Whitney Houston's 'Banner' To Benefit Relief Funds

NEW YORK (AP) - Whitney Houston will re-release her performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" as a commercial single, and donate all royalties and net proceeds from the sale to the New York Firefighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Fraternal Order of Police. An Arista Records spokesperson said the label is shooting for a Sept. 25 release date for the single.

Houston performed the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl XXV in 1991. The performance was subsequently released as a commercial single, and reached No. 20 on The Billboard Hot 100. The re-release will be backed with the singer's rendition of "America the Beautiful."
"In a time of tragedy, Whitney Houston's recording of our National Anthem has comforted and inspired our nation," Arista president/CEO Antonio "L.A." Reid said in a statement. "Whitney and the entire Arista family are proud to make this contribution to the ongoing relief effort."

Houston, who last week quelled rumors of her demise, recently signed a $100 million, multi-album deal with Arista. The deal is reportedly the biggest in the label's history.