Young Whitney. WHITNEY. "CAN I BE ME". Photo Credit: Photo by REX/Shutterstock (197388a). Photo ID: WHITNEY_canibeme_shutterstock_editorial_197388a_large
Young Whitney. WHITNEY. “CAN I BE ME”. Photo Credit: Photo by REX/Shutterstock (197388a)

Extending its slate hit nonfiction projects, Showtime Documentary Films will premiere “Whitney. ‘Can I Be Me’,” a film exploring the incredible career and complicated life of legendary songstress Whitney Houston, on Saturday, August 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. It will air exclusively on Showtime, the network’s authentication service Showtime ANYTIME and the Showtime stand-alone streaming service.

“Whitney. ‘Can I Be Me'” is an intimate portrait of Houston, directed by acclaimed BAFTA Award winner Nick Broomfield (“Kurt & Courtney”) with Rudi Dolezal, that garnered high praise at its Tribeca Film Festival premiere in May. Six-time Grammy winner Whitney Houston was one of the most successful female recording artists of all time, but after a troubled marriage to singer Bobby Brown and many years of struggles with addiction, Houston died suddenly and tragically at age 48. With never seen before behind-the-scenes footage, candid interviews and gripping performance footage – including many of Houston’s greatest hits – “Whitney. ‘Can I Be Me'” will offer a raw and uncensored look at Houston, exploring the impact her life and death had on the people around her and the world of music. The film explores Whitney’s central dilemma: even though she had made millions of dollars, had more consecutive number ones than The Beatles and was recognized as having one of the greatest voices of all time, she still couldn’t do what she wanted to do, either professionally or in her personal life.

“Whitney. ‘Can I Be Me'” is executive produced by John Battsek through his Passion Pictures label, Patrick Holland, Shani Hinton, Charles Finch and Ben Silverman. Director Broomfield also co-produced with Marc Hoeferlin.

Showtime has premiered a trailer for the documentary below: