Diane Haughton Was a Singer – Facts about Aaliyah's Mother

Diane Haughton's life was devastated by the tragic death of her young daughter, the iconic and unforgettable Aaliyah, in 2001, and her life has become a mystery.

Diane Haughton has gone through the greatest trial any parent can face -- the death of a beloved child. It was from Diane that the Princess of R&B inherited her singing talent.

Since her daughter's death in 2001 at the age of 22, Diane Haughton, who was Aaliyah's constant support, has withdrawn from public life and the ongoing controversy about the legendary young singer's life.

On January 16, 1979, Diane Haughton and her husband, Michael Haughton, welcomed their daughter, Aaliyah. The couple already had a son, Rashad Haughton, born in 1977.

Diane was a singer and a teacher, but she gave up her job to raise her two children. Later, she was the first to recognize her daughters' incredible talent and encouraged her to pursue a career in music.

R Kelly, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for child sex crimes, married Aaliyah in August 1994 when she was just 15.

After her daughter's death in 2001 and her funeral, Diane was seldom seen in public and rarely issues statements unless it is to protect her daughter's memory and legacy.

Diane Haughton Was Aaliyah’s Co-manager

When Aaliyah's phenomenal career took off when she was just 12, Diane and Michael Haughton became their daughter's managers, and it was Diane's brother Barry Hankerson who gave her a recording contract.

Hankerson was the co-founder of Blackground Records, Glady Knight's second husband and the father of her son, Shanga Ali Hankerson.

In 2012, Hankerson and Diane were at odds over Blackground Records' decision to release a posthumous album of Aaliyah's music -- he saw it as a tribute, but Diane saw it as exploitation of her daughter's legacy.

Diane Haughton Noticed Aaliyah's Talent

Diane first realized that Aaliyah had a special talent when she heard the then-four-year-old humming along with the radio, pitch-perfect and not missing a note.

It's not known how Hankerson became aware of his niece's extraordinary vocal abilities, but he signed her on, and she became one of the label's greatest stars.

Aaliyah was just 22, and at the height of her career when she died in a plane crash in the Bahamas. At the invitation-only funeral, Diane released 22 white doves, when for each year of her daughter's life.

The funeral was attended by 800 mourners, among them music icons like Sean Combs, Lil’ Kim, Damon Dash, Usher, and Jay-Z, and celebrities Mike Tyson and Chris Rock.

Eleven years after Aaliyah's death, the Haughton family suffered another loss. Diane Haughton's husband, Michael died in 2012 at 61, and is buried at Ferncliff Cemetery with his daughter.

Diane Haughton’s Life after the Death of Her Daughter

Diane has kept a low profile, but she has occasionally spoken out, like when she posted a sweet tribute to rapper Earl Simmons AKA DMX, when he died on April 9, 2021.

She also expressed outrage at an author who used Aaliyah's gravesite as background for a photoshoot promoting a new book, and announced she would be restricting access to the Princess of R&B's resting place.

In 2020, after the release of the "Surviving R Kelly" documentary series, Diane made a public statement, denying that her then-underage daughter had been in a sexual relationship with R Kelly.

Her brother, Barry Hankerson seemed to be once again at odds with his sister. The Blackground CEO stated that he didn't know about any possible abuse but added:

"I think my sister knew a lot more than what we thought she knew.”

R Kelly, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for child sex crimes, married Aaliyah in August 1994 when she was just 15, and the marriage was annulled by her parents.