Stars opposite Kevin Costner in "The Bodyguard," which becomes a huge success and cements her status as a Hollywood star

Stars in the movie "Waiting to Exhale" and contributes to its soundtrack

Stars opposite Denzel Washington in "The Preacher's Wife" and produces the soundtrack, which becomes the best-selling gospel album of all time

Appears as the fairy godmother in the TV version of Rogers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella"

Stars in the movie "Sparkle," which is released posthumously