advocate
  • Essence

Podcasts

Date Show Episode Role
Dec. 26, 2019 NPR's 1A "'She Had Me, I Had Her:' Robyn Crawford Opens Up" Guest
Nov. 20, 2019 LGBTQ&A "Robyn Crawford: My Life With Whitney Houston" Guest
Nov. 12, 2019 Yes, Girl!, an Essence podcast "Nobody Loved Whitney Like Robyn Crawford - The Interview You've Been Waiting For" Guest

Autobiography

  • A Song for You. My Life With Whitney Houston. Dutton. 2019. ISBN: 9781524742843.
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