HOUSTON CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF? AFTER A SNAG WITH RUMORS, SMOOTH SONGSTRESS SEEMS BACK ON TRACK.

Byline: Fred Shuster Music Writer

At the end of her heavily scrutinized appearance on stage at Arista Records' 25th-anniversary bash Monday, Whitney Houston apparently made a reference to the rumors that drug problems were threatening her career.

``The record's not over yet, remember,'' said the 36-year-old singer. ``God bless you. I love you.''

The r&b diva then received a standing ovation for a 20-minute medley designed to set minds at ease that Houston hadn't ruined her voice.

Poured into a revealing gown and clutching her trademark white handkerchief, Houston swept on stage shortly after 11 p.m. to cheers from the rapt crowd, which had sat for four hours while the taping of the show had crept along at a snail's pace. But the performance itself quickly took on an air of psychodrama as Houston stumbled over a cable as she arrived on stage. The crowd gasped.

Later, toward the end of the set, she stopped singing in the middle of a song and signaled for water. Husband Bobby Brown rushed on stage with a glass. Houston then kissed Brown, who toweled off her perspiring forehead.

Houston's singing, however, seemed to put to rest the rumors of a ravaged voice. She hit the high notes on cue while her creamy, agile vocal stylings and picture-perfect looks made you think of the Whitney we've always known.

In fact, Houston gave strong, confident readings of six of her hits - ``How Will I Know,'' ``I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),'' ``Exhale (Shoop Shoop)'', ``I Believe in You and Me,'' ``I Will Always Love You'' and ``My Love Is Your Love.''

Earlier, wearing a leopard dress and white fur jacket, Houston sat smiling in the audience with her arm resting on the arm of husband Brown during a short set by Barry Manilow. Seated next to Arista Records chief Clive Davis, Houston sang along to Manilow's ``I Write the Songs.''

She and Brown later rose to their feet to dance to ``Supernatural,'' performed by Santana.

Rumors about Houston and drugs have swirled due to a much-discussed pullout from last month's Oscars, which her publicist blamed on a sore throat; reports that airport security officers in Hawaii found a half- ounce of marijuana in Houston's bag; and a disjointed magazine interview. Three weeks before the Oscars, Houston failed to appear at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame dinner, where she was scheduled to help induct Davis.

Houston, who didn't appear backstage to talk with reporters, was part of a gathering of the biggest names in Arista history to perform for label founder Davis, who signed the songbird when she was 19. The two-hour special, featuring performances from Aretha Franklin, Santana, Alan Jackson, Patti Smith, Barry Manilow, Puff Daddy, Sarah McLachlan and others, will be broadcast May 15 on NBC.

Santana and Franklin taped medleys of their biggest hits while Smith performed ``Because the Night'' with McLachlan on piano. Boy harmony group LFO sang its smash ``Summer Girls'' to cheers from teens in the audience.

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Photo: (1 -- 2) Whitney Houston entertains the Shrine Auditorium audience during Monday's taping of Arista Records' 25th anniversary celebration. At right, husband Bobby Brown wipes Houston's brow during her performance.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press