Whitney Houston was born in Newark, New Jersey. She came from a family rich in musical talent--her mother Cissy was a gospel singer and her cousins, Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, also were notable artists. After the Newark riots of 1967, the family moved to East Orange, New Jersey. Whitney began singing solos in the junior gospel choir at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, where she also learned to play piano. Houston went to Mount Saint Dominic Academy in Newark, while continuing to learn to sing from her mother.
Whitney toured area nightclubs where her mother was performing, and she would sometimes perform with her on stage. In 1977, Whitney was a backup singer for the Michael Zager Band on one of their singles. The following year, at age 15, Houston sang backing vocals for Chaka Khan on "I'm Every Woman". Whitney also sang background vocals for Jermaine Jackson and Lou Rawls.
In the early 1980's, Houston began working as a fashion model. She appeared on the cover of Seventeen magazine, and was also featured on the pages of Glamour, Young Miss, and Cosmopolitan. She also continued to sing, recording the song "Memories" on the album One Down, which was credited to the group Material, and singing lead on a track on the 1983 album Paul Jabara and Friends.
Houston had been offered recording contracts, but completed high school on her mother's insistence. In 1983, Gerry Griffith, A&R man from Arista Records, saw Whitney perform, and when Arista president Clive Davis saw her, Houston signed a contract. Later that year, Whitney performed on The Merv Griffin Show.
Long before Janet Jackson, and several years before Mariah Carey, Whitney thus became the first woman to record an album with three #1 hits. By being both the Artist of the Year and owning the Album of the Year on the 1986 Billboard year-end charts, Houston became the first to accomplish that feat. Whitney's self-titled debut album was at the time the best-selling debut album by a soloist.
Houston captured a People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Musical Performer, an award she shared with Madonna. She then went on an extensive world tour, unveiling her amazing voice for all to hear. This won her millions of fans around the globe, and helped her debut album sell over 13 million copies in the United States and over 25 million worldwide.
Houston won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Saving All My Love For You", and she was nominated for Album of the Year, Record of the Year (for "Greatest Love Of All") and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance ("You Give Good Love").
Whitney won the American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist, and she shared the Favorite Soundtrack Award for Waiting to Exhale. This allowed her to pass Kenny Rogers (19) for the most AMA's won with 21. "Count on Me" also captured an ASCAP Pop Award.
In 1996, Houston starred with Denzel Washington in the movie The Preacher's Wife. Whitney earned $10 million for her role, making her one of the highest-paid actresses in the business at the time. The movie grossed $50 million, and Houston received her best acting reviews thus far.
Houston won a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Female R&B Performer, and she was also nominated for Favorite Female in a Comedy or Romance. The soundtrack was nominated for Favorite Soundtrack at both the American Music Awards and the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, and became the top-selling gospel album of all-time, with over six million copies sold. Houston was nominated once again at the People's Choice Awards for Favorite Female Musical Performer. Whitney's "Step By Step" was mostly a mid-charter, although it did achieve #6 in Austria and #8 in Germany.
Houston renamed her production company BrownHouse Productions and Whitney starred in and co-produced the television remake of Cinderella. No less than 60 million people tuned into ABC to give the network its highest ratings in 16 years. The movie was nominated for seven Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Variety, Musical or Comedy, and won Outstanding Art Direction in a Variety, Musical or Comedy Special.
Houston performed the hits of Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, and cousin Dionne Warwick in a three-night concert, Classic Whitney, broadcast on HBO. Whitney donated proceeds to the Children's Defense Fund. Houston was rewarded for outstanding career achievements in entertainment with the presentation of The Quincy Jones Award to her at the Soul Train Music Awards. Whitney also shared Favorite Female Musical Performer with Reba McEntire at the People's Choice Awards.
My Love Is Your Love sold over four million in the United States and over eleven million across the world. The album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the Grammys, and Favorite Soul/R&B Album at the American Music Awards, where Whitney also was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist. A fifth song from the album, "I Learned From The Best", was #1 on the Dance chart in America, but did not reach the Top 10 on any other chart.
Houston received a nomination for Favorite Female Artist, R&B at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.
In 1999, Houston performed at VH-1's Divas Live '99, and then gave 70 concerts on a world tour, that included a European leg that was Europe's highest-grossing tour of the year.
At the conclusion of 1999, Houston was named Top-Selling R&B Female Artist of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) with sales that to this juncture topped 51 million. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) named "The Bodyguard" Soundtrack as the Top-Selling Soundtrack Album of the Century. Whitney received the Female Artist of the Decade for "extraordinary artistic contributions" at the Soul Train Music Awards, in a field that also included Mariah Carey, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Celine Dion, and others.
Houston was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Album at the American Music Awards.
With her achievements at this point in her career, it seemed like a safe bet that Houston would be the greatest female singer in history. This is an extreme lesson on why you can never be sure of anything, that even the "safest bets" are not guaranteed, and that we all should never take anything for granted.
Whitney released the double-disc Whitney: The Greatest Hits. It has now sold over five million copies in the United States and thirteen million across the world, and those totals are continue to grow. The album features club remixes of many of Houston's up-tempo hits. Included on the album were four new songs, and two hits that had yet to appear on a Houston album: "One Moment In Time", "The Star-Spangled Banner".
Whitney received a nomination at the American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist, and she was nominated for Favorite Female Artist, R&B at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.
Houston was without doubt one of the most admired performers in history. That image began to change with a marked change in her behavior. Now, Whitney was often hours late for interviews, rehearsals and photo shoots, and she canceled concerts and talk-show appearances. Rumors of Houston using drugs with Brown began to become rampant.
On January 11, 2000, airport security guards in Hawai'i discovered marijuana in both Whitney and Brown's luggage. Two months later, Whitney's mentor, Clive Davis, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Houston was scheduled to perform at the event, but failed to show up.
Shortly after that, Houston was supposed to perform at the Academy Awards, but was fired by longtime friend and musical director Burt Bacharach. According to author Steve Pond in The Big Show: High Times and Dirty Dealings Backstage at the Academy Awards, "Houston's voice was shaky, she seemed distracted and jittery...and that while Houston was supposed to sing "Over The Rainbow", she would start singing a different song." Later in the year, Robyn Crawford, Whitney's long-time friend and executive assistant, resigned from Houston's management company.
In 2001, Houston renewed her contract with Arista Records for a record sum of $100 million to record six new albums. When Whitney appeared on Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special, her shockingly thin frame again flamed the drug use rumors. Houston's publicist explained it instead that "Whitney has been under stress due to family matters, and when she is under stress, she does not eat." Houston was supposed to make an appearance the next night, but she canceled.
Following the murders of those in the former World Trade Centers and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, Houston re-released her single of "The Star Spangled Banner" that she had originally recorded in 1991, with all proceeds this time going to the police, firefighters and victims of the attacks. It went all the way to #6, thus making Whitney the only artist able to turn the U.S. National Anthem into a hit.
In 2002, Houston won a BET Lifetime Achievement Awards. In an interview with Diane Sawyer, Whitney said "First of all, let's get one thing straight. Crack is cheap. I make too much money to ever smoke crack. Let's get that straight. Okay?" She did, however, finally admit to using drugs, including cocaine.
The interview was meant to help promote Houston's upcoming album; the world instead was disappointed to hear the news that most already knew in their hearts--one of the greatest singers God ever put on this earth was destroying herself with her decisions.
In December, Houston released just her fifth studio album, Just Whitney... The project reached #9 on the Album chart, but received mixed reviews, unheard of for a Whitney Houston album. Although a percentage of Whitney's fans (one million in the U.S. and three million worldwide) bought the album, four consecutive singles bombed. "One of These Days" at the lowly position of #72, was the best that the singer who gave us "I Will Always Love You" could do in her new world of drugs.
In 2003, Houston released the Christmas album One Wish: The Holiday Album. She spent most of the next year touring Europe, Russia, Asia and the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Bobby Brown started his own "reality television show". Although it was his project, Houston was often prominent in a show that let people have a glimpse of what was going on in the Brown household. Whitney was shown in scenes that certainly were not her most flattering moments.
But Houston at least was recognized for her past achievements. In 2004, she received the World Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement from The Women's World Awards. In 2006, Guinness World Records noted that Whitney was the Most Awarded Female Artist of All-Time.
After much controversy and turmoil, Houston finally separated from Brown in 2006, filing for divorce. Whitney, her mother, Cousin Dionne Warwick, and the world, which had entrusted Houston's future in Brown's hands, began to hope that she could turn her life around. In 2007, Clive Davis announced that Houston would begin recording a new album.
In 2008, Whitney received the special International Artist Award "in recognition of her worldwide success exemplified by her international record sales, radio airplay in countries all over the world, live performances that span the globe, and popularity that knows no borders or boundaries" at the American Music Award. The tribute award gave Houston 22 AMA's, more than any other female artist in history.
In 2009, Houston granted her first interview in seven years, appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show. On the show, Whitney admitted to using drugs with Brown, who "laced marijuana with rock cocaine." She said "(doing drugs) was an everyday thing...I wasn't happy...I was losing myself."
Houston released the album I Look to You in 2009. The album had opening-week sales of 305,000 copies and debuted at #1, Whitney's first #1 album since "The Bodyguard" Soundtrack, and her first #1 studio album since 1987.
Although Whitney received airplay on the Adult Contemporary chart, and reached #5 in the U.K. with "Million Dollar Bill", she would never again have another big worldwide hit. Houston achieved that ranking in the U.K. despite a disastrous performance in England.
Houston performed the song on the British television show The X Factor. The British media tore her apart, describing the performance as "weird", "ungracious", "shambolic" and "a flop".
Houston then embarked on a world tour, her first in ten years. It was generally a good comeback, but she did receive some poor reviews and widespread negative feelings from fans who were disappointed in the quality of her voice and performance.
In January, 2010, Houston received The BET Honors Award for Entertainer for "her lifetime achievements spanning over 25 years in the industry". In April, the U.K. newspaper The Mirror reported that Houston was preparing for an eighth studio album.
Early in 2011, Houston gave a shaky performance in tribute to cousin Dionne Warwick at Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy gala. In May, Houston enrolled in a rehabilitation center, citing drug and alcohol problems. In September, Houston began to star and produce the remake of the 1976 movie Sparkle. The movie was released on August 17, 2012.
On February 9, 2012, Houston visited Brandy and Monica, along with Davis, at their rehearsals for Davis' pre-Grammy Awards party at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Whitney joined Kelly Price on stage in Hollywood, singing "Jesus Loves Me".
Two days later, February 11, Houston was found unconscious in Suite 434 at the Hotel, submerged in the bathtub. Beverly Hills paramedics arrived at 3:30 p.m. and found Whitney unresponsive and performed CPR. Whitney Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. PST. A Los Angeles County coroner report later attributed Houston's death to "the effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use."
At the Davis party, Tony Bennett said of Houston, "When I first heard her, I called Clive Davis and said, "You finally found the greatest singer I've ever heard in my life." The ensuing Grammy Awards show honored Houston and her music.
Houston's family honored her with an invitation-only memorial on February 18 at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, the place where she first sang many years previous. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ordered all New Jersey state flags flown at half-staff on Tuesday, February 21 to honor Houston.
In 2012, Whitney posthumously received the Millennium Award at the Billboard Music Awards. Due to the overwhelming outpouring of grief from fans and renewed interest in her music, Guinness World Records noted that Houston had the Most Simultaneous Hits in the United Kingdom than any other artist in history.
In 2013, Houston was inducted into the R&B Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame. Whitney won one last Grammy Award for Best Song for "I Look To You". Houston was inducted into the Singers Hall of Fame.
Numerous sources, from MTV, to The New York Times to Rolling Stone Magazine recognize Whitney as having one of the greatest voices ever in popular music. Her sales are amazing, and she is, as pointed out above, the most awarded female performer in history. Sadly, the only thing that kept her from having a realistic chance at #1 is her prolonged inactivity from 1998-2009 and, ultimately her death. At the close of the century, Whitney was #1, but while she was not recording for those twelve years, she allowed two others to pass her.
Artists such a Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Destiny's Child, Toni Braxton, Pink, Nelly Furtado, Jennifer Hudson and Ashanti have acknowledged Houston as an influence.
Whitney is the only female artist to own two Albums of the Year, and just the second artist in history (behind Elton John) to accomplish that. Each one of her studio albums went Gold.
Houston won six Grammy Awards in her career out of 26 nominations. She also won 22 American Music Awards out of 38 nominations, and 31 Billboard Music Awards out of an incredible 67 nominations.
Houston has sold 57 million albums in the United States (fourth among females all-time), and over 200 million worldwide. She holds the Rock Era record with seven consecutive #1 songs between 1985 and 1988. All told, Whitney had 43 career hits, a low number for this range of the special, but 25 of those went Top 10 and she had nine number one songs.
Whitney toured area nightclubs where her mother was performing, and she would sometimes perform with her on stage. In 1977, Whitney was a backup singer for the Michael Zager Band on one of their singles. The following year, at age 15, Houston sang backing vocals for Chaka Khan on "I'm Every Woman". Whitney also sang background vocals for Jermaine Jackson and Lou Rawls.
In the early 1980's, Houston began working as a fashion model. She appeared on the cover of Seventeen magazine, and was also featured on the pages of Glamour, Young Miss, and Cosmopolitan. She also continued to sing, recording the song "Memories" on the album One Down, which was credited to the group Material, and singing lead on a track on the 1983 album Paul Jabara and Friends.
Houston had been offered recording contracts, but completed high school on her mother's insistence. In 1983, Gerry Griffith, A&R man from Arista Records, saw Whitney perform, and when Arista president Clive Davis saw her, Houston signed a contract. Later that year, Whitney performed on The Merv Griffin Show.
She recorded a duet with Teddy Pendergrass that was included on his album Love Language. The song hit #5 overall and #6 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It would also appear on her debut album.
Davis gathered some top producers for his prized new artist, and Houston released her debut album in 1985. "All At Once", which charted only in the Netherlands, was the first single, and the lack of foresight by radio music directors makes it one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.
In the United States, Houston released "You Give Good Love" as the first single. It topped the R&B chart and was #3 overall in the United States and #7 in Canada, and sold over one million copies. This time it was Europeans who don't look good in hindsight, as the song made it to only #93 in the U.K. The single sold over one million copies.
Houston promoted her debut with appearances on late-night television talk shows and in nightclub performances. Thanks to the big hit, the album began to sell well. Whitney opened for Jeffrey Osborne on tour, and released "Saving All My Love For You" as her follow-up. It was a triple #1, hitting the top position on the Adult Contemporary, R&B and Popular charts. This time, the U.K. got it, and it reached #1 there, as well as #5 in Switzerland and #8 in Canada. The single went Platinum for Whitney.
Houston released "Thinking About You" only to R&B stations, and it became a Top 10 song in that format. Whitney released the upbeat "How Will I Know", which became a smash hit and one of the biggest songs of the year. It too achieved triple #1 status in the U.S., was #1 in Canada, #2 in Australia and Sweden, and #5 in the U.K. It became her third straight Gold record, and is still one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.
This flurry of success by the previously unknown Houston helped her album reach #1 for 14 weeks. Her next single, a remake of George Benson's "Greatest Love Of All", became the biggest hit on the album, landing at #1 for three weeks, and also reaching #1 on the AC chart in the U.S. It also topped the Canadian and Australian charts, and was #8 in the U.K. "Greatest Love Of All" sold over one million copies, was nominated for Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards, and also is a firm member of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.
Long before Janet Jackson, and several years before Mariah Carey, Whitney thus became the first woman to record an album with three #1 hits. By being both the Artist of the Year and owning the Album of the Year on the 1986 Billboard year-end charts, Houston became the first to accomplish that feat. Whitney's self-titled debut album was at the time the best-selling debut album by a soloist.
Houston captured a People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Musical Performer, an award she shared with Madonna. She then went on an extensive world tour, unveiling her amazing voice for all to hear. This won her millions of fans around the globe, and helped her debut album sell over 13 million copies in the United States and over 25 million worldwide.
Houston won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Saving All My Love For You", and she was nominated for Album of the Year, Record of the Year (for "Greatest Love Of All") and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance ("You Give Good Love").
In 1986, Whitney set a record when she received six American Music nominations, the most ever by a debut artist. She won awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Single ("You Give Good Love") and Favorite Soul/R&B Video ("Saving All My Love For You"), and was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Video Artist. Houston's performance of "Saving All My Love For You" earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.
As her debut album continued to do well, Houston received further kudos from the American Music Awards in 1987, receiving another seven nominations on top of the six she had earned the previous year. The total of 13 nominations is an all-time record number of nominations from one album. Whitney took home trophies for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Album, Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Video ("Greatest Love Of All"). She was also nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Video Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Video Artist.
The album Whitney Houston is now included in the Definitive 200 Albums at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. USA Today called Houston's debut one of the 25 musical milestones of the last 25 years in 2007.
After making a sensational splash such as that, Houston released the album Whitney in 1987. Whitney became the first artist to debut at #1 on the Album charts in both the United States and the U.K., and the first woman to debut at #1 in the U.S. The album reached the Top 10 in every major country in the world, and was #1 in every one except France.
After making a sensational splash such as that, Houston released the album Whitney in 1987. Whitney became the first artist to debut at #1 on the Album charts in both the United States and the U.K., and the first woman to debut at #1 in the U.S. The album reached the Top 10 in every major country in the world, and was #1 in every one except France.
Houston rolled out "I Wanna' Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" as the first single, and it was another huge hit. It reached #1 in the United States on the Adult Contemporary, Dance, and Popular charts, and was a #2 R&B smash, and was #1 in the U.K., Germany, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden, and was #3 in Austria and #15 in France. The single captured the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Single, and has now sold over four million copies.
The album has now sold nine million copies in the U.S. alone and 25 million worldwide. "Didn't We Almost Have It All" became Whitney's fifth consecutive #1 song, tying her for second place all-time with the Supremes, and just one away from the Rock Era record of six by the Bee Gees. It peaked at #1 on both the Adult Contemporary and Popular charts in the United States and was #2 in Canada, and also went Gold.
The album Whitney was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys, and she was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance ("For The Love Of You"). Houston was named Favorite Pop/Rock Female Vocalist at the American Music Awards, and she was nominated for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist. The great song "So Emotional" continued the torrid streak, reaching #1 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K. and #9 in Canada, and also selling over one million copies.
Whitney broke the record with her seventh straight #1 with "Where Do Broken Hearts Go", which also reached #6 in Canada, thus making her the first woman to achieve four #1 songs on an album. The single also sold over one million units.
Houston won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("I Wanna' Dance With Somebody"). She earned a second People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Musical Performer, this time winning the award outright. Her subsequent tour was one of the ten-highest moneymaking tours of 1987. According to Forbes magazine, Houston was already the #8 highest-earning entertainer in the world.
Whitney pulled another hit off the album, "Love Will Save The Day", which, although it ended her streak of consecutive #1's, still reached #6 in the Netherlands, #8 in Canada and #9 in the United States.
Houston won Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist again at the American Music Awards, and added the title of Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist as well, giving her 11 American Music Awards thus far. With just two albums, Whitney won more AMA's than any other female artist in the decade.
In 1988, Houston joined other artists at London's Wembley Stadium to celebrate then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday. Later in the year, Whitney recorded "One Moment In Time" for the Summer Olympics. It was a #1 AC smash in the U.S. and #5 overall, #1 in the U.K. and Germany, #3 in Canada, #4 in Switzerland, #5 in Austria, #6 in the Netherlands and #8 in France. It became Whitney's eighth Gold record, and was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards.
Whitney won the National Urban Coalition Distinguished Artist/Humanitarian Award for her many humanitarian acts. Grambling State University presented Houston with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters "for her contribution to the arts through music". Whitney also won her third People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Musical Performer.
In 1989, Houston formed The Whitney Houston Foundation for Children, a non-profit organization that raises money for the needs of the world's children. The following year, Whitney released her album I'm Your Baby Tonight. She helped produce the album, with help from Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Babyface, and L.A. Reid.
The title song became Houston's eighth career #1 in the United States, and was #2 in Canada and the Netherlands, #3 in Austria, #4 in France, Sweden and Switzerland, #5 in the U.K. and Germany, and #7 in Australia. The song gave Whitney already her tenth Gold record, and was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards.
The single "All the Man That I Need" became another Triple #1--#1 Adult Contemporary, #1 R&B, and #1 Popular, in the United States, and reached #1 in Canada and #9 in the Netherlands. It too sold over one million copies, and also was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the Grammys.
I'm Your Baby Tonight went on to sell four million copies in the U.S. and twelve million across the globe. Whitney released "Miracle" as the next single, a #4 smash on the AC chart and #9 overall.
The single "My Name Is Not Susan", which peaked at #20, broke Houston's streak of 14 consecutive Top 10 songs. Two other songs on the album--"I Belong to You", and "You Didn't Know" (with Stevie Wonder), also received significant R&B airplay.
Whitney's duet with Aretha Franklin, "Gimme' Your Love" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal., and Houston's song "I Belong to You" earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
Houston won four Billboard Music Awards: Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Album, Top R&B Album Artist and Top R&B Singles Artist, and she was nominated for Top Album Artist--Female, Top Pop Singles Artist and Top Pop Singles Artist--Female.
In 1990, Whitney became the spokesperson for a youth leadership conference in Washington, D.C. She was given a private audience with President George H.W. Bush in the Oval Office of the White House to discuss concerns of the members of the conference. She was also appointed by President Bush as the first Points of Light Contributing Leader. Houston also was recognized as a star responsible for a substantial number of hit songs in receiving the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Award show.
During the Persian Gulf War, Whitney performed "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV. Houston's singing of the U.S. National Anthem was so well-received that she released it as a single. All proceeds from the single went to the American Red Cross Gulf Crisis Fund, an act that the Red Cross subsequently rewarded by naming Houston to its Board of Governors.
The National Football League ranked Houston's amazing performance as one of the most memorable music moment in its history. VH1 listed her performance as one of the greatest moments that rocked television.
Later in the year, Houston performed a concert for returning soldiers called Welcome Home Heroes, which was televised by HBO. The free concert in Norfolk, Virginia (that was unscrambled so everyone could watch for free) gave HBO it's highest ratings in its history. Whitney then went on a world tour.
Whitney was nominated for five American Music Awards: Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Adult Contemporary Album, Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist.
Houston was on top of the world. To this point, she was one of the most successful artists ever after three albums, and all signs indicated that she had a real chance to be the most successful female recording artist of all-time.
Then, she met Bobby Brown, and after a three-year courtship, the two married on July 18, 1992.
Houston accepted a role in the movie The Bodyguard opposite Kevin Costner. Although the film received mixed reviews, fans went to see it in droves; the movie went on to gross over $410 million worldwide, moving it into the top 100 grossing films in history at the time.
But it was the soundtrack that really made history. Houston's singing for the movie was astounding--it showcased Whitney at her career peak. Houston released "I Will Always Love You", originally written and recorded by Dolly Parton, as the first single. It broke existing records for weeks at #1 on both the R&B chart (11 weeks) and the overall chart (14 weeks), and was also #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for five weeks.
"I Will Always Love You" sold over eight million copies in the U.S. alone, and it is one of the all-time top worldwide sellers at over twelve million. It was an iconic performance, #1 in every major country in the world, easily the #1 Song of 1992, and is now one of The Top 5 Songs of the Rock Era*.
Whitney won a People's Choice Award for Favorite New Music Video for "I Will Always Love You". This amazing song and others drove the album to #1, where it accumulated 20 non-consecutive weeks at the top. During Christmas of 1992, the soundtrack sold over one million copies. It has since gone over 17 million copies in the U.S. and over 44 million worldwide, making it one of The Top Soundtracks of the Rock Era*, and the biggest-selling album ever by a female artist.
Whitney's remake of the Chaka Khan song ("I'm Every Woman"), which she began her career singing backing vocals on, was up next. It hit #2 in Canada, #3 in the Netherlands and #4 in the United States and the U.K., and sold over one million copies. Whitney's cover received a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
Houston delivered another amazing vocal performance on her next release--"I Have Nothing", a #1 Adult Contemporary smash that also achieved twin #4's on the R&B and Popular charts, and went Gold. The song also topped the Canadian chart and was #3 in the U.K.
Houston won two of the most prestigious Grammy Awards (Album of the Year and Record of the Year for "I Will Always Love You"). She won a third for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the classic song, giving her three awards in that category. That put her behind only Ella Fitzgerald and Barbra Streisand (five wins each) in the history of the Grammys.
Whitney ran away with an incredible eight American Music Awards, including a special Award of Merit, setting a record for the most wins by a female artist in one night. Houston tied Michael Jackson, who won eight AMA's in 1984, for the most in history. Whitney won trophies for Favorite Pop/Rock Album, Favorite Pop/Rock Single and Favorite Soul/R&B Single ("I Will Always Love You"), Favorite Adult Contemporary Album, Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist. Whitney was also nominated for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist.
Houston won a then-record 11 Billboard Music Awards: #1 World Artist, #1 World Single, Top Billboard 200 Album, a Special Award for "I Will Always Love You" setting a record with 14 weeks at #1, another Special Award for the soundtrack spending 20 weeks at #1, Hot 100 Singles Artist, Hot 100 Singles Artist--Female, Hot 100 Single and Hot R&B Single ("I Will Always Love You"), Top R&B Album, Hot R&B Singles Artist, Hot 100 Singles Sales and Top Soundtrack Album. Whitney was also nominated for Hot Adult Contemporary Artist.
Whitney won a record five World Music Awards. She captured 11 Billboard Music Awards, and also won the Sammy Davis, Jr. Award as Entertainer of the Year at the Soul Train Awards. Houston also came in #1 in a Harris Poll to determine the #1 Favorite Singer/Musician or Musical Group.
On top of the world, Houston then toured it. Her concerts, movie, and records, combined to rank Houston as the third-highest earning female entertainer of the year, behind only Oprah Winfrey and Barbra Streisand in Forbes' annual ranking.
Whitney pulled a fourth single from the album, albeit one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*. It did reach #10 on the AC chart, and #10 in Canada, but only #31 overall, despite another incredible performance. As if to prove it was highly underrated, over one million people bought the single.
In addition, "I Have Nothing" and "Run To You" were among the nominees for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television (awards for the songwriters).
Houston was nominated for Favorite Female Musical Performer at the 1995 People's Choice Awards.
In October of 1994, Houston was invited to attend and perform at a state dinner honoring newly elected South African president Nelson Mandela at the White House in Washington, D.C. Following her world tour, Whitney performed three concerts in South Africa to honor Mandela, playing in front of over 200,000 people.
The following year, Whitney starred in the movie Waiting to Exhale, a #1 movie at the box office that grossed over $81 million worldwide. Houston co-produced the soundtrack album alongside Babyface. Although she was asked to sing all the songs, Houston declined, and Aretha Franklin, Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige, Brandy and Patti LaBelle came aboard at Whitney's insistence.
Houston released "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)", which reached #1 along with a record eleven weeks at #2 on the Popular chart, and eight weeks at #1 on the R&B chart. The single also hit #1 in Canada, #7 in the Netherlands and #10 in Sweden, and sold over two million copies. The songwriter, Babyface, won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and was nominated for Song of the Year, while Whitney was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
The "Waiting to Exhale" Soundtrack went to #1 and has sold over seven million copies in the U.S. alone. It earned a Grammy Nomination for Album of the Year. "Count On Me", with CeCe Winans, reached #4 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #8 overall, and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. This single also went Platinum, and as a songwriter, Houston was nominated for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture or Television.
Whitney won the American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist, and she shared the Favorite Soundtrack Award for Waiting to Exhale. This allowed her to pass Kenny Rogers (19) for the most AMA's won with 21. "Count on Me" also captured an ASCAP Pop Award.
The "Waiting to Exhale" Soundtrack won a Billboard Music Award for Soundtrack Album of the Year. Houston was nominated again for Favorite Female Musical Performer at the People's Choice Awards. She scored a third hit from the album on the AC chart with "Why Does It Hurt So Bad".
In 1996, Houston starred with Denzel Washington in the movie The Preacher's Wife. Whitney earned $10 million for her role, making her one of the highest-paid actresses in the business at the time. The movie grossed $50 million, and Houston received her best acting reviews thus far.
Houston recorded and co-produced the soundtrack, which included six gospel songs with the Georgia Mass Choir. She released the single "I Believe In You And Me", which landed her a #2 Adult Contemporary smash that was also #4 on both the R&B and Popular charts. Houston won a Billboard Music Award for Top Gospel Album, and she was once again nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards.
Houston won a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Female R&B Performer, and she was also nominated for Favorite Female in a Comedy or Romance. The soundtrack was nominated for Favorite Soundtrack at both the American Music Awards and the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, and became the top-selling gospel album of all-time, with over six million copies sold. Houston was nominated once again at the People's Choice Awards for Favorite Female Musical Performer. Whitney's "Step By Step" was mostly a mid-charter, although it did achieve #6 in Austria and #8 in Germany.
In 1997, Whitney's former grammar school was renamed The Whitney E. Houston Academy for Creative and Performing Arts.
Houston renamed her production company BrownHouse Productions and Whitney starred in and co-produced the television remake of Cinderella. No less than 60 million people tuned into ABC to give the network its highest ratings in 16 years. The movie was nominated for seven Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Variety, Musical or Comedy, and won Outstanding Art Direction in a Variety, Musical or Comedy Special.
Houston performed the hits of Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, and cousin Dionne Warwick in a three-night concert, Classic Whitney, broadcast on HBO. Whitney donated proceeds to the Children's Defense Fund. Houston was rewarded for outstanding career achievements in entertainment with the presentation of The Quincy Jones Award to her at the Soul Train Music Awards. Whitney also shared Favorite Female Musical Performer with Reba McEntire at the People's Choice Awards.
In 1998, Houston released her first studio album in eight years, My Love Is Your Love. The first single was a duet with another red-hot 90's star, Mariah Carey, in one of the greatest pairings of the Rock Era. "When You Believe" was included on "The Prince of Egypt" Soundtrack, and won an Academy Award for Best Song. It was a huge AC hit (#3) and #15 overall in the United States, and hit #2 in Sweden and Switzerland, #4 in the U.K., #5 in France and the Netherlands, #6 in Austria and #8 in Germany. Mariah and Whitney were nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.
Houston released "Heartbreak Hotel" next, collaborating with Faith Evans and Kelly Price on the single, which reached #2 in the United States (#1 R&B for seven weeks and #1 Dance) and #7 in France. The song was nominated for Best R&B Song at the Grammys (award for songwriters), and Whitney received a Grammy nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. The accompanying video was nominated for Best R&B Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.
Houston was nominated for Favorite Single for "Heartbreak Hotel" and Favorite Song from a Movie for "When You Believe" at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.
Next up was the single "It's Not Right But It's Okay", as Houston fans clamored for new music from an artist they hadn't heard record a studio album in years. It peaked at #4 in the U.S., and got up to #3 in the U.K. and Canada and #10 in the Netherlands. Houston won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for the song.
Whitney released "My Love Is Your Love", a worldwide smash that sold over two million copies in the U.S. alone. The song hit #1 Dance, #2 R&B and #4 in the United States, solid #2's from the U.K., the Austrians, the Swedes, and the Swiss, and was #3 in the Netherlands and #10 in both Canada and France. Australia was the only major country that didn't place the song in its Top 10.
My Love Is Your Love sold over four million in the United States and over eleven million across the world. The album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the Grammys, and Favorite Soul/R&B Album at the American Music Awards, where Whitney also was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist. A fifth song from the album, "I Learned From The Best", was #1 on the Dance chart in America, but did not reach the Top 10 on any other chart.
Houston received a nomination for Favorite Female Artist, R&B at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.
In 1999, Houston performed at VH-1's Divas Live '99, and then gave 70 concerts on a world tour, that included a European leg that was Europe's highest-grossing tour of the year.
At the conclusion of 1999, Houston was named Top-Selling R&B Female Artist of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) with sales that to this juncture topped 51 million. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) named "The Bodyguard" Soundtrack as the Top-Selling Soundtrack Album of the Century. Whitney received the Female Artist of the Decade for "extraordinary artistic contributions" at the Soul Train Music Awards, in a field that also included Mariah Carey, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Celine Dion, and others.
Houston was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Album at the American Music Awards.
With her achievements at this point in her career, it seemed like a safe bet that Houston would be the greatest female singer in history. This is an extreme lesson on why you can never be sure of anything, that even the "safest bets" are not guaranteed, and that we all should never take anything for granted.
Whitney released the double-disc Whitney: The Greatest Hits. It has now sold over five million copies in the United States and thirteen million across the world, and those totals are continue to grow. The album features club remixes of many of Houston's up-tempo hits. Included on the album were four new songs, and two hits that had yet to appear on a Houston album: "One Moment In Time", "The Star-Spangled Banner".
Whitney received a nomination at the American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist, and she was nominated for Favorite Female Artist, R&B at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.
Houston was without doubt one of the most admired performers in history. That image began to change with a marked change in her behavior. Now, Whitney was often hours late for interviews, rehearsals and photo shoots, and she canceled concerts and talk-show appearances. Rumors of Houston using drugs with Brown began to become rampant.
On January 11, 2000, airport security guards in Hawai'i discovered marijuana in both Whitney and Brown's luggage. Two months later, Whitney's mentor, Clive Davis, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Houston was scheduled to perform at the event, but failed to show up.
Shortly after that, Houston was supposed to perform at the Academy Awards, but was fired by longtime friend and musical director Burt Bacharach. According to author Steve Pond in The Big Show: High Times and Dirty Dealings Backstage at the Academy Awards, "Houston's voice was shaky, she seemed distracted and jittery...and that while Houston was supposed to sing "Over The Rainbow", she would start singing a different song." Later in the year, Robyn Crawford, Whitney's long-time friend and executive assistant, resigned from Houston's management company.
In 2001, Houston renewed her contract with Arista Records for a record sum of $100 million to record six new albums. When Whitney appeared on Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special, her shockingly thin frame again flamed the drug use rumors. Houston's publicist explained it instead that "Whitney has been under stress due to family matters, and when she is under stress, she does not eat." Houston was supposed to make an appearance the next night, but she canceled.
Following the murders of those in the former World Trade Centers and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, Houston re-released her single of "The Star Spangled Banner" that she had originally recorded in 1991, with all proceeds this time going to the police, firefighters and victims of the attacks. It went all the way to #6, thus making Whitney the only artist able to turn the U.S. National Anthem into a hit.
In 2002, Houston won a BET Lifetime Achievement Awards. In an interview with Diane Sawyer, Whitney said "First of all, let's get one thing straight. Crack is cheap. I make too much money to ever smoke crack. Let's get that straight. Okay?" She did, however, finally admit to using drugs, including cocaine.
The interview was meant to help promote Houston's upcoming album; the world instead was disappointed to hear the news that most already knew in their hearts--one of the greatest singers God ever put on this earth was destroying herself with her decisions.
In December, Houston released just her fifth studio album, Just Whitney... The project reached #9 on the Album chart, but received mixed reviews, unheard of for a Whitney Houston album. Although a percentage of Whitney's fans (one million in the U.S. and three million worldwide) bought the album, four consecutive singles bombed. "One of These Days" at the lowly position of #72, was the best that the singer who gave us "I Will Always Love You" could do in her new world of drugs.
In 2003, Houston released the Christmas album One Wish: The Holiday Album. She spent most of the next year touring Europe, Russia, Asia and the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Bobby Brown started his own "reality television show". Although it was his project, Houston was often prominent in a show that let people have a glimpse of what was going on in the Brown household. Whitney was shown in scenes that certainly were not her most flattering moments.
But Houston at least was recognized for her past achievements. In 2004, she received the World Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement from The Women's World Awards. In 2006, Guinness World Records noted that Whitney was the Most Awarded Female Artist of All-Time.
After much controversy and turmoil, Houston finally separated from Brown in 2006, filing for divorce. Whitney, her mother, Cousin Dionne Warwick, and the world, which had entrusted Houston's future in Brown's hands, began to hope that she could turn her life around. In 2007, Clive Davis announced that Houston would begin recording a new album.
In 2008, Whitney received the special International Artist Award "in recognition of her worldwide success exemplified by her international record sales, radio airplay in countries all over the world, live performances that span the globe, and popularity that knows no borders or boundaries" at the American Music Award. The tribute award gave Houston 22 AMA's, more than any other female artist in history.
In 2009, Houston granted her first interview in seven years, appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show. On the show, Whitney admitted to using drugs with Brown, who "laced marijuana with rock cocaine." She said "(doing drugs) was an everyday thing...I wasn't happy...I was losing myself."
Houston released the album I Look to You in 2009. The album had opening-week sales of 305,000 copies and debuted at #1, Whitney's first #1 album since "The Bodyguard" Soundtrack, and her first #1 studio album since 1987.
Although Whitney received airplay on the Adult Contemporary chart, and reached #5 in the U.K. with "Million Dollar Bill", she would never again have another big worldwide hit. Houston achieved that ranking in the U.K. despite a disastrous performance in England.
Houston performed the song on the British television show The X Factor. The British media tore her apart, describing the performance as "weird", "ungracious", "shambolic" and "a flop".
The album was certified Platinum in the United States. Another important track was "I Didn't Know My Own Strength".
Houston then embarked on a world tour, her first in ten years. It was generally a good comeback, but she did receive some poor reviews and widespread negative feelings from fans who were disappointed in the quality of her voice and performance.
In January, 2010, Houston received The BET Honors Award for Entertainer for "her lifetime achievements spanning over 25 years in the industry". In April, the U.K. newspaper The Mirror reported that Houston was preparing for an eighth studio album.
Early in 2011, Houston gave a shaky performance in tribute to cousin Dionne Warwick at Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy gala. In May, Houston enrolled in a rehabilitation center, citing drug and alcohol problems. In September, Houston began to star and produce the remake of the 1976 movie Sparkle. The movie was released on August 17, 2012.
On February 9, 2012, Houston visited Brandy and Monica, along with Davis, at their rehearsals for Davis' pre-Grammy Awards party at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Whitney joined Kelly Price on stage in Hollywood, singing "Jesus Loves Me".
Two days later, February 11, Houston was found unconscious in Suite 434 at the Hotel, submerged in the bathtub. Beverly Hills paramedics arrived at 3:30 p.m. and found Whitney unresponsive and performed CPR. Whitney Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. PST. A Los Angeles County coroner report later attributed Houston's death to "the effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use."
At the Davis party, Tony Bennett said of Houston, "When I first heard her, I called Clive Davis and said, "You finally found the greatest singer I've ever heard in my life." The ensuing Grammy Awards show honored Houston and her music.
Houston's family honored her with an invitation-only memorial on February 18 at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, the place where she first sang many years previous. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ordered all New Jersey state flags flown at half-staff on Tuesday, February 21 to honor Houston.
In 2012, Whitney posthumously received the Millennium Award at the Billboard Music Awards. Due to the overwhelming outpouring of grief from fans and renewed interest in her music, Guinness World Records noted that Houston had the Most Simultaneous Hits in the United Kingdom than any other artist in history.
In 2013, Houston was inducted into the R&B Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame. Whitney won one last Grammy Award for Best Song for "I Look To You". Houston was inducted into the Singers Hall of Fame.
Numerous sources, from MTV, to The New York Times to Rolling Stone Magazine recognize Whitney as having one of the greatest voices ever in popular music. Her sales are amazing, and she is, as pointed out above, the most awarded female performer in history. Sadly, the only thing that kept her from having a realistic chance at #1 is her prolonged inactivity from 1998-2009 and, ultimately her death. At the close of the century, Whitney was #1, but while she was not recording for those twelve years, she allowed two others to pass her.
Artists such a Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Destiny's Child, Toni Braxton, Pink, Nelly Furtado, Jennifer Hudson and Ashanti have acknowledged Houston as an influence.
Whitney is the only female artist to own two Albums of the Year, and just the second artist in history (behind Elton John) to accomplish that. Each one of her studio albums went Gold.
Houston won six Grammy Awards in her career out of 26 nominations. She also won 22 American Music Awards out of 38 nominations, and 31 Billboard Music Awards out of an incredible 67 nominations.
Houston has sold 57 million albums in the United States (fourth among females all-time), and over 200 million worldwide. She holds the Rock Era record with seven consecutive #1 songs between 1985 and 1988. All told, Whitney had 43 career hits, a low number for this range of the special, but 25 of those went Top 10 and she had nine number one songs.
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