Whitney Houston

American singer and actress (1963–2012)

For the album, see Whitney Houston (album).

Not to be confused with Whitney Chewston.

This article may be too long to read and navigate comfortably. When this tag was added, its readable prose size was 16,000 words. Consider splitting content into sub-articles, condensing it, or adding subheadings. Please discuss this issue on the article's talk page. (July 2024)

|

Whitney Houston

Houston at the Welcome Home Heroes concert in 1991

Born| (1963-08-09)August 9, 1963

Newark, New Jersey, U.S.

Died| February 11, 2012(2012-02-11) (aged 48)

Beverly Hills, California, U.S.

Burial place| Fairview Cemetery, Westfield, New Jersey
Occupations|

* Singer
* actress
* model
* film producer
* record producer
* philanthropist
* songwriter

Years active| 1977–2012
Works|

* Albums
* singles
* music videos
* filmography
* performances
* songs recorded

Spouse|

Bobby Brown

(m. 1992; div. 2007)​

Children| Bobbi Kristina Brown
Parent|

* Cissy Houston (mother)

Relatives|

* Gary Garland (half-brother)
* Dionne Warwick (cousin)
* Dee Dee Warwick (cousin)
* Leontyne Price (cousin)

Awards|

* Accolades
* records

Musical career
Genres|

* R&B
* pop
* dance-pop
* soul
* gospel

Labels|

* Arista
* RCA

Musical artist

Website| whitneyhouston.com
Signature

Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, film producer, and philanthropist. Known as "the Voice", is considered one of the most talented and influential voices in music history,[1][2] she is one of the most awarded entertainers and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 220 million records sold worldwide. She is an influential figure in music, as Houston's crossover appeal on the popular music charts and her performances influenced the breaking down of gender and racial barriers, as well as popular culture.[3][4] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Houston second on their list of the greatest singers of all time. Her life and career have been the subject of multiple documentaries and television specials.

Houston began singing at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, as a child and became a background vocalist while in high school. She was one of the first black women to appear on the cover of Seventeen after becoming a teen model in 1981. With the guidance of Arista Records chairman Clive Davis, Houston signed to the label at age 19. Her first two studio albums, Whitney Houston (1985) and Whitney (1987), both peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and are among the best-selling albums of all time. She is the only artist to have seven consecutive number-one singles on Billboard Hot 100 since 1988.[a] Her third studio album, I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990), yielded two US number-one singles, the title track and "All the Man That I Need". Houston's rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV in 1991 received widespread media coverage.

Houston entered the film industry with the romantic thriller film The Bodyguard (1992), which despite its mixed reviews became the tenth highest-grossing film to that date. Its soundtrack won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and remains the bestselling soundtrack album of all time. The lead single "I Will Always Love You" won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and became the best-selling female single in history. Houston went on to star and record soundtracks for the films Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher's Wife (1996). The former soundtrack scored her 11th Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)", while the latter, produced by Houston herself, became the bestselling gospel album of all time. As a film producer, she produced the series The Princess Diaries and The Cheetah Girls, and movies Cinderella (1997) and Sparkle (2012).

In 1998, Houston released her first studio album in eight years, My Love Is Your Love. Following its success, she renewed her contract with Arista Records for $100 million in 2001, one of the biggest recording deals of all time.[5] However, her 2002 studio album, Just Whitney, received mixed reviews, while her drug use and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown began to overshadow her music career. After divorcing Brown, Houston returned to the top of the Billboard 200 chart with her final studio album, I Look to You (2009). In February 2012, Houston accidentally drowned in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, with heart disease and cocaine use as contributing factors. News of her death coincided with the 2012 Grammy Awards, which took place the day following her death, and was covered internationally along with her memorial service. Her assets amounted to $250 million, earned over a 25-year career.[6]

## Early life and family

[edit]

New Hope Baptist Church, where Houston sang in the choir as a child

Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born on August 9, 1963, at Presbyterian Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, to Emily "Cissy" (née Drinkard) and John Russell Houston Jr.[7] Cissy is a Grammy-winning gospel and soul singer who was a member of The Drinkard Singers and the founder of The Sweet Inspirations before becoming a solo artist.[8][9] John was a former Army serviceman who later became an administrator under the Newark mayor. Houston was given the nickname "Nippy" by her father.[10]

Houston's parents were both African-American. On her mother's side, Houston was alleged to have partial Dutch and Native American ancestry.[11] Through Cissy, Houston was a cousin of singers Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick as well as a distant cousin of opera singer Leontyne Price. Aretha Franklin became an "honorary aunt" while Darlene Love was Houston's godmother.[12][13][14] Through her father, her great-great-grandfather Jeremiah Burke Sanderson was an American abolitionist and advocate for the civil and educational rights of black Americans during the mid-19th century.[15][16] Houston had three older brothers, paternal half-brother John III,[17] maternal half-brother Gary, a former basketball player and singer,[18] and Michael.[19]

The family later relocated to a suburban area of East Orange three years following the Newark race riots of 1967. Houston was raised in the Baptist faith by her parents and joined the church choir of the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark at age five where she also learned to play piano.[20][21] She later recalled being exposed to the Pentecostal church nearby as well. Houston made her solo performance debut at New Hope singing the hymn "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" at age 12.[22] When Houston became a teenager, she told her mother that she wanted to pursue a career in music. Throughout her teenage years, she would be taught how to sing by Cissy.[23] Along with her mother, cousins and Franklin, Houston was influenced by singers such as Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, and Roberta Flack.[24] Houston attended Franklin Elementary School (now Whitney E. Houston Academy of Creative and Performing Arts) before transferring to Mount Saint Dominic Academy by sixth grade.[22]

## Career

[edit]

### 1978–1984: Career beginnings

[edit]

Houston's professional career began when she joined her mother's band as a background singer during Cissy's performances on the cabaret club circuit in New York. Houston received her first standing ovation at Manhattan's Town Hall after singing "Tomorrow" from the Broadway musical, Annie, in February 1978.[25] Houston was the featured vocalist in Michael Zager's "Life's a Party" and began a career as a session vocalist backing up artists like her mother and Zager before being assigned to back up artists such as Lou Rawls and Chaka Khan.[26][27] Houston became a fashion model in 1980 and a year later, became one of the first black models to appear on the cover of a fashion magazine landing a cover of Seventeen.[28] With her looks and girl-next-door charm, Houston became one of the most sought-after teen models in the country, later appearing in fashion spreads for Glamour, Cosmopolitan and Young Miss.[27] Houston continued her music career during this period, recording demos of gospel recordings with producer Steven Abdul Khan Brown.[29] Houston's vocal talent made her sought after for recording deals, but were turned down by her mother, who insisted Houston finished school.[26][30]

In September 1981, she signed with Tara Productions, under the advice of her cousin Dionne, and hired Gene Harvey as her manager.[31] Daniel Gittelman and Seymour Flics would also be part of the team to work closely with Houston.[32][33] In 1982, Houston was featured as the lead vocalist on the song "Memories" by the band Material on their album, One Down. Houston's vocals were critically raved by the likes of Robert Christgau, who in his The Village Voice review of One Down called her contribution on the song, "one of the most gorgeous ballads you've ever heard."[34] In early 1983, Houston was the featured lead vocalist on the song, "Eternal Love", co-written by Paul Jabara, and featured on his album, Paul Jabara & Friends.[35] After auditions with CBS and Elektra Records, Houston would be discovered by Gerry Griffith, then the A&R representative for Arista Records, while Houston performed with her mother at the Seventh Avenue South nightclub in Manhattan. Griffith convinced Arista head Clive Davis to make time to see her perform at another nightclub called Sweetwaters the following week. Davis was impressed and immediately offered a worldwide record deal, which Houston eventually signed on April 10, 1983; since she was only nineteen, her parents also signed for her.[36] Houston was introduced to a national audience in June 1983, performing the song, "Home, from the Broadway musical, The Wiz, on The Merv Griffin Show.[37][36][38][39]

Houston did not begin work on an album immediately.[40] The label wanted to make sure no other label signed her away and Davis wanted to ensure he had the right material and producers for her debut album. Some producers passed on the project because of prior commitments.[41] After seeing her perform in New York, Michael Masser offered to pair Houston with Teddy Pendergrass, on the duet, "Hold Me", which appeared on his album, Love Language.[42] Released in May 1984, the song gave Houston her first taste of success, becoming a top ten hit on the R&B and adult contemporary charts.[43] Houston also received notice in 1984 after being paired up with Jermaine Jackson, with whom the duet, "Take Good Care of My Heart", was featured on Jackson's Dynamite album, while also appearing with Jackson performing the song and another duet, "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do", on an episode of As the World Turns. All three songs eventually appeared on her debut album. During this period, Houston continued to model, appeared in a commercial for the Canada Dry soft drink, and also began singing commercial jingles, including one for the restaurant brand, Steak & Ale.[44]

### 1985–1986: Whitney Houston and rise to international prominence

[edit]

After over a year of sessions, Whitney Houston was released on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1985.[45] After debuting at number 166 on the Billboard 200 for the week of March 30, 1985, the album would hit the top ten of the chart in its 23rd week of release.[46] On its 50th week of release, it reached number one in March 1986, starting a fourteen-week run.[47][48] Worldwide, the album topped the charts in seven other countries and reach the top five in seven others. Critics praised Houston and the album, with Rolling Stone calling her "one of the most exciting new voices in years" while The New York Times called the album "an impressive, musically conservative showcase for an exceptional vocal talent".[49][50]

The album's leading single, "You Give Good Love", produced by Kashif", became Houston's first top ten single on the Billboard Hot 100 in July.[51] The song generated some controversy after advice columnist Ann Landers included it in her list of songs she deemed "trashy music".[52] Houston later defended the song during an interview with the Chicago Tribune.[53] Later, in October, Houston scored her first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Saving All My Love for You". When "How Will I Know" and "Greatest Love of All" hit number one on the same chart, Houston set a record by being the first female artist to produce three number one singles off a single album. Eventually, the album would be certified Diamond in the United States for sales of 14 million copies,[54] and sell over 25 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling debut album in music history at the time and listed in Guinness World Records as the best-selling R&B studio album by a female artist in history.[55][56][57][58] The album also produced the international hit, "All at Once", which hit the top five in several European countries and went gold in Japan.[59]

Houston would win her first Grammy Award at the 1986 ceremony for the ballad, "Saving All My Love for You", which won the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, to which she had performed in the program to a stunning reception that later resulted in her winning an Emmy Award that September.[60] Houston's album was also nominated for Album of the Year, losing out to Phil Collins' No Jacket Required.[61][62] Houston failed to receive a nomination for Best New Artist, prompting Clive Davis to write an angry open letter to the Recording Academy, who defended the decision citing Houston's 1984 hit with Teddy Pendergrass.[63] Houston also won two American Music Awards, including Favorite Soul/R&B Song for "You Give Good Love"[64], as well as the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist. Houston would eventually receive five more American Music Awards at the 1987 ceremony, including American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist.[65] Houston won fourteen Billboard Number One awards in 1985 and 1986, winning Top Pop Artist in the latter year, with the album earning Top Pop Album honors, the first album by a female artist to receive that distinction.[47]

The initial success of the album was attributed to Houston's appearances in late-night talk shows, which usually weren't accessible for emerging black acts, as well as music videos.[47] During the album's early promotional run, Houston and her label struggled to submit the music video to "You Give Good Love" for MTV. At that time, the channel received harsh criticism for not playing enough videos by artists of color while favoring predominantly white acts.[66] Years later, Houston explained in an interview with the channel how the video was rejected because it was a "very kind of R&B song".[67] However, the music video to "Saving All My Love for You" eventually got airplay due to the song "hit(ting) so hard and explod(ing) so heavy" that the channel "had no choice but to play it," according to Houston.[67] In December 1985, the video to "How Will I Know" was submitted and immediately accepted by MTV brass and sent the video to heavy rotation almost immediately after it debuted that month, then a rare occurrence for a black female artist.[68][69] Following opening spots on tours by Jeffrey Osborne and Luther Vandross, Houston opened at Carnegie Hall in October 1985.[70][71] In July 1986, she embarked on her first world tour, The Greatest Love World Tour, performing a total of 53 dates.

Houston's debut album is listed as one of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Definitive 200 list.[72][73] Houston's grand entrance into the music industry is considered one of the 25 musical milestones of the last 25 years, according to USA Today.[74]

### 1987–1989: Whitney

[edit]

In June 1987, Houston's second album, Whitney, was released. Critics complained that the material was too similar to her previous album. Rolling Stone said, "the narrow channel through which this talent has been directed is frustrating".[75] The album nonetheless enjoyed commercial success. Houston became the first woman in music history to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.[76] Houston was also the first artist ever to enter number one in the US and UK simultaneously, while also reaching number one in every country it charted.[77][78] The album earned Houston more chart records including the most initial run of weeks atop the chart of any female artist in the 20th century and helped Houston accumulate the most cumulative weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 by a female artist with 25 as well as the first female artist to produce multiple albums that stayed at number one for ten or more weeks, a record that still holds.[79]

The album's first single, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)", released a month earlier in May, was also a massive hit worldwide, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the singles chart in 17 countries, including Australia, West Germany and the UK. To date, the single has sold over 14 million copies worldwide.[80] Following that single was three more singles, "Didn't We Almost Have It All", "So Emotional" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go", all of which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. With this feat, Houston became the first recording artist in history to earn seven consecutive number one hits, besting the previous record of six, held by the Beatles and the Bee Gees.[77] Houston remains the only artist to ever accomplish this feat as of 2024.[78] In addition, Houston also became the first female artist to generate four number one singles off one album. Whitney has been certified Diamond in the US for shipments of over ten million copies[54] and has sold a total of 20 million copies worldwide.[81]

The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year at the 1988 ceremony. Houston would eventually win her second Grammy that year in the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance category for "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)".[82][83] In addition, Houston would win four American Music Awards for her work on the album.[84][85] She also won her first Soul Train Music Award when the album won for best female R&B album.[86] In addition, the album also won Houston six Billboard Awards.

Just a month after the album's release, Houston launched her second world tour, the Moment of Truth World Tour at Tampa Stadium in July 1987. The tour eventually ended its North American leg as one of the ten highest-grossing concert tours of the year and the highest-grossing of the year by a female performer, topping tours by both Madonna and Tina Turner.[87][88] Houston would eventually toured 150 dates throughout the nearly two-year tour, including eight sold out dates at London's Wembley Arena. The singer's unprecedented successes helped her to earn notices on Forbes magazine. In 1987, she was ranked the eighth highest-ranking entertainer of the year on its Forbes 40 list, earning $43 million in that year alone.[89] The highest-earning musician and highest black female entertainer on the list, she was only the third highest after Bill Cosby and Eddie Murphy.[89] In 1988, she ranked 17th.[90][91]

Houston was a supporter of Nelson Mandela and the anti-apartheid movement. During her modeling days, she refused to work with agencies who did business with the then-apartheid South Africa.[92][93] On June 11, 1988, during the European leg of her tour, Houston joined other musicians to perform a set at Wembley Stadium in London to celebrate a then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday.[92] Over 72,000 people attended Wembley Stadium and over a billion people tuned in worldwide as the rock concert raised over $1 million for charities while bringing awareness to apartheid.[94] Houston then flew back to the US for a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City in August. The show was a benefit concert that raised a quarter of a million dollars for the United Negro College Fund.[95] In the same year, she recorded a song for NBC's coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics, "One Moment in Time", which became a Top 5 hit in the US, while reaching number one in the UK and Germany.[96][97][98] The song later won Houston and her producer Narada Michael Walden a Sports Emmy Award.[99] In January 1989, Houston formed The Whitney Houston Foundation For Children, a nonprofit organization that has raised funds for the needs of children around the world. The organization cares for homelessness, children with cancer or AIDS and other issues of self-empowerment.[100][101] The organization now functions under the name, the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation.

### 1990–1991: I'm Your Baby Tonight and "The Star-Spangled Banner"

[edit]

Houston in 1990

With the success of her first two albums, Houston became an international crossover superstar, appealing to all demographics. However, some black critics believed she was "selling out".[102] They felt her singing on record lacked the soul that was present during her live concerts.[103] At the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards, when Houston's name was called out for a nomination, a few in the audience jeered.[104][105] Houston defended herself against the criticism, stating, "If you're gonna have a long career, there's a certain way to do it and I did it that way. I'm not ashamed of it."[103]

Houston took a more urban direction with her third studio album, I'm Your Baby Tonight, released in November 1990. The first album in which she served as executive producer and exerted creative control for the first time in her career, Houston chose mostly black producers such as the team of L.A. Reid and Babyface, as well as Luther Vandross and Stevie Wonder, while maintaining Narada Michael Walden as one of the main producers. The album showed Houston's versatility on a new batch of tough rhythmic grooves, soulful ballads and uptempo dance tracks. Reviews were mixed. Rolling Stone felt it was her "best and most integrated album",[106] while Entertainment Weekly, at the time thought Houston's shift towards an urban direction was "superficial".[107]

Reaching number three on the Billboard 200, the album stayed inside the top ten for 22 weeks, becoming the tenth best-selling album of 1991.[108] The album also became Houston's second number one album on the Top R&B Albums chart, staying there for eight consecutive weeks. The album launched six singles, three of which - "I'm Your Baby Tonight", "All the Man That I Need" and "Miracle", made the top ten, with the former two topping the Billboard Hot 100. That feat helped Houston become the first female solo artist to have multiple number one singles off three or more albums.[109][b] The fourth single, "My Name Is Not Susan", peaked inside the top 20, while the latter two - "I Belong to You" and "We Didn't Know", a duet with Wonder, was only issued to R&B stations. It became Houston's third album to yield five or more top ten singles on the R&B chart. The album would be certified four times platinum in the US for sales of four million copies, while shipping 10 million copies worldwide.[54][110] The album would eventually win Houston eight Billboard awards, including four trophies at the actual Billboard Music Awards in December 1991, including Top R&B Artist. Three of the songs, including "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "All the Man That I Need", received Grammy nominations. The remix to "My Name Is Not Susan", with British rapper Monie Love, marked one of the first instances of a remix of a pop song to feature a rapper.[111] A bonus track from the album's Japanese edition, "Higher Love", was remixed by Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo and released posthumously in 2019 to commercial success. It topped the US Dance Club Songs chart and peaked at number two in the UK, becoming Houston's highest-charting single in the country since 1999.[112]

Houston performing "Saving All My Love for You" on the Welcome Home Heroes concert in 1991

During the Persian Gulf War, on January 27, 1991, Houston performed "The Star-Spangled Banner", the US national anthem, at Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium.[113] Houston's vocals were pre-recorded, prompting criticism.[114][115][116][117] Dan Klores, a spokesman for Houston, said: "This is not a Milli Vanilli thing. She sang live, but the microphone was turned off. It was a technical decision, partially based on the noise factor. This is standard procedure at these events."[118] Nevertheless, a commercial single and video of the performance reached the Top 20 on the US Hot 100, giving Houston the biggest chart hit for a performance of the national anthem.[c][119][120]

Houston donated her share of the proceeds to the American Red Cross Gulf Crisis Fund and was named to the Red Cross Board of Governors.[113][121][122] Her rendition was critically acclaimed and is considered the benchmark for singers;[117][123] VH1 listed the performance as one of the greatest moments that rocked TV.[124] Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the single was rereleased, with all profits going towards the firefighters and victims of the attacks. It peaked at No. 6 in the Hot 100 and was certified platinum.[125] The song's re-charting made Houston just the eighth artist in history and first woman ever to chart the same song inside the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.[126] Later in 1991, Houston put together her Welcome Home Heroes concert with HBO for the soldiers fighting in the Persian Gulf War and their families. The free concert took place at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia in front of 3,500 servicemen and women. HBO descrambled the concert so that it was free for everyone to watch.[127] The show gave HBO its highest ratings ever.[128] Houston then embarked on her third world tour, the I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour, which Houston would give 96 shows, including a historic ten date sold-out residency at Wembley Arena in London. The concert tour produced mixed to positive reviews. While The Sun Sentinel argued that Houston should've opted for smaller venues and theaters that were "far more suitable to her sophistication and talent",[129] USA Today praised Houston for "shak[ing] the confinements of her recordings' calculated productions and gets downright gutsy and soulful"[130]

### 1992–1994: The Bodyguard

[edit]

With the success of her music, Houston received offers of film work, including work with Robert De Niro, Quincy Jones and Spike Lee, but she did not feel the time was right.[105] Her first film role was in The Bodyguard, released in 1992. Houston played a star who is stalked by a crazed fan and hires a bodyguard (played by Kevin Costner) to protect her. Houston's mainstream appeal allowed audiences to look past the interracial nature of her character's relationship with Costner's character.[131] However, controversy arose as some felt Houston's face had been intentionally left out of the advertising to hide the film's interracial relationship. In a 1993 interview with Rolling Stone, Houston said that "people know who Whitney Houston is – I'm black. You can't hide that fact."[24] The film received mixed reviews. Writing for The Washington Post, Rita Kempley wrote that Houston was merely "playing herself", but came out "largely unscathed if that is possible in so cockamamie an undertaking".[132] Janet Maslin of The New York Times felt Houston lacked chemistry with Costner.[133] Houston was nominated for a Razzie Award but also received favorable acting nods, including a nomination for Outstanding Actress at the NAACP Image Awards, four acting nods at the 1993 MTV Movie Awards and a People's Choice Award nod for Favorite Actress in a Dramatic Motion Picture.[134][135] Upon its release, The Bodyguard grossed more than $121 million in the U.S. and $410 million worldwide, making it one of the top 100 highest-grossing films in history at its time of release.[136] It remains in the top fifty of most successful R-rated films in box office history.[137]

The film's soundtrack also enjoyed success. Houston executive produced the soundtrack along with Davis and recorded six songs for the album.[138][139] Rolling Stone described it as "nothing more than pleasant, tasteful and urbane".[140] The soundtrack's lead single was "I Will Always Love You", written and originally recorded by Dolly Parton in 1974. Houston's version was highly acclaimed by critics, regarding it as her "signature song" or "iconic performance". Rolling Stone and USA Today called her rendition a tour-de-force.[141][142] The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B Singles charts for fourteen and eleven weeks respectively, record-setting numbers at the time, while also topping the Adult Contemporary chart for five weeks, resulting in her fourth record-setting "triple-crown" number one single.[143][d] The single was later certified diamond by the RIAA for sales of ten million copies, becoming Houston's first diamond single. Houston is only one of just four female artists to earn both a diamond single and album along with Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey and Katy Perry and was only the third in history to do so.[144][145] In January 1993, the song became the first single by a solo artist in US history to sell four million copies, later being certified 4x platinum by the RIAA and becoming the bestselling single in US history, a feat later surpassed by Elton John's "Candle in the Wind '97". It remains the bestselling US physical single in history by a female recording artist.[146][147][148][149]

The song was a global success, topping the charts in almost all countries. With 24 million copies sold, it became the best-selling single ever by a female solo artist.[150][151] Houston won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1994 for "I Will Always Love You".[152] In addition, it won the MTV Movie Award for Best Song from a Film, two American Music Awards in the favorite pop and soul song categories and two Soul Train Music Awards, including best single by a woman and song of the year. The soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 chart and remained there for 20 weeks. It remains the second longest cumulative number one album by a female artist on the chart after singer Adele's 21. The soundtrack also became one of the fastest-selling albums in history.[153] During Christmas week of 1992, it sold over a million copies within a week, becoming the first album in music history to achieve that feat under the Nielsen SoundScan system.[154][155]

Houston released four more singles from the soundtrack. Two of which, "I'm Every Woman" and "I Have Nothing", both reaching the top five. On the week of March 13, 1993, Houston became the first solo artist in history to ever have three singles in the top 11 simultaneously and the first artist in general to do so since the beginning of SoundScan.[156][157][158][159] Both "I'm Every Woman" and "I Have Nothing" hit number one in other Billboard charts, with the former topping the Dance Club Songs chart, and the latter becoming Houston's tenth number one song on the adult contemporary chart. "Run to You" was released, peaking at number 31 on the Hot 100, while a remix of "Queen of the Night" made number one on the dance chart. On November 3, 1993, Houston made history again when The Bodyguard became the first album by a female artist to be certified ten times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, which also made it technically the first album by a female artist to be certified Diamond.[54] It has since gone on to sell more than 18 million copies alone in the United States, with total sales reaching 45 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album by a female artist ever and also the best-selling soundtrack album in history,[160] earning Houston several Guinness World Records.[161]

Houston won the 1994 Grammy Award for Album of the Year for the soundtrack, making her just the second black female artist to win in the category after Natalie Cole won it in 1992 for her album, Unforgettable... with Love.[162] Houston won a record eight American Music Awards, with the album winning in the pop, R&B and adult contemporary album categories, the only album in its history to do so. Houston also received its highest honor, the Award of Merit, becoming at thirty, the youngest female recipient.[163][e] In addition, the album also won Houston a record fifteen Billboard awards, including 11 at the actual ceremony, three Soul Train Music Awards, including the Sammy Davis, Jr. Award as Entertainer of the Year,[164] five NAACP Image Awards including Entertainer of the Year,[165][166][167] a record five World Music Awards,[168] a Juno Award and a BRIT award.[169] Nine years after she first appeared on the charts, Houston was a cover story for Rolling Stone, appearing on the June 10, 1993, issue.

Houston performing at a state dinner in the White House honoring then-South African president Nelson Mandela in 1994

Following the success of The Bodyguard, Houston embarked on another expansive global tour (The Bodyguard World Tour) in 1993–94. Her concerts, movie and recording grosses made her the third highest-earning female entertainer of 1993–94, just behind Oprah Winfrey and Barbra Streisand according to Forbes.[170] Houston placed in the top five of Entertainment Weekly's annual "Entertainer of the Year" ranking[171] and was labeled by Premiere magazine as one of the 100 most powerful people in Hollywood.[172]

In October 1994, Houston attended and performed at a state dinner in the White House honoring newly elected South African president Nelson Mandela.[173][174] At the end of her world tour, Houston performed three concerts in South Africa to honor President Mandela, playing to over 200,000 people; this made her the first major musician to visit the newly unified and apartheid free nation following Mandela's winning election.[175] Portions of Whitney: The Concert for a New South Africa were broadcast live on HBO with funds of the concerts being donated to various charities in South Africa. The event was considered the nation's "biggest media event since the inauguration of Nelson Mandela".[176] After two performances in Brunei and Singapore early in 1995, Houston's children's charity organization was awarded a VH1 Honor for all the charitable work in June of that year.[177]

### 1995–1997: Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher's Wife and Cinderella

[edit]

In 1995, Houston starred alongside Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine and Lela Rochon in her second film, Waiting to Exhale, a motion picture about four African-American women struggling with relationships. Houston played the lead character Savannah Jackson, a TV producer in love with a married man. She chose the role because she saw the film as "a breakthrough for the image of black women because it presents them both as professionals and as caring mothers".[178] After opening at number one and grossing $67 million in the US at the box office and $81 million worldwide,[179] it proved that a movie primarily targeting a black audience can cross over to success, while paving the way for other all-black movies such as How Stella Got Her Groove Back and the Tyler Perry movies that became popular in the 2000s.[180][181][182] The film is also notable for its portrayal of black women as strong middle class citizens rather than as stereotypes.[183] The reviews were mainly positive for the ensemble cast. The New York Times said: "Ms. Houston has shed the defensive hauteur that made her portrayal of a pop star in 'The Bodyguard' seem so distant."[184] Houston was nominated for a second acting NAACP Image Awards nod for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in the film, but lost to her co-star Bassett.[185]

The film's accompanying soundtrack was written and produced by Babyface and was executive produced by Houston and Clive Davis. Though Babyface originally wanted Houston to record the entire album, she declined. Instead, she "wanted it to be an album of women with vocal distinction" and thus gathered several African-American female artists for the soundtrack, to go along with the film's message about strong women.[178] Consequently, the album featured a range of contemporary R&B female recording artists along with Houston, such as Mary J. Blige, Brandy, Toni Braxton, Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle. Houston's "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" became just the third single in music history to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 after Michael Jackson's "You Are Not Alone" and Mariah Carey's "Fantasy".[186][f] It would be Houston's eleventh and final number one single in her lifetime. It also would spend a record eleven consecutive weeks at the No. 2 spot and eight weeks on top of the R&B charts, her second most successful single on that chart after "I Will Always Love You".

"Count On Me", a song Houston co-wrote and composed with her brother Michael and Babyface and made into a duet with longtime friend CeCe Winans, hit the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and later won Houston two ASCAP Awards, a BMI Award and two Grammy Award nominations including Best Song Written for Visual Media. A third Houston single, and the last song from the soundtrack to be released, "Why Does It Hurt So Bad", reached number 26 on the Hot 100. The album reached number one on the Billboard 200 in January 1996 and would later be certified seven-times platinum in the United States, with total worldwide sales reaching 12 million.[186] The soundtrack received strong reviews; as Entertainment Weekly stated: "the album goes down easy, just as you'd expect from a package framed by Whitney Houston tracks ... the soundtrack waits to exhale, hovering in sensuous suspense"[187] and has since ranked it as one of the 100 Best Movie Soundtracks.[188] Houston would win two American Music Awards at the 1997 ceremony for the soundtrack including Top Soundtrack and for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist.

In 1996, Houston starred in the holiday comedy The Preacher's Wife, with Denzel Washington. She plays the gospel-singing wife of a pastor (Courtney B. Vance). It was largely an updated remake of the 1948 film The Bishop's Wife, which starred Loretta Young, David Niven and Cary Grant. Houston earned $10 million for the role, making her one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood at the time and the highest-earning African-American actress in Hollywood.[189] The movie, with its all African-American cast, was a moderate success, earning about $50 million at the U.S. box offices.[190] The movie gave Houston the strongest reviews of her acting career. The San Francisco Chronicle said Houston "is rather angelic herself, displaying a divine talent for being virtuous and flirtatious at the same time" and she "exudes gentle yet spirited warmth, especially when praising the Lord in her gorgeous singing voice".[191] Houston won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in the film.[192]

For the film's accompanying gospel soundtrack, Houston co-produced nine of the album's fifteen tracks with Mervyn Warren. Six of the more traditional gospel material was recorded with the Georgia Mass Choir at the Great Star Rising Baptist Church in Atlanta. Houston also recorded a duet with Shirley Caesar and the soundtrack also featured her mother Cissy Houston. Upon its release, it became the first gospel album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart.[193] The album sold six million copies worldwide, including three million alone in the United States, becoming the best-selling gospel album ever.[194] The album featured two hit singles, the Grammy-nominated "I Believe in You and Me" and "Step by Step". In addition to its commercial success, it was also received positively by critics. The album itself was nominated for the Best R&B Album at the 1998 Grammys. However, Houston snubbed the ceremony due to the album not getting a gospel nomination.[195][g] That year, Houston received two Dove Awards for the album, including Best Traditional Gospel Recorded Song for "I Go to the Rock", while also receiving the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Artist alongside the Georgia Mass Choir.

In 1997, Houston's production company changed its name to BrownHouse Productions from Houston Productions and was joined by Debra Martin Chase. Their goal was "to show aspects of the lives of African-Americans that have not been brought to the screen before" while improving how African-Americans are portrayed in film and television.[196] Their first project was a made-for-television remake of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. In addition to co-producing, Houston starred in the film as the Fairy Godmother along with Brandy, Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg and Bernadette Peters. Houston was initially offered the role of Cinderella in 1993, but other projects intervened.[197] The film is notable for its multi-racial cast and non-stereotypical message.[198] An estimated 60 million viewers tuned into the special giving ABC its highest TV ratings in 16 years.[199] The movie received seven Emmy nominations including Outstanding Variety, Musical or Comedy, while winning Outstanding Art Direction in a Variety, Musical or Comedy Special.

Houston and Chase then obtained the rights to the story of Dorothy Dandridge. Houston was to play Dandridge, the first African-American actress to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. Houston wanted the story told with dignity and honor.[196] However, Halle Berry also had rights to the project and got her version going first.[200] Later that year, Houston paid tribute to her idols, such as Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and Dionne Warwick, by performing their hits during the three-night HBO Concert Classic Whitney: Live from Washington, D.C. The special raised over $300,000 for the Children's Defense Fund.[201] In February 1998, Houston, 34, received the Quincy Jones Award for outstanding career achievements in the field of entertainment at the 12th Soul Train Music Awards.[202][203]

### 1998–2000: My Love Is Your Love and Whitney: The Greatest Hits

[edit]

By 1998, Houston hadn't recorded a full-length studio album in eight years. During discussion over a possible greatest hits album with Clive Davis, however, it was agreed that Houston should return to the studio for a brand new album instead. Recorded and mixed in a six-week period - fastest for any Houston recording - Houston released the album, My Love Is Your Love, on November 17, 1998. The album featured production from Rodney Jerkins, Wyclef Jean and Missy Elliott. Led by the Academy Award-winning duet, "When You Believe",[204] with singer Mariah Carey off the Prince of Egypt soundtrack in a week full of star-studded releases, the album debuted and peaked at number thirteen on the Billboard 200, while later topping the European Top 100 Albums chart for six weeks, starting in August 1999.[205][206] The album gave Houston some of her strongest reviews ever. Rolling Stone said Houston was singing "with a bite in her voice"[207] and The Village Voice called it "Whitney's sharpest and most satisfying so far".[208] Billboard magazine noted the album had a "funkier and edgier sound than past releases" and saw Houston "handling urban dance, hip hop, mid-tempo R&B, reggae, torch songs and ballads all with great dexterity."[209]

The album launched five top 40 singles in the Billboard Hot 100, including three top five singles, "Heartbreak Hotel", "It's Not Right but It's Okay" and "My Love Is Your Love". "When You Believe" peaked at No. 15 on the Hot 100 while the album's final single, "I Learned from the Best", reached No. 27. The album would itself stay on the charts for more than two years and would later be certified four times platinum in the US for sales of four million copies, moving 11 million copies globally altogether.[54] Four of the five singles reached number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart thanks to remixes by the likes of Hex Hector, Junior Vasquez and Thunderpuss. In Europe, the title track became massively successful, topping the Eurochart Hot 100 and selling over three million copies worldwide.[210] In February 2000, Houston won her sixth and final competitive Grammy for "It's Not Right but It's Okay" in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category.[211] The European success of the album helped it to win the MTV Europe Music Award for Best R&B.[212][213][214] Houston earned four additional Grammy nominations for the album and the music video for "Heartbreak Hotel" gave Houston her first MTV Video Music Award nomination in 13 years.[215]

In 1999, Houston participated in VH-1's Divas Live '99, alongside Brandy, Mary J. Blige, Tina Turner and Cher. The same year, Houston hit the road with her 70-date My Love Is Your Love World Tour. While the North American leg was plagued by cancellations with Houston's publicist citing "throat problems and a 'bronchitis situation'",[216] the European leg became hugely successful ending the year as the highest-grossing arena tour of the year in Europe.[217] In November 1999, the Recording Industry Association of America hosted its Century Awards and named Houston the top-selling R&B female artist of the century with certified US sales of 51 million records at the time while the soundtrack to The Bodyguard received awards for being the top-selling soundtrack album of the century and the best-selling album of the century by a female artist.[218] In March 2000, Houston earned a special honor at the 2000 Soul Train Music Awards as the female artist of the decade for her extraordinary artistic contributions during the 1990s.[219][220]

In May 2000, Whitney: The Greatest Hits was released worldwide. The double disc set peaked at number five in the United States, reaching number one in the United Kingdom.[221] In addition, the album reached the Top 10 in many other countries.[222] While ballad songs were left unchanged, the album features house/club remixes of many of Houston's up-tempo hits. Included on the album were four new songs: "Could I Have This Kiss Forever" (a duet with Enrique Iglesias), "Same Script, Different Cast" (a duet with Deborah Cox), "If I Told You That" (a duet with George Michael) and "Fine" and three hits that had never appeared on a Houston album: "One Moment in Time", "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful", a duet with Jermaine Jackson from his 1986 Precious Moments album.[223] Along with the album, an accompanying VHS and DVD was released featuring the music videos to Houston's greatest hits, as well as several hard-to-find live performances including her 1983 debut on The Merv Griffin Show and interviews.[224] The set was later certified five times platinum in the US for sales of five million copies, while worldwide sales reached 11 million.[54][225]

### 2000–2008: Just Whitney and personal struggles

[edit]

Houston outside the Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., on October 16, 2000

Though Houston was seen as a "good girl" with a perfect image in the 1980s and early 1990s, her behavior had changed by 2000. She was often hours late for interviews, photo shoots and rehearsals, she canceled concerts and talk-show appearances and there were reports of erratic behavior.[226][227] Missed performances and weight loss led to rumors about Houston using drugs with her husband. On January 11, 2000, while traveling with Brown, airport security guards discovered half an ounce of marijuana in Houston's handbag at Keahole-Kona International Airport in Hawaii, but she departed before authorities could arrive.[228][229] Charges against her were later dropped,[230] but rumors of drug usage by Houston and Brown would continue to surface. Two months later, Clive Davis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Houston had been scheduled to perform at the event, but was a no-show.[231]

Shortly thereafter, Houston was scheduled to perform at the Academy Awards, but was fired from the event by musical director and longtime friend Burt Bacharach. Her publicist cited throat problems as the reason for the cancellation. In his book The Big Show: High Times and Dirty Dealings Backstage at the Academy Awards, author Steve Pond revealed that "Houston's voice was shaky, she seemed distracted and jittery and her attitude was casual, almost defiant"; though she was supposed to perform "Over the Rainbow", she would sing a different song during rehearsals.[232] Houston later admitted she had been fired.[233]

In May 2000, Houston's longtime executive assistant and friend, Robyn Crawford, resigned from Houston's management company.[231] In 2019, Crawford said she had left after Houston declined to seek help for her drug dependency.[234][235] The following month, Rolling Stone published a story stating that Cissy Houston and others had held a July 1999 intervention in which they unsuccessfully attempted to persuade Whitney to obtain drug treatment.[231]

In August 2001, Houston signed one of the biggest record deals in music history, with Arista/BMG. She renewed her contract for $100 million to release six new albums, for which she would also earn royalties.[236][237][238] She later made an appearance on Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special, where her extremely thin frame further spurred rumors of drug use. Her publicist stated, "Whitney has been under stress due to family matters and when she is under stress she doesn't eat."[239] In a 2009 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Houston acknowledged that drug use had been the reason for her weight loss.[240] She canceled a second performance scheduled for the following night.[241] Within weeks, Houston's rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was re-released after the September 11 attacks, with the proceeds donated to the New York Firefighters 9/11 Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Fraternal Order of Police.[242] It reached No. 6 on the US Hot 100, topping its previous position.[243]

In 2002, Houston became embroiled in a legal dispute with John Houston Enterprise. Although the company was started by her father to manage her career, it was actually run by company president Kevin Skinner. Skinner filed a breach of contract lawsuit and sued for $100 million (but lost), stating that Houston owed the company previously unpaid compensation for helping to negotiate her $100 million contract with Arista Records and for sorting out legal matters.[244] Houston stated that her 81-year-old father had nothing to do with the lawsuit. Although Skinner tried to claim otherwise, John Houston never appeared in court.[245] Houston's father later died in February 2003.[246] The lawsuit was dismissed on April 5, 2004, and Skinner was awarded nothing.[247]

Also in 2002, Houston gave an interview with Diane Sawyer to promote her then-upcoming album. During the primetime special, she spoke about her drug use and marriage, among other topics. Addressing the ongoing rumors that she was abusing crack cocaine, she 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? We don't do crack. We don't do that. Crack is wack."[233] The "crack is wack" line was drawn from a mural that Keith Haring painted in 1986 on the handball court at 128th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan.[248] Houston did, however, admit to using alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and pills; she also acknowledged that her mother had urged her to seek help regarding her drug use. She also denied having an eating disorder and that her very thin appearance was connected to drug use. She further stated that Bobby Brown had never hit her, but acknowledged that she had hit him.[233]

In December 2002, Houston released her fifth studio album, Just Whitney. The album included productions from then-husband Bobby Brown, as well as Missy Elliott and Babyface, and marked the first time that Houston did not produce with Clive Davis, as Davis had been released by top management at BMG. Upon its release, Just Whitney received mixed reviews.[249] The album debuted at number 9 on the Billboard 200 chart and it had the highest first week sales of any album Houston had ever released.[250] The four singles released from the album did not fare well on the Billboard Hot 100, but became dance chart hits. Just Whitney was certified platinum in the United States and sold about two million worldwide.[251][252]

In late 2003, Houston released her first Christmas album One Wish: The Holiday Album, with a collection of traditional holiday songs. Houston produced the album with Mervyn Warren and Gordon Chambers. A single titled "One Wish (for Christmas)" reached the Top 20 on the Adult Contemporary chart and the album was certified gold in the US.[253] In December 2003, Brown was charged with battery following an altercation during which he threatened to beat Houston and then assaulted her. Police reported that Houston had visible injuries to her face.[254] Having always been a touring artist, Houston spent most of 2004 touring and performing in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Russia. In September 2004, she gave a surprise performance at the World Music Awards in a tribute to long-time friend Clive Davis. After the show, Davis and Houston announced plans to go into the studio to work on her new album.[255]

In early 2004, Brown starred in his own reality TV program, Being Bobby Brown, on Bravo. The show provided a view of the domestic goings-on in the Brown household. Houston was a prominent figure throughout the show, receiving as much screen time as Brown. The series aired in 2005 and featured Houston in unflattering moments. Years later, The Guardian opined that through her participation in the show, Houston had lost "the last remnants of her dignity".[45] The Hollywood Reporter said that the show was "undoubtedly the most disgusting and execrable series ever to ooze its way onto television".[256] Despite the perceived train-wreck nature of the show, the series gave Bravo its highest ratings in its time slot and continued Houston's successful forays into film and television.[257] The show was not renewed for a second season after Houston said that she would no longer appear in it and Brown and Bravo could not come to an agreement for another season.[258]

### 2009–2012: Return and I Look to You

[edit]

Houston performing "I Look to You" on Good Morning America, September 1, 2009

Houston gave her first interview in seven years in September 2009, appearing on Oprah Winfrey's season premiere. The interview was billed as "the most anticipated music interview of the decade".[259] Houston admitted on the show to having used drugs with Brown during their marriage; she said Brown had "laced marijuana with rock cocaine".[260] She told Winfrey that before The Bodyguard her drug use was light, that she used drugs more heavily after the film's success and the birth of her daughter and that by 1996 "[doing drugs] was an everyday thing ... I wasn't happy by that point in time. I was losing myself."[261]

Houston told Winfrey that she had attended a 30-day rehabilitation program.[262] Houston also acknowledged to Oprah that her drug use had continued after rehabilitation and that at one point, her mother obtained a court order and the assistance of law enforcement to press her into receiving further drug treatment.[263] (In her 2013 book, Remembering Whitney: My Story of Love, Loss and the Night the Music Stopped, Cissy Houston described the scene she encountered at Whitney Houston's house in 2005 as follows: "Somebody had spray-painted the walls and door with big glaring eyes and strange faces. Evil eyes, staring out like a threat... In another room, there was a big, framed photo of [Whitney] – but someone had cut [her] head out. It was beyond disturbing, seeing my daughter's face cut out like that." This visit led Cissy to return with law enforcement and perform an intervention.[264]) Houston also told Winfrey that Brown had been emotionally abusive during their marriage and had even spat on her on one occasion.[265] When Winfrey asked Houston if she was drug-free, Houston responded, "'Yes, ma'am. I mean, you know, don't think I don't have desires for it.'"[266]

A screen-shot from Houston's music video for "Million Dollar Bill"

Houston released her new album, I Look to You, in August 2009.[267] The album's first two singles were the title track "I Look to You" and "Million Dollar Bill". The album entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1, with Houston's best opening week sales of 305,000 copies, marking Houston's first number one album since The Bodyguard and Houston's first studio album to reach number one since 1987's Whitney. Houston also appeared on European television programs to promote the album. She performed the song "I Look to You" on the German television show Wetten, dass..?. Houston appeared as a guest mentor on The X Factor in the United Kingdom. She performed "Million Dollar Bill" on the following day's results show, completing the song even as a strap in the back of her dress popped open two seconds into the performance. She later commented that she "sang [herself] out of [her] clothes". The performance was poorly received by the British media and was described as "weird" and "ungracious".[268]

Despite this reception, "Million Dollar Bill" jumped to its peak from 14 to number 5 (her first UK top 5 for over a decade). Three weeks after its release, I Look to You went gold. Houston appeared on the Italian version of The X Factor, where she performed "Million Dollar Bill" to excellent reviews.[269] In November, Houston performed "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" at the 2009 American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California. Two days later, Houston performed "Million Dollar Bill" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" on the Dancing with the Stars season 9 finale.

Houston at the O2 Arena in London, April 28, 2010, as part of her Nothing but Love World Tour

Houston later embarked on a world tour, entitled the Nothing but Love World Tour. It was her first world tour in over ten years and was announced as a triumphant comeback. However, some poor reviews and rescheduled concerts brought negative media attention.[270][271] Houston canceled some concerts because of illness and received widespread negative reviews from fans who were disappointed in the quality of her voice and performance. Some fans reportedly walked out of her concerts.[272]

In January 2010, Houston was nominated for two NAACP Image Awards, one for Best Female Artist and one for Best Music Video. She won the award for Best Music Video for her single "I Look to You".[273] On January 16, she received The BET Honors Award for Entertainer citing her lifetime achievements spanning over 25 years in the industry.[274] Houston also performed the song "I Look to You" on the 2011 BET Celebration of Gospel, with gospel–jazz singer Kim Burrell, held at the Staples Center, Los Angeles. The performance aired on January 30, 2011.[275]

In May 2011, Houston enrolled in a rehabilitation center again, citing drug and alcohol problems. A representative for Houston said that the outpatient treatment was a part of Houston's "longstanding recovery process".[276] In September 2011, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Houston would produce and star alongside Jordin Sparks and Mike Epps in the remake of the 1976 film Sparkle. In the film, Houston portrays Sparks's "not-so encouraging" mother. Houston is also credited as an executive producer of the film. Debra Martin Chase, producer of Sparkle, stated that Houston deserved the title considering she had been there from the beginning in 2001, when Houston obtained Sparkle production rights. R&B singer Aaliyah – originally tapped to star as Sparkle – died in a 2001 plane crash. Her death derailed production, which would have begun in 2002.[277][278][279] Houston's remake of Sparkle was filmed in late 2011 over two months[280] and was released by TriStar Pictures.[281] On May 21, 2012, "Celebrate", the last song Houston recorded with Sparks, premiered at RyanSeacrest.com. It was made available for digital download on iTunes on June 5. The song was featured on the Sparkle: Music from the Motion Picture soundtrack as the first official single.[282] The movie was released on August 17, 2012, in the United States.

## Personal life

[edit]

Houston was Christian and made it a point to sing gospel songs during all of her live concert tours.[283] When Houston was sixteen, she met Robyn Crawford, then a collegiate basketball player for Monmouth University, while both worked as counselors at a youth summer camp in East Orange. The two became fast friends and Houston later described Crawford as the "sister [she] never had".[284][23] After Houston graduated, they became roommates at an apartment complex in Woodbridge, 20 miles from East Orange. Shortly after Houston signed with Arista, Crawford became the singer's executive assistant.[285][23][235] During Houston's early fame, rumors speculated of a romance between Houston and Crawford, which both denied during a Time magazine interview in 1987.[23] In 2019, Crawford wrote in her memoirs, A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston, that the early part of their friendship had been physical before Houston signed a recording deal.[286] Crawford remained Houston's close friend and employee until 2000.

Throughout the 1980s, Houston was romantically linked to musician Jermaine Jackson,[287] American football star Randall Cunningham, restaurateur Brad Johnson and actor Eddie Murphy.[105] She then met R&B singer Bobby Brown at the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards. After a three-year courtship, the two were married on July 18, 1992.[288] The two singers occasionally collaborated on songs, including the hit record, "Something in Common". Brown would go on to have several run-ins with the law for drunken driving, drug possession and battery, including some jail time.[289][290][254] On March 4, 1993, Houston gave birth to their daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown (March 4, 1993 – July 26, 2015),[291] the couple's only child. Houston revealed in a 1993 interview with Barbara Walters that she had a miscarriage during the filming of The Bodyguard.[292] Throughout their marriage, Houston and Brown tried having another child, with Houston suffering several miscarriages, including one in July 1994[293] and another in December 1996.[294]

In December 2003, Brown was charged with battery following an altercation during which he threatened to beat Houston and then assaulted her. Police reported that Houston had visible injuries to her face.[254] In September 2006, a year after Being Bobby Brown aired, Houston filed for legal separation from Brown, later filing for divorce the following month.[295][296] The divorce was granted on April 24, 2007, with Houston admitting Brown was "unreliable" in supporting their teenage daughter.[297]

## Death and funeral

[edit]

The Beverly Hilton Hotel, where Houston's body was found

Houston reportedly appeared "disheveled" and "erratic" in the days before her death.[298] On February 9, 2012, Houston visited singers Brandy and Monica, together with Clive Davis, at their rehearsals for Davis's pre-Grammy Awards party at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.[299][300] That same day, she made her last public performance when she joined Kelly Price on stage in Hollywood, California, and sang "Jesus Loves Me."[301][302]

Two days later, on February 11, Houston was found unconscious in Suite 434 at the Beverly Hilton, submerged in the bathtub.[303][304] Beverly Hills paramedics arrived about 3:30 pm, found Houston unresponsive, and performed CPR. Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 pm PST.[305][306] The cause of death was not immediately known;[307][305] local police said there were "no obvious signs of criminal intent".[308]

Flowers near the Beverly Hilton Hotel

An invitation-only memorial service was held for Houston at her home church, New Hope Baptist Church, in Newark, New Jersey, on February 18, 2012. The service was scheduled for two hours but lasted four.[309] Among those who performed at the funeral were Stevie Wonder (rewritten version of "Ribbon in the Sky" and "Love's in Need of Love Today"), CeCe Winans ("Don't Cry" and "Jesus Loves Me"), Alicia Keys ("Send Me an Angel"), Kim Burrell (rewritten version of "A Change Is Gonna Come") and R. Kelly ("I Look to You").[310][311]

The performances were interspersed with hymns by the church choir and remarks by Clive Davis, Houston's record producer; Kevin Costner; Rickey Minor, her music director; Dionne Warwick, her cousin; and Ray Watson, her security guard for the last 11 years. Aretha Franklin was listed on the program, and was expected to sing, but was unable to attend the service.[310][311] Bobby Brown departed shortly after the service began.[312] Houston was buried on February 19, 2012, in Fairview Cemetery, in Westfield, New Jersey, next to her father, John Russell Houston, who had died in 2003.[313]

On March 22, 2012, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office reported that Houston's death was caused by drowning and the "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use".[314][315] The office said the amount of cocaine found in Houston's body indicated that she used the substance shortly before her death.[316] Toxicology results revealed additional drugs in her system: diphenhydramine (Benadryl), alprazolam (Xanax; a potent tranquilizer of moderate duration within the triazolobenzodiazepine group of chemicals called benzodiazepines), cannabis, and cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril).[317] The manner of death was listed as an "accident".[318]

### Reaction

[edit]

#### Pre-Grammy party

[edit]

The February 11, 2012 Clive Davis pre-Grammy party that Houston had been expected to attend, which featured many of the biggest names in music and film, went on as scheduled – although it was quickly turned into a tribute to Houston. Davis spoke about Houston's death at the evening's start:

> By now you have all learned of the unspeakably tragic news of our beloved Whitney's passing. I don't have to mask my emotion in front of a room full of so many dear friends. I am personally devastated by the loss of someone who has meant so much to me for so many years. Whitney was so full of life. She was so looking forward to tonight even though she wasn't scheduled to perform. Whitney was a beautiful person and a talent beyond compare. She graced this stage with her regal presence and gave so many memorable performances here over the years. Simply put, Whitney would have wanted the music to go on and her family asked that we carry on.[319]

Tony Bennett spoke of Houston's death before performing at Davis's party. He said, "First, it was Michael Jackson, then Amy Winehouse, now, the magnificent Whitney Houston." Bennett sang "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" and 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.'"[320]

Some celebrities opposed Davis's decision to continue with the party while a police investigation was being conducted in Houston's hotel room and her body was still in the building. Chaka Khan, in an interview with CNN's Piers Morgan on February 13, 2012, shared that she felt the party should have been canceled, saying: "I thought that was complete insanity. And knowing Whitney I don't believe that she would have said 'the show must go on.' She's the kind of woman that would've said 'Stop everything! Un-unh. I'm not going to be there.'"[321]

Sharon Osbourne condemned the Davis party, declaring: "I think it was disgraceful that the party went on. I don't want to be in a hotel room when there's someone you admire who's tragically lost their life four floors up. I'm not interested in being in that environment and I think when you grieve someone, you do it privately, you do it with people who understand you. I thought it was so wrong."[322]

#### Further reaction and tributes

[edit]

"We miss you" message at the Los Angeles Theatre

Many other celebrities released statements responding to Houston's death. Darlene Love, Houston's godmother, hearing the news of her death, said, "It felt like I had been struck by a lightning bolt in my gut."[323] Dolly Parton, whose song "I Will Always Love You" was covered by Houston, said, "I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, 'Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed.'" Aretha Franklin said, "It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen."[324] Others paying tribute included Mariah Carey, Quincy Jones, and Oprah Winfrey.[325][326]

Moments after news of her death emerged, ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, BBC News, Sky News all broke from their regularly scheduled programming to dedicate time to non-stop coverage of Houston's death. The networks and channels featured live interviews with people who had known Houston, including those that had worked with her, along with some of her peers in the music industry. Saturday Night Live displayed a photo of a smiling Houston, alongside Molly Shannon, from her 1996 appearance.[327][328] MTV and VH1 interrupted their regularly scheduled programming on Sunday, February 12, to air many of Houston's classic videos, with MTV often airing news segments in between and featuring various reactions from fans and celebrities. Coverage of Houston's death was ranked as the most memorable entertainment event in television history, according to a study by Sony Electronics and the Nielsen Television Research Company four months later.[329]

The first full hour after the news of Houston's death broke saw 2,481,652 tweets and retweets on Twitter alone.[330] Houston's former husband, Bobby Brown, was reported to be "in and out of crying fits" after receiving the news. He did not cancel a scheduled performance, and within hours of his ex-wife's sudden death, an audience in Mississippi watched as Brown blew kisses skyward, tearfully saying: "I love you, Whitney."[331]

Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of the 54th Grammy Awards, announced that Jennifer Hudson would perform a tribute to Houston at the February 12, 2012, ceremony. He said, "Event organizers believed Hudson – an Academy Award-winning actress and Grammy Award-winning artist – could perform a respectful musical tribute to Houston." Ehrlich went on to say, "It's too fresh in everyone's memory to do more at this time, but we would be remiss if we didn't recognize Whitney's remarkable contribution to music fans in general and in particular her close ties with the Grammy telecast and her Grammy wins and nominations over the years."[332] At the start of the awards ceremony, footage of Houston performing "I Will Always Love You" from the 1994 Grammys was shown following a prayer read by host LL Cool J. Later in the program, following a montage of photos of musicians who died in 2011 with Houston singing "Saving All My Love for You" at the 1986 Grammys, Hudson paid tribute to Houston and the other artists by performing "I Will Always Love You".[333][334] The tribute was partially credited for the Grammys telecast getting its second highest ratings in history.[335]

Houston was honored with various tributes at the 43rd NAACP Image Awards, held on February 17. An image montage of Houston and important black figures who died in 2011 was followed by video footage from the 1994 ceremony, which depicted her accepting two Image Awards for outstanding female artist and entertainer of the year. Following the video tribute, Yolanda Adams delivered a rendition of "I Love the Lord" from The Preacher's Wife Soundtrack. In the finale of the ceremony, Kirk Franklin and the Family started their performance with "The Greatest Love of All".[336]

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said that all New Jersey state flags would be flown at half-staff on Tuesday, February 21, to honor Houston.[337] The 2012 Brit Awards, which took place at the O2 Arena in London on February 21, also paid tribute to Houston by playing a 30-second video montage of her music videos with a snippet of "One Moment in Time" as the background music in the ceremony's first segment.[338] Houston was also featured, alongside other recently deceased figures from the film industry, in the In Memoriam montage at the 84th Academy Awards on February 26, 2012.[339][340]

In June 2012, the year's McDonald's Gospelfest in Newark was dedicated as a tribute to Houston.[341] Beyoncé performed a tribute to Houston during her revue Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live in May 2012 at the Revel resort by performing the first verse and chorus of "I Will Always Love You".[342][343] Houston topped the list of Google searches in 2012, both globally and in the United States, according to Google's Annual Zeitgeist most-popular searches list.[344] Her death was ranked as the most memorable entertainment event in television history, according to a study by Sony Electronics and the Nielsen Television Research Company.[329] On May 17, 2017, Bebe Rexha released a single titled "The Way I Are (Dance with Somebody)" from her two-part album All Your Fault. The song mentions Houston's name in the opening lyrics, "I'm sorry, I'm not the most pretty, I'll never ever sing like Whitney", before going on to sample some of Houston's lyrics from "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" in the chorus.[345] The song was in part made as a tribute to Whitney Houston's life.[346][347]

### Posthumous sales

[edit]

According to representatives from Houston's record label, Houston sold 8 million records worldwide in the first ten months of the year she died.[348] With just 24 hours passing between news of Houston's death and Nielsen SoundScan tabulating the weekly album charts, Whitney: The Greatest Hits climbed into the Top 10 with 64,000 copies sold; it was a 10,419 percent gain compared to the previous week.[349] 43 of the top 100 most-downloaded tracks on iTunes were Houston songs, including "I Will Always Love You" from The Bodyguard at number one. Two other Houston classics, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" and "Greatest Love of All", were in the top 10.[350] As fans of Houston rushed to rediscover the singer's music, single digital track sales of the artist's music rose to more than 887,000 paid song downloads in 24 hours in the US alone.[351]

The single "I Will Always Love You" returned to the Billboard Hot 100 after almost twenty years, peaking at number three and becoming a posthumous top-ten single for Houston, the first one since 2001. Two other Houston songs also jumped back on the Hot 100: "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" at 25 and "Greatest Love of All" at 36.[352] Her death on February 11 ignited an incredible drive to her YouTube and Vevo pages. She went from 868,000 views in the week prior to her death to 40,200,000 views in the week following her death, a 45-fold increase.[353]

On February 29, 2012, Houston became the first female artist and first posthumous artist in history ever to place three or more albums in the top ten of the US Billboard 200 simultaneously, with Whitney: The Greatest Hits at number 2, The Bodyguard at number 6 and Whitney Houston at number 9.[354] On March 7, 2012, Houston claimed two more additional feats on the US Billboard charts: she became the first female act to place nine albums within the top 100[355] (with Whitney: The Greatest Hits at number 2, The Bodyguard at number 5, Whitney Houston at number 10, I Look to You at number 13, Triple Feature at number 21, My Love Is Your Love at number 31, I'm Your Baby Tonight at number 32, Just Whitney at number 50 and The Preacher's Wife at number 80);[356][357] in addition, other Houston albums were also on the US Billboard Top 200 Album Chart at this time. Houston also became the second female act, after Adele, to place two albums in the top five of the US Billboard Top 200, with Whitney: The Greatest Hits at number 2 and The Bodyguard at number 5. In addition, Houston set a Guinness World Record by being the first female artist to place the most albums inside the Billboard 200 simultaneously by a female artist with ten.[358] In October 2023, Houston made the list of the top ten highest-earning posthumous celebrities on Forbes earning $30 million, later winning Houston a posthumous Guinness World Records entry as the highest-earning posthumous female celebrity, her record 30th.[359][360]

### Posthumous releases

[edit]

Houston's first posthumous greatest hits album, I Will Always Love You: The Best of Whitney Houston, was released on November 13, 2012, by RCA Records. It features the remastered versions of her number-one hits, an unreleased song titled "Never Give Up" and a duet version of "I Look to You" with R. Kelly.[361] The album won two NAACP Image Awards for 'Outstanding Album' and 'Outstanding Song' ("I Look to You"). It was certified Gold by the RIAA in 2020.[362] In October 2021, the album was reissued on vinyl and included Houston's first posthumous hit, "Higher Love". Since its release, it has spent more than 200 weeks on the Billboard 200, making it one of the longest-charting compilations in chart history,[108] and the longest by a female artist. On the week of May 27, 2023, it replaced Madonna's The Immaculate Collection as the longest charting greatest hits album by a woman in the history of the Billboard 200 after it notched 149 weeks on the chart.[363]

Houston's posthumous live album, Her Greatest Performances (2014), was a US R&B number-one[364] and received positive reviews by music critics.[365][366] In 2017, the 25th anniversary reissue of The Bodyguard (soundtrack)—I Wish You Love: More from The Bodyguard—was released by Legacy Recordings.[367] It includes film versions, remixes and live performances of Houston's Bodyguard songs.[367]

In 2019, Houston and Kygo's version of "Higher Love" was released as a single.[368] The record became a worldwide hit. It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart[112] and reached the top ten in several countries.[369][370][371] "Higher Love" was nominated at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards for "Top Dance/Electronic Song of the Year",[372] the 2020 iHeartRadio Music Awards for "Dance Song of the Year" and "Best Remix".[373] It was certified multi-platinum in the United States,[374] Australia,[375] Canada,[376] Poland[377] and the United Kingdom.[378] The song was also a platinum hit in Denmark,[379] Switzerland,[380] Belgium,[381] and Spain.[382]

On December 16, 2022, RCA released the soundtrack album to Houston's featured film biopic, titled, I Wanna Dance with Somebody (The Movie: Whitney New, Classic and Reimagined), to every digital download platform all over the world.[383] The soundtrack includes reimagined remixes of some of Houston's classics and several newly discovered songs such as Houston's cover of CeCe Winans' "Don't Cry" (labeled as "Don't Cry for Me" on Houston's soundtrack) at the Commitment to Life AIDS benefit concert in Los Angeles in January 1994, remixed by house producer Sam Feldt.[383]

In March 2023, Arista, Legacy Recordings and Gaither Music Group released Houston's first gospel compilation, I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston. The album included three 1981 demo recordings recorded when Houston was 17, including "Testimony" and "He Can Use Me", while also featuring unearthed live recordings of Houston performing the gospel standards, "This Day", "He/I Believe" and, with CeCe Winans, an inspired rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water", recorded live at the second annual VH1 Honors in 1995 as well as previous recordings from The Bodyguard, The Preacher's Wife, and Sparkle. The album debuted at number two on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart, marking her first new entry on the chart since 1996.[384][385] The album earned Houston a posthumous Billboard Music Award nomination for Top Gospel Album.[386]

## Artistry

[edit]

Houston's vocal ability earned her the nickname "the Voice".

Houston had a mezzo-soprano vocal range, and was referred to as "the Voice" for her vocal talent.[387] Jon Pareles of The New York Times stated Houston "always had a great big voice, a technical marvel from its velvety depths to its ballistic middle register to its ringing and airy heights".[388] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Houston second on their list of the greatest singers of all time, stating, "The standard-bearer for R&B vocals, Whitney Houston possessed a soprano that was as powerful as it was tender. Take her cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You", which became one of the defining singles of the 1990s; it opens with her gently brooding, her unaccompanied voice sounding like it's turning over the idea of leaving her lover behind with the lightest touch. By the end, it's transformed into a showcase for her limber, muscular upper register; she sings the title phrase with equal parts bone-deep feeling and technical perfection, turning the conflicted emotions at the song's heart into a jumping-off point for her life's next step."[389]

Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone also acknowledged Houston's vocal prowess, enumerating ten performances, including "How Will I Know" at the 1986 MTV VMAs and "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 1991 Super Bowl. "Whitney Houston was blessed with an astonishing vocal range and extraordinary technical skill, but what truly made her a great singer was her ability to connect with a song and drive home its drama and emotion with incredible precision", he stated. "She was a brilliant performer and her live shows often eclipsed her studio recordings."[390] According to Newsweek, Houston had a four-octave range.[391]

Elysa Gardner of the Los Angeles Times in her review for The Preacher's Wife Soundtrack highly praised Houston's vocal ability, commenting, "She is first and foremost a pop diva – at that, the best one we have. No other female pop star – not Mariah Carey, not Celine Dion, not Barbra Streisand – quite rivals Houston in her exquisite vocal fluidity and purity of tone and her ability to infuse a lyric with mesmerizing melodrama."[392] Singer and entertainer Michael Jackson named Houston as one of his musical inspirations, calling her a "wonderful singer, real stylist. You hear one line, and you know who it is''.[393]

R&B singer Faith Evans stated: "Whitney was not just a singer with a beautiful voice. She was a true musician. Her voice was an instrument and she knew how to use it. With the same complexity as someone who has mastered the violin or the piano, Whitney mastered the use of her voice. From every run to every crescendo—she was in tune with what she could do with her voice and it's not something simple for a singer—even a very talented one—to achieve. Whitney is 'the Voice' because she worked for it. This is someone who was singing backup for her mom when she was 14 years old at nightclubs across the country. This is someone who sang backup for Chaka Khan when she was only 17. She had years and years of honing her craft on stage and in the studio before she ever got signed to a record label. Coming from a family of singers and surrounded by music; she pretty much had a formal education in music, just like someone who might attend a performing arts high school or major in voice in college."[394]

Jon Caramanica of The New York Times commented, "Her voice was clean and strong, with barely any grit, well suited to the songs of love and aspiration. [ ... ] Hers was a voice of triumph and achievement and it made for any number of stunning, time-stopping vocal performances."[2] Mariah Carey stated, "She [Whitney] has a really rich, strong mid-belt that very few people have. She sounds really good, really strong."[395] While in her review of I Look to You, music critic Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times writes, "[Houston's voice] stands like monuments upon the landscape of 20th century pop, defining the architecture of their times, sheltering the dreams of millions and inspiring the climbing careers of countless imitators", adding "When she was at her best, nothing could match her huge, clean, cool mezzo-soprano."[396]

Lauren Everitt from BBC News commented on melisma used in Houston's recording and its influence. "An early 'I' in Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You' takes nearly six seconds to sing. In those seconds the former gospel singer-turned-pop star packs a series of different notes into the single syllable", stated Everitt. "The technique is repeated throughout the song, most pronouncedly on every 'I' and 'you'. The vocal technique is called melisma and it has inspired a host of imitators. Other artists may have used it before Houston, but it was her rendition of Dolly Parton's love song that pushed the technique into the mainstream in the 90s. [ ... ] But perhaps what Houston nailed best was moderation." Everitt said that "[i]n a climate of reality shows ripe with 'oversinging,' it's easy to appreciate Houston's ability to save melisma for just the right moment."[397]

Houston's vocal stylings have had a significant impact on the music industry. According to Linda Lister in Divafication: The Deification of Modern Female Pop Stars, she has been called the "Queen of Pop" for her influence during the 1990s, commercially rivaling Mariah Carey and Celine Dion.[398] Stephen Holden from The New York Times, in his review of Houston's Radio City Music Hall concert on July 20, 1993, praised her attitude as a singer, writing, "Whitney Houston is one of the few contemporary pop stars of whom it might be said: the voice suffices. While almost every performer whose albums sell in the millions calls upon an entertainer's bag of tricks, from telling jokes to dancing to circus pyrotechnics, Ms. Houston would rather just stand there and sing." With regard to her singing style, he added: "Her [Houston's] stylistic trademarks – shivery melismas that ripple up in the middle of a song, twirling embellishments at the ends of phrases that suggest an almost breathless exhilaration – infuse her interpretations with flashes of musical and emotional lightning."[399]

Houston struggled with vocal problems in her later years. Gary Catona, a voice coach who began working with Houston in 2005, stated: "'When I first started working with her in 2005, she had lost 99.9 percent of her voice ... She could barely speak, let alone sing. Her lifestyle choices had made her almost completely hoarse.'"[400] After Houston's death, Catona asserted that Houston's voice reached "'about 75 to 80 percent'" of its former capacity after he had worked with her.[401] However, during the world tour that followed the release of I Look to You, "YouTube videos surfaced, showing [Houston's] voice cracking, seemingly unable to hold the notes she was known for".[401]

Regarding the musical style, Houston's vocal performances incorporated a wide variety of genres, including R&B, pop, rock,[402] soul, gospel, funk,[403] dance, Latin pop,[404] disco,[405] house,[406] hip hop soul,[407] new jack swing,[408] opera,[409] reggae,[410] and Christmas.[411] The lyrical themes in her recordings are mainly about love, social, religious and feminism.[412] The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame stated: "Her sound expanded through collaborations with a wide array of artists, including Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Babyface, Missy Elliott, Bobby Brown, and Mariah Carey."[402] While AllMusic commented that, "Houston was able to handle big adult contemporary ballads, effervescent, stylish dance-pop and slick urban contemporary soul with equal dexterity".[413]

## Legacy and influence

[edit]

Houston performing "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" during her HBO-televised concert "Welcome Home Heroes"

Houston has been regarded as one of the greatest vocalists of all time and a cultural icon.[4][414] She is also recognized as one of the most influential R&B artists in history.[415][416] During the 1980s, MTV was coming into its own and received criticism for not playing enough videos by black artists. With Michael Jackson breaking down the color barrier for black men, Houston did the same for black women. She became the first black woman to receive heavy rotation on the network following the success of the "How Will I Know" video.[3][417][418] According to author Ann Kaplan, in her book, Rocking Around the Clock: Television, Postmodernism and Consumer Culture, "until the recent advent of Whitney Houston, Tina Turner was the only female Black singer featured regularly, and even so, her videos are far and few between."[68] Houston was credited for breaking barriers for black female artists on the channel resulting in videos by Janet Jackson, Jody Watley and Tracy Chapman to be immediately accepted to the channel's playlist.[68]

Black female artists, such as Anita Baker and Jackson, were successful in popular music partly because Houston paved the way.[419][420][421][422] Baker commented that "Because of what Whitney and Sade did, there was an opening for me ... For radio stations, black women singers aren't taboo anymore."[423]

AllMusic noted her contribution to the success of black artists on the pop scene.[413] The New York Times stated that "Houston was a major catalyst for a movement within black music that recognized the continuity of soul, pop, jazz and gospel vocal traditions".[424] Richard Corliss of Time magazine commented on her initial success breaking various barriers:

> Of her first album's ten cuts, six were ballads. This chanteuse [Houston] had to fight for air play with hard rockers. The young lady had to stand uncowed in the locker room of macho rock. The soul strutter had to seduce a music audience that anointed few black artists with superstardom. [ ... ] She was a phenomenon waiting to happen, a canny tapping of the listener's yen for a return to the musical middle. And because every new star creates her own genre, her success has helped other blacks, other women, other smooth singers find an avid reception in the pop marketplace.[23]

Houston influenced generations of singers.

Stephen Holden of The New York Times said that Houston "revitalized the tradition of strong gospel-oriented pop-soul singing".[425] Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times referred to Houston as a "national treasure".[396] Jon Caramanica, another music critic of The New York Times, called Houston "R&B's great modernizer", adding "slowly but surely reconciling the ambition and praise of the church with the movements and needs of the body and the glow of the mainstream".[2] He also drew comparisons between Houston's influence and other big names on 1980s pop:

> She was, alongside Michael Jackson and Madonna, one of the crucial figures to hybridize pop in the 1980s, though her strategy was far less radical than that of her peers. Jackson and Madonna were by turns lascivious and brutish and, crucially, willing to let their production speak more loudly than their voices, an option Ms. Houston never went for. Also, she was less prolific than either of them, achieving most of her renown on the strength of her first three solo albums and one soundtrack, released from 1985 to 1992. If she was less influential than they were in the years since, it was only because her gift was so rare, so impossible to mimic. Jackson and Madonna built worldviews around their voices; Ms. Houston's voice was the worldview. She was someone more to be admired, like a museum piece, than to be emulated.[2]

The Independent's music critic Andy Gill also wrote about Houston's influence on modern R&B and singing competitions, comparing it to Michael Jackson's. "Because Whitney, more than any other single artist – Michael Jackson included – effectively mapped out the course of modern R&B, setting the bar for standards of soul vocalese and creating the original template for what we now routinely refer to as the 'soul diva' ", stated Gill. "Jackson was a hugely talented icon, certainly, but he will be as well remembered (probably more so) for his presentational skills, his dazzling dance moves, as for his musical innovations. Whitney, on the other hand, just sang and the ripples from her voice continue to dominate the pop landscape." Gill said that there "are few, if any, Jackson imitators on today's TV talent shows, but every other contestant is a Whitney wannabe, desperately attempting to emulate that wondrous combination of vocal effects – the flowing melisma, the soaring mezzo-soprano confidence, the tremulous fluttering that carried the ends of lines into realms of higher yearning".[426]

Similarly, Steve Huey from Allmusic wrote that the shadow of Houston's prodigious technique still looms large over nearly every pop diva and smooth urban soul singer – male or female – in her wake and spawned a legion of imitators.[413] Rolling Stone stated that Houston "redefined the image of a female soul icon and inspired singers ranging from Mariah Carey to Rihanna".[427] The magazine placed her 34th on their "100 Greatest Singers of All Time" list.[141] Fifteen years later, in 2023, Houston was placed at second place, behind just Aretha Franklin.[389] Essence ranked Houston at number five on their list of 50 Most Influential R&B Stars ever, calling her "the diva to end all divas".[416] In October 2022, the same magazine ranked Houston at number one on its list of the ten greatest R&B solo artists of all time.[428]

A number of artists have acknowledged Whitney as an influence and inspiration, including Michael Jackson,[393] Taylor Swift,[429] Rihanna,[430][431] Beyoncé,[432][433] Sam Smith,[434] Britney Spears,[435] Lady Gaga,[436][437] Celine Dion,[438] Adele,[439] Lucky Daye,[440] Demi Lovato,[441] Kelly Clarkson,[442][443] Nicole Scherzinger,[444] Kelly Rowland,[445] Toni Braxton,[446] Ashanti,[447] Deborah Cox,[448] Robin Thicke,[449] Ciara,[450] Brandy,[451] Monica,[452] LeAnn Rimes,[453] Melanie Fiona,[454] Jennifer Hudson,[455] Christina Aguilera,[456] Jordin Sparks,[457] Alicia Keys,[458] Leona Lewis,[459] Ariana Grande,[460] Mariah Carey,[461][462] Jennifer Lopez,[463] and Nicki Minaj.[464]

## Awards and achievements

[edit]

Madame Tussaud wax figure of Houston

Further information: List of awards and nominations received by Whitney Houston and Whitney Houston chart records and achievements

Houston won numerous accolades, including two Emmy Awards, eight Grammy Awards (including two Grammy Hall of Fame honors), fourteen World Music Awards, sixteen Billboard Music Awards (46 Billboard awards in all) and twenty-two American Music Awards. Houston holds the record for the most American Music Awards received in a single year by a woman with eight wins in 1994 (overall tied with Michael Jackson).[465] Houston was the first artist at the Billboard Music Awards to win more than 11 awards in one night at its fourth annual ceremony in 1993, which set a Guinness World Record at the time.[466] Houston continues to hold the record for the most WMAs won in a single year, winning five trophies at the sixth World Music Awards in 1994.[467] Houston is also the black female artist with the most Guinness World Records in history with 31.

In 1996, eleven years after debuting on BET for her music video to "You Give Good Love", Houston became the first female recipient of the BET Walk of Fame and the youngest-ever recipient of this honor at just 33 years old. Five years later, in 2001, Houston was the first artist to be given a BET Lifetime Achievement Award.[468][469] Houston also remains the youngest recipient of the honor as she received the honor at the age of just 37. BET honored her again in 2010 when she received an award from The BET Honors. Houston is only one of two artists to receive all three honors from the BET network.[h]

In May 2003, Houston placed at number three on VH1's list of "50 Greatest Women of the Video Era".[470] In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists to celebrate the US singles chart's 50th anniversary, ranking Houston at number nine.[471][472] Similarly, she was ranked as one of the "Top 100 Greatest Artists of All Time" by VH1 in September 2010.[473] In November 2010, Billboard released its "Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years" list and ranked Houston at number three who not only went on to earn eight number-one singles on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but also landed five number ones on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[474]

Houston's debut album is listed as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine[72] and is on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Definitive 200 list.[73] In 2004, Billboard picked the success of her first release on the charts as one of 110 Musical Milestones in its history.[475] Houston's entrance into the music industry is considered one of the 25 musical milestones of the last 25 years, according to USA Today in 2007. It stated that she paved the way for Mariah Carey's chart-topping vocal gymnastics.[74] In 2015, she was placed at number nine (second as a female) by Billboard on the list "35 Greatest R&B Artists Of All Time".[415]

Houston is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, with more than 220 million records sold worldwide.[476][477] She is also the best-selling female R&B artist of the 20th century.[478] Houston had also sold more physical singles than any other female solo artist in history.[479] As of 2023, she was ranked as one of the best-selling artists in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America with 61 million certified albums.[480] Houston released seven studio albums and two soundtrack albums, all of which have been certified diamond, multi-platinum or platinum.[481]

In November 1993, Houston became the first solo female recording artist to go Diamond with an album when her soundtrack to The Bodyguard was certified ten times platinum. In January 1994, she became the first solo artist to receive two Diamond albums after her debut album, Whitney Houston, was also certified ten times platinum. In October 2020, her 1987 release, Whitney, was certified Diamond as well, making Houston the first and only black recording artist to have three Diamond-certified albums.[54] Those three albums are also among the best-selling albums of all time. Houston also is the only black female recording artist with more than six albums that have sold ten million copies or more globally. The Bodyguard remains the best-selling soundtrack album of all time, as well as the best-selling album of all time by a female recording artist, with global sales of over 50 million copies. Houston's "I Will Always Love You" became the best-selling physical single by a woman in music history, as well as the best-selling single ever by a black recording artist, with sales of over 20 million copies worldwide. Her 1996 soundtrack for The Preacher's Wife is the best-selling gospel album of all time.

In 1997, the Franklin School in East Orange, New Jersey was renamed to The Whitney E. Houston Academy School of Creative and Performing Arts.[482] She held an honorary Doctorate in Humanities from Grambling State University, Louisiana.[483] Houston was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2013.[484] In August 2014, she was inducted into the official Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in its second class.[485] On January 15, 2020, more than 35 years after releasing her first record and on the 35th anniversary of the release of her landmark debut, Houston was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after her first nomination.[486][487] In March 2020, the Library of Congress announced that Houston's 1992 single "I Will Always Love You" had been added to its National Recording Registry, a list of "aural treasures worthy of preservation" due to their "cultural, historical and aesthetic importance" in the American soundscape.[488] In October 2020, the music video for "I Will Always Love You" surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube, making Houston the first solo 20th-century artist to have a video reach that milestone.[489] In May 2023, Houston was one of the first of thirteen artists to be given the Brits Billion Award by the BPI for reaching 1 billion career streams in the United Kingdom.[490] In July 2023, Houston became the first solo artist who debuted in the 1980s to have a song streamed over a billion times after her 1987 hit, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)", reached that feat.[491][492] In December 2023, the New Jersey Hall of Fame unveiled the Whitney Houston Service Area, formerly known as the Vauxhal Service Area at the Garden State Parkway.[493] The New Jersey Hall of Fame explained that the renaming was part of their "ongoing program to honor its inductees by renaming Garden State Parkway service areas after them, and building displays about them".[493] Houston joined other New Jersey notables such as Toni Morrison, Frank Sinatra, Celia Cruz and Jon Bon Jovi in having service areas renamed after them.[493]

## Philanthropy

[edit]

Houston was a long-time supporter of several charities all around the world. In 1989, she established the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children. It offered medical assistance to sick and homeless children, fought to prevent child abuse, taught children to read, created inner-city parks and playgrounds and granted college scholarships, including one to the Juilliard School.[494] At a 1988 Madison Square Garden concert, Houston earned more over $250,000 for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).[495]

Houston donated all of the earnings from her 1991 Super Bowl XXV performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" sales to Gulf War servicemen and their families.[496] The record label followed suit and she was voted to the American Red Cross Board of Directors as a result.[497] Following the terrorist attacks in 2001, Houston re-released "The Star-Spangled Banner" to support the New York Firefighters 9/11 Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Fraternal Order of Police. She waived her royalty rights to the song, which reached number one on charts in October 2001 and generated more than $1 million.[498] Houston declined to perform in apartheid-era South Africa in the 1980s.[499] Her participation at the 1988 Freedomfest performance in London (for a then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela) grabbed the attention of other musicians and the media.[500]

In addition, Houston became an activist for the fight against HIV and AIDS during the first decade of the AIDS epidemic. The Whitney Houston Foundation for Children, in particular, focused on helping children who suffered from HIV/AIDS, among other issues. In 1990, Whitney took part in Arista Records' 15th anniversary gala, which was an AIDS benefit, where she sang "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)", "Greatest Love of All" and, with cousin Dionne Warwick, "That's What Friends Are For". A year later, Whitney participated in the Reach Out & Touch Someone AIDS vigil at London in September 1991 while she was finishing her historic ten-date residency at London's Wembley Arena; there, she stressed the importance of AIDS research and addressing HIV stigma.[501][502]

Noting of her influence as a gay icon, during the middle of her tour to promote the My Love Is Your Love album in June 1999, Whitney gave a surprise performance at the 13th Annual New York City Lesbian & Gay Pride Dance, titled Dance 13: The Last Dance of the Century,[503] at one of the city's West Side piers.[504] According to Instinct magazine, Houston's unannounced performance at the Piers "ushered in a new era that would eventually make high-profile artists performing at LGBTQ events virtually commonplace."[503] Before hitting the stage, Houston was asked by MTV veejay John Norris why she decided to attend the event, Houston replied, "we're all God's children, honey".[503]

## Documentaries and portrayals

[edit]

### Documentaries

[edit]

Since Houston's sudden death in 2012, her life, career and death have been the subject of many documentaries and specials. A television documentary film entitled Whitney: Can I Be Me aired on Showtime on August 25, 2017.[505] The film was directed by Nick Broomfield.[506]

On April 27, 2016, it was announced that Kevin Macdonald would work with the film production team Altitude, producers of the Amy Winehouse documentary film Amy (2015), on a new documentary film based on Houston's life and death. It is the first documentary authorized by Houston's estate.[507] That film, entitled Whitney, premiered at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival and was released internationally in theaters on July 6, 2018.[508]

Lifetime released the documentary Whitney Houston & Bobbi Kristina: Didn't We Almost Have It All in 2021, which The Atlanta Journal-Constitution called "...less an exposé and more a loving tribute to these two women".[509] On the tenth anniversary of her death, ESPN ran a thirty-minute documentary of Houston's acclaimed performance of The Star Spangled Banner at Super Bowl XXV in 1991 titled Whitney's Anthem.[510]

### Portrayals

[edit]

In 2015, Lifetime premiered the biographical film Whitney, which mentions that Whitney Houston was named after prominent television actress Whitney Blake, the mother of Meredith Baxter, star of the television series Family Ties. The film was directed by Houston's Waiting to Exhale co-star Angela Bassett, and Houston was portrayed by model Yaya DaCosta.

In April 2020, it was announced that a biopic based on Houston's life, said to be "no holds barred", titled I Wanna Dance with Somebody, would be produced, with Bohemian Rhapsody screenwriter Anthony McCarten writing the script and director Kasi Lemmons at the helm. Clive Davis, the Houston estate and Primary Wave were behind the biopic, with Sony Pictures & TriStar Pictures.[511][512][513] On December 15, 2020, it was announced that actress Naomi Ackie had been picked to portray Houston.[514][515] The film opened on December 23, 2022 and grossed around $60 million, becoming one of the highest grossing biopics based on a historical African American female figure after the Tina Turner biopic, What's Love Got to Do with It.

Each actress listed portrays Houston:

* Whitney – Yaya DaCosta, 2015
* Bobbi Kristina – Demetria McKinney, 2017
* The Bobby Brown Story – Gabrielle Dennis, 2018
* Selena: The Series – Shauntè Massard, 2021 (S2, E6)
* I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Naomi Ackie, 2022

## Discography

[edit]

Main articles: Whitney Houston albums discography, Whitney Houston singles discography, and Whitney Houston videography

* Whitney Houston (1985)
* Whitney (1987)
* I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990)
* My Love Is Your Love (1998)
* Just Whitney (2002)
* One Wish: The Holiday Album (2003)
* I Look to You (2009)

## Filmography

[edit]

Main article: Whitney Houston filmography

* The Bodyguard (1992)
* Waiting to Exhale (1995)
* The Preacher's Wife (1996)
* Cinderella (1997)
* Sparkle (2012)
* Whitney: Can I Be Me (2017)
* Whitney (2018)

## Tours

[edit]

Main article: List of Whitney Houston live performances

### Headlining tours

[edit]

* US Summer Tour (1985)
* The Greatest Love World Tour (1986)
* Moment of Truth World Tour (1987–1988)
* Feels So Right Tour (1990)
* I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour (1991)
* The Bodyguard World Tour (1993–1994)
* Pacific Rim Tour (1997)
* The European Tour (1998)
* My Love Is Your Love World Tour (1999)
* Nothing but Love World Tour (2009–2010)
* An Evening with Whitney: The Whitney Houston Hologram Tour (2020–2023)

### Co-headlining tours

[edit]

* Soul Divas Tour (2004)

## See also

[edit]

* Biography portal
* Pop music portal
* United States portal

* List of awards and nominations received by Whitney Houston
* Honorific nicknames in popular music
* List of artists who reached number one in the United States
* List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance chart
* List of bestselling music artists
* List of best-selling gospel music artists

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ "Saving All My Love for You", "How Will I Know", "Greatest Love of All", "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)", "Didn't We Almost Have It All", "So Emotional" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"
2. ^ Along with Houston, the other acts who have done this include the Supremes, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and The Weeknd.[109]
3. ^ José Feliciano's version reached number 50 in November 1968.
4. ^ Houston shares the feat with singer Lionel Richie.[143]
5. ^ The youngest recipient of the Award of Merit remains Michael Jackson, who won it in January 1984 at the age of 25.
6. ^ It also became the first song from a soundtrack to debut at number one and is only one of four soundtrack songs to do so, the others being Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" and Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", both released in 1998 and Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling!" in 2016.
7. ^ Houston told Entertainment Tonight, "basically it was my gospel album, and it was excluded from the gospel category altogether. I'm not going this year... I'm sick of work being done and people not recognizing it."[195]
8. ^ Singer Patti LaBelle is the only other artist.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Voice at 60: On Whitney Houston's immortal instrument". EW. August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
2. ^ a b c d Caramanica, Jon (February 12, 2012). "A Voice of Triumph, the Queen of Pain". The New York Times. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
3. ^ a b "Whitney Houston's 1985 MTV Debut Broke Barriers for Black Artists — Here's the Story of 'How Will I Know'". Yahoo Life. February 22, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
4. ^ a b Botelho, Greg (February 15, 2012). "Whitney Houston's death hits her native New Jersey hard". CNN. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
5. ^ Schrodt, Paul (May 25, 2016). "The 10 biggest record deals of all time, ranked". Insider. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
6. ^ Halperin, Ian (June 19, 2015). "Whitney Houston's Fortune In Limbo Amid Bobbi Kristina Tragedy". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
7. ^ Houston, Cissy (2013). Remembering Whitney. p. 10\. "My water broke. So it was right back out the door as John put me in the car and hurried to Presbyterian Hospital."
8. ^ "Emily 'Cissy' Houston 2019 Inductee - Performing Arts". New Jersey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on March 17, 2024.
9. ^ Smith, Jessie Carney (1996). Notable Black American women. VNR AG. pp. 304–305. ISBN 978-0-8103-9177-2.
10. ^ Crawford, Robyn (2019). A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston. p. 16.
11. ^ Houston, Cissy (September 2, 2009). "Visionary Project Video – Cissy Houston: My Family". Archived from the original on September 21, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
12. ^ "Whitney's godmother: 'She was a light'". Nancy Grace spoke with Whitney Houston's and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer Darlene Love. February 13, 2012. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
13. ^ Whitall, Susan. "Aretha Franklin recalls meeting a young Whitney Houston". The Queen of Soul corrected one thing about her relationship to Houston. She says she wasn't Houston's godmother, but a sort of honorary aunt. The Detroit News. Retrieved February 18, 2012.[dead link]
14. ^ "Whitney Houston Sings Her Way To Stardom With Hit Album, Road Tour". Jet. August 26, 1985. p. 59\. ISSN 0021-5996.
15. ^ "Jeremiah Burke Sanderson – New Bedford Historical Society". Retrieved November 7, 2020.
16. ^ Lapp, Rudolph M. (1968). "Jeremiah B. Sanderson: Early California Negro Leader". The Journal of Negro History. 53 (4): 321–333. doi:10.2307/2716356. ISSN 0022-2992. JSTOR 2716356. S2CID 150279633.
17. ^ "John Russell Houston III". The Star-Ledger. January 17, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2022 - via Legacy.com.
18. ^ "Top 10 Things You May Not Know About Whitney Houston" Archived November 19, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. ABC. February 16, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
19. ^ "Michael Houston 'Devastated' At Death Of Sister". Entertainment Wise. February 12, 2012. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
20. ^ Gardner, Elysa (January 28, 2013). "Cissy Houston remembers Whitney, with love and candor". USA Today. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
21. ^ Kenner, Rob (September 2005). "Whitney & Bobby – Addicted to Love". Vibe. p. 204\. Archived from the original on March 23, 2022.
22. ^ a b Bowman, Jeffrey (1994). Diva: the totally unauthorized biography of Whitney Houston. Harper. p. XII-XIII. ISBN 9780061008535. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
23. ^ a b c d e Corliss, Richard (July 13, 1987). "The Prom Queen of Soul". Time.
24. ^ a b DeCurtis, Anthony (June 10, 1993). "Whitney Houston: Down and Dirty". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
25. ^ Bowman, Jeffrey (1994). Diva: the totally unauthorized biography of Whitney Houston. Harper. p. 58\. ISBN 9780061008535. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
26. ^ a b Bronson, Fred (October 1, 2003). The Billboard book of number 1 hits. Random House Digital. p. 629\. ISBN 978-0-8230-7677-2.
27. ^ a b "Singer Whitney Houston A Model Of Success". Jet. July 16, 1990. p. 32\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
28. ^ Wilson, Julee (February 13, 2012). "Whitney Houston Graces Cover Of Seventeen Magazine, November 1981 (PHOTO)". HuffPost.
29. ^ Fekadu, Mesfin (March 22, 2023). "Whitney Houston Gospel Songs from 'I Go to the Rock' Explained - The Hollywood Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
30. ^ Norment, Lynn (June 1990). "Forever Daddy's Girl". Ebony. p. 136\. ISSN 0012-9011. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
31. ^ Holtzman, Michael (February 14, 2012). "Fall River music businessman was instrumental in launching Whitney Houston's early career". Wicked Local. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
32. ^ "Whitney Houston: The Long Road to Overnight Stardom". Billboard. December 1986. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
33. ^ Grein, Paul (June 8, 1986). "HOUSTON HITS: MASTER PLAN, BLIND LUCK". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
34. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Material she was a great song writer". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
35. ^ Ripol, Vince. "Paul Jabara & Friends Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
36. ^ a b Jacob Bernstein (September 30, 2017). "Production of a Lifetime: Whitney Houston and Clive Davis". New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
37. ^ "Whitney Houston: For Talented Young Star, Singing Is A Family Tradition". Ebony. December 1985. p. 155\. ISSN 0012-9011. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
38. ^ ""The Merv Griffin Show" Episode dated 23 June 1983 (TV Episode 1983)". IMDb. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
39. ^ "Whitney Houston: Watch her earliest TV appearances". Los Angeles Times. February 12, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
40. ^ Finkelman, Paul (2009). Encyclopedia of African American history, 1896 to the present: from the age of segregation to the twenty-first century. Oxford University Press. pp. 459–460. ISBN 978-0-19-516779-5.
41. ^ Scoppa, Bud (December 1986). "The Long Road To Overnight Stardom". Billboard.
42. ^ Wynn, Ron. "Love Language Album Review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 6, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
43. ^ "Arista Aims New Houston Album at 'Core Urban' Fans". Billboard. December 14, 2002. p. 64\. ISSN 0006-2510.
44. ^ Lovejoy, Hannah (October 25, 2021). "Listen to a young Whitney Houston's stunning vocal in unearthed TV 'Steak & Ale' Advert". Bennigans. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
45. ^ a b Sullivan, Caroline (February 11, 2012). "Whitney Houston obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
46. ^ "Billboard 200 (week of August 31, 1985)". Billboard. August 31, 1985. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
47. ^ a b c "Charts '86". Billboard. December 27, 1986. p. 52\. ISSN 0006-2510.
48. ^ "Whitney Houston - Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
49. ^ Shewey, Don (June 6, 1985). "Music Review: Whitney Houston". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
50. ^ Holden, Stephen (May 12, 1985). "Critic's Choice; Pop Music". The New York Times. p. A2.
51. ^ Grein, Paul (June 8, 1986). "Houston Hits: Master Plan, Blind Luck". Los Angeles Times.
52. ^ Ann Landers (July 7, 1985). "Hope your children outgrow trashy music". The Telegraph-Herald. Woodward Communications, Inc. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
53. ^ Lynn Van Matre (September 29, 1985). "With Dionne, Cissy And Aretha In The Family, How Can Whitney Houston Fail?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
54. ^ a b c d e f g "American album certifications – Whitney Houston". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
55. ^ Bekheet, Dia (February 11, 2012). "Music Industry Pays Tribute to Whitney Houston". VOA.
56. ^ "Inside Whitney's world". NBC News. September 28, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
57. ^ Booker, Bobbi (February 14, 2012). "Philly reflects on Houston's legacy". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
58. ^ Kynaston, Nic (2000). Guinness world records 2000. Guinness World Records Limited. p. 126\. ISBN 978-1-892051-00-4. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
59. ^ "Whitney Houston's Success Is Global". Billboard. June 8, 1985. p. 54\. ISSN 0006-2510.
60. ^ "'Cosby Show' Snubbed At Emmy Awards Ceremony; Receives Only One Honor". Jet. October 13, 1986. p. 16\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
61. ^ "Tina, Whitney Top Picks For Annual Grammy Awards". Jet. January 27, 1986. p. 57\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
62. ^ "'We Are The World' Big Winner At 28th Grammys". Jet. March 17, 1986. p. 14\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
63. ^ Harrington, Richard (January 10, 1986). "Dire Straits Tops List for Grammy's; We are the World Wins 6 Nominations". The Washington Post.
64. ^ "Whitney, Aretha, Stevie Snare Honors At Recent American Music Awards". Jet. February 17, 1986. p. 56\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
65. ^ Collier, Aldore (February 16, 1987). "Whitney Houston: Why Success Won't Go to Her Head". Jet. p. 58\. ISSN 0021-5996.
66. ^ "Whitney Houston". Headliners And Legends. August 11, 2000. Archived from the original on October 21, 2009.
67. ^ a b Whitney Houston Reminisces About '80s Music on MTV (2001 interview). MTV. 2001. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
68. ^ a b c "Whitney Houston's 1985 MTV Debut Broke Barriers for Black Artists". February 12, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
69. ^ Traister, Rebecca (April 13, 2006). "Didn't She Almost Have It All". Salon. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
70. ^ "SINGER WHITNEY HOUSTON HITS A HIGH NOTE EARLY IN HER CAREER". Orlando Sentinel. August 4, 1985. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
71. ^ Holden, Stephen (October 29, 1985). "POP: WHITNEY HOUSTON IN CARNEGIE HALL DEBUT". New York Times. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
72. ^ a b "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. November 18, 2003. Archived from the original on December 20, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
73. ^ a b "The Definitive 200". The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 2007. Archived from the original on January 13, 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
74. ^ a b Gundersen, Edna (June 18, 2007). "25 years of memorable musical moments". USA Today. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
75. ^ Aletti, Vince (August 13, 1987). "Review: Whitney". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
76. ^ "First solo female to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard albums chart". Guinness World Records. June 27, 1987. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
77. ^ a b "Whitney Breaks Record For Consecutive No. 1 Tunes". Jet. May 2, 1988. p. 54\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
78. ^ a b Billboard. May 13, 2000. p. 104\. ISSN 0006-2510.
79. ^ "Chart Check [Billboard 200]: SZA Joins Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey As Only Black Women To Have 10-Week Runs at #1". March 4, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
80. ^ "PERFECT PLANNING MAKES WHITNEY NO. 1 AGAIN". Chicago Tribune. August 6, 1987. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
81. ^ "This Day in Black History: June 27, 1987". BET.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
82. ^ "Battle and Jackson Top Grammy Award Nominees". Jet. February 1, 1988. p. 56\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
83. ^ "Blacks Turn Grammys Into A Show Biz Extravaganza". Jet. March 21, 1988. p. 52\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
84. ^ "Anita Baker, Whitney Houston Top Black Winners At Recent American Music Awards Show". Jet. February 15, 1988. p. 60\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
85. ^ "Houston, D. J. Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince, Jackson Top American Music Awards". Jet. February 20, 1989. p. 55\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
86. ^ "Showtime: Jackson is top winner at Soul Train Awards". The Washington Afro American. African-American News & Information Consortium. April 5, 1988. p. 6C. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
87. ^ MacDonald, Patrick. "U2, Bon Jovi were top concert acts of 1987". The Seattle Times. January 15, 1988. Page 5. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
88. ^ Robert Hilburn (January 23, 1988). "U2's $35-Million Gross Is Highest for '87 Tour". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
89. ^ a b "Cosby's $84 Million Makes Him Richest Entertainer". Jet. September 28, 1987. pp. 52–53. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
90. ^ "Forbes Names Jackson as the Best-Paid Star 5 Women, 3 Boxers on List of 40 Celebrities". Los Angeles Times. September 19, 1988. Page 2.
91. ^ "Michael Jackson Earns $97 Million To Become Highest Paid Entertainer". Jet. October 3, 1988. p. 12\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
92. ^ a b "Whitney Houston Uses Fame To Help Good Causes". Jet. June 20, 1988. p. 59\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
93. ^ Gilchrist, Jim (August 23, 2009). "Diva Will Always Love Limelight". The Scotsman. Edinburgh, UK. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
94. ^ Watrous, Peter (June 13, 1988). "Pop Music's Homage to Mandela". The New York Times.
95. ^ "Whitney Houston's Concert Raises $250,000 For UNCF". Jet. September 19, 1988. p. 54\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
96. ^ "Whitney, Aretha On Summer Olympics Album". Jet. September 12, 1988. p. 59\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
97. ^ "1988 UK Number Ones". number-ones.co.uk. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
98. ^ "October 24, 1988 Single Top 100". charts.de. October 24, 1988. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
99. ^ Tufayel, Ahmed (August 5, 2016). "Whitney Houston's 'One Moment in Time': The Anatomy of an Olympic Anthem". Newsweek. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
100. ^ "Abou". Retrieved May 18, 2023.
101. ^ "Whitney Houston Foundation for Children". Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
102. ^ A History of Soul Music. October 18, 2007. VH1.
103. ^ a b Duckett Cain, Joy (December 2003). "The Soul of Whitney". Essence.
104. ^ "Ebony". Ebony. May 1991. p. 112\. ISSN 0012-9011.
105. ^ a b c Norment, Lynn (May 1991). "Whitney Houston Talks About The Men In Her Life – And The Rumors, Lies And Insults That Are The High Price Of Fame". Ebony. Vol. 46, no. 7\. pp. 111–118. ISSN 0012-9011.
106. ^ Hunter, James (January 10, 1991). "Review: I'm Your Baby Tonight". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
107. ^ Browne, David (November 23, 1990). "Music Review: I'm Your Baby Tonight". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
108. ^ a b "Whitney Houston: Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
109. ^ a b Trust, Gary (March 10, 2023). "The Weeknd Matches Michael Jackson for Hot 100 history". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
110. ^ Runtagh, Jordan (September 15, 2017). "Music's 30 Fiercest Feuds and Beefs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
111. ^ "Monie Love Talks About Her First New Solo Project in 30 Years". BET. April 6, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
112. ^ a b Copsey, Rob (February 28, 2020). "Higher Love is now Whitney Houston's longest-running single ever on the Top 100 Official UK Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
113. ^ a b Pareles, Jon (February 24, 1991). "Pop View; Caution: Now Entering The War Zone". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2008.
114. ^ "Whitney Houston Did Not Lip-Sync National Anthem". Jet. March 18, 1991. p. 60 - via Google Books.
115. ^ "Spokane Chronicle - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
116. ^ "The Daily Gazette - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
117. ^ a b Fisher, Luchina; Marikar, Sheila (February 3, 2009). "Hudson's Super Bowl Lip-Sync No Surprise to Insiders". ABC News. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
118. ^ "Was Whitney live, or was she Memorex?". The Daily Gazette Co. Associated Press. March 5, 1991. p. A6. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
119. ^ "Whitney Houston's Star Spangled Banner To Be Released On Cassette". Jet. February 18, 1991. p. 31\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
120. ^ Otfinoski, Steven (April 1, 2010). African Americans in the performing arts. Infobase Publishing. pp. 116–. ISBN 978-0-8160-7838-7. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
121. ^ "Houston Raises $500,000 For Red Cross; Named To Its Board Of Governors". Jet. June 17, 1991. p. 37\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
122. ^ Blair, Tom. "The village verbiage collector". The San Diego Union. May 23, 1991. Page B1.
123. ^ "Jennifer Hudson delivers on Super Bowl stage". The Washington Times. News World Media Development. February 2, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
124. ^ "100 Greatest Moments That Rocked TV (20–1)". VH1. Archived from the original on May 29, 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
125. ^ "Gold & Platinum – Search Results for "The Star Spangled Banner" single and its video single". Recording Industry Association of America. October 3, 2001. Archived from the original on July 25, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
126. ^ "Top 20 Songs Charted Twice by Same Artist". Top40Weekly.com. July 24, 2024.
127. ^ Smith, Patricia. "Mom, apple pie and Whitney Houston in concert for troops" Archived July 25, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. The Boston Globe April 1, 1991.
128. ^ Hodges, Anne. "Hope opens his home to U.S. troops". Houston Chronicle April 6, 1991.
129. ^ Wilker, Deborah. "Whitney Houston: Bigger – but better?" Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel. June 13, 1991. Page 3E.
130. ^ Jones, James T. "Whitney is so emotional, soulful in concert". USA Today. April 19, 1991. Page 01D.
131. ^ Berkman, Meredith (February 5, 1993). "Up close with Whitney Houston". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
132. ^ Kempley, Rita (November 25, 1992). "The Bodyguard". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
133. ^ Maslin, Janet (November 25, 1992). "Review/Film: The Bodyguard; Tragic Flaw Meets Pampered Pop Star Over Multiple Risks". The New York Times. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
134. ^ "People's Choice noms out". Variety. February 3, 1993. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
135. ^ "A look back at 1993 and the second annual MTV Movie Awards". Uproxx. April 14, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
136. ^ "All Time Box Office Domestic Grosses". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
137. ^ "The Bodyguard - Box Office Mojo". Retrieved December 6, 2022.
138. ^ Garwood, Bianca (October 13, 2017). "Whitney Houston Estate to Reissue 'The Bodyguard' Soundtrack for 25th Anniversary". EBONY.
139. ^ Crisafulli, Chuck (November 17, 2016). "Deep 10: Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard – Original Soundtrack Album". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
140. ^ "Jazz, popular, etc". CD review digest. Vol. 7, no. 4\. Peri Press. 1994. p. 174.
141. ^ a b "100 Greatest Singers of All Time (2008)". Rolling Stone. December 3, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
142. ^ James T. Jones IV (November 17, 1992). "Houston heroic on 'Bodyguard' album". USA Today. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
143. ^ a b DeKnock, Jan (January 15, 1993). "Whitney Houston Hits 4th 'Triple'". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2011.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
144. ^ "Whitney Houston Joins Taylor Swift And Mariah Carey In An Extremely Rare Musical Feat". Forbes. January 12, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
145. ^ "Katy Perry Becomes The Fourth Female Artist To Have A Diamond Single and Diamond Album In The United States". The Grape Juice. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
146. ^ Billboard. April 11, 1998. p. 10\. ISSN 0006-2510.
147. ^ Trust, Gary (August 28, 2009). "Battle of the Divas, Round 3". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
148. ^ "Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You' Is Certified Diamond by RIAA". Billboard. January 13, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
149. ^ "Best-selling single by a female artist (US)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
150. ^ "FIVE FAST FACTS ABOUT WHITNEY HOUSTON". Houston Symphony. May 26, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
151. ^ "5 Things About Whitney Houston". February 23, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
152. ^ "Rock On The Net: Grammy Awards: Record of the Year". rockonthenet.com.
153. ^ Billboard. May 13, 2000. p. 110\. ISSN 0006-2510.
154. ^ MacMinn, Aleene (December 31, 1992). "Morning Report: Pop/Rock". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
155. ^ "Whitney Houston gets a boost from Bodyguard". The Globe and Mail. January 1, 1993. Page C6.
156. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 (the week of March 13, 1993)". Billboard. March 13, 1993. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
157. ^ DeKnock, Jan (March 19, 1993). "Houston Still Plugged In As Contender". Chicago Tribune. p. O. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
158. ^ Billboard. December 8, 2001. p. 85\. ISSN 0006-2510.
159. ^ Billboard. March 13, 1993. pp. 134–. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
160. ^ Johnson Jr, Billy (November 8, 2017). "'The Bodyguard' Soundtrack: 25 Years After Whitney Houston's Masterpiece". Grammy Awards. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
161. ^ The Bodyguard Soundtrack worldwide sales:
* Kimberly, Nordyke (October 30, 2017). "American Music Awards: Christina Aguilera to Honor Whitney Houston With 'Bodyguard' Tribute". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
* Patrick, Ryan (November 9, 2017). "Exclusive: Whitney Houston's 'Bodyguard' turns 25 with never-before-seen performance". USA Today. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
* Chuck, Crisafulli (May 15, 2017). "Deep 10: Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard – Original Soundtrack Album". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
* Zach, Johnson (October 30, 2017). "Christina Aguilera Will Honor Whitney Houston and The Bodyguard's 25th Anniversary at the 2017 AMAs". E! News. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
* Bianca, Garwood (October 13, 2017). "Whitney Houston Estate to Reissue 'The Bodyguard' Soundtrack for 25th Anniversary". Ebony. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
162. ^ Dominguez, Alessa (November 21, 2017). "This Is How The Biggest Movie Soundtrack Of All Time Got Made". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
163. ^ "Whitney Houston Eight American Music Awards Make Her Top Female Winner". Jet. February 28, 1994. p. 56\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
164. ^ Reynolds, J.R. (March 26, 1994). "The Rhythm and the Blues: 8th Soul Train Awards Are Aglow With Stellar Performances, Star Appearances". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 13\. p. 34\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
165. ^ Crittendon, Denise (February–March 1994). "Stars Shine At The NAACP Image Awards". The Crisis. Vol. 101, no. 2\. p. 34\. ISSN 0011-1422.
166. ^ Reynolds, J.R. (January 15, 1994). "The Rhythm and the Blues: Tupac's Loss May Preserve Awards' Image; New Indies Form Out West And Down South". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 3\. p. 15\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
167. ^ Leonardi, Marisa (January 7, 1994). "Michael Jackson Shares Whitney Houston's Spotlight, Honors: Houston wins five NAACP Image Awards, but Jackson gets cheers in a show marked by controversy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
168. ^ Dezzani, Mark (May 21, 1994). "World Music Awards Gaining Stature". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 21\. p. 41\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
169. ^ "The BRITs 1994 Winners & Nominees". British Phonographic Industry. February 14, 1994. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
170. ^ "Spielberg Dethrones Oprah As Highest-Paid Entertainer" The San Francisco Chronicle. September 12, 1994. Page C16.
171. ^ "Steven Spielberg Is Mr. Entertainer". San Francisco Chronicle. December 24, 1994. p. D11.
172. ^ Keogh, Jim (April 15, 1993). "Few women producers make the top 100 list". Telegram & Gazette. p. C2.
173. ^ Kelly, Katy (October 5, 1994). "Greeting Mandela with elegance and esteem". USA Today. p. D02.
174. ^ Lelyveld, Nita (October 5, 1994). "White House Lionizes Mandela". The Free Lance–Star. p. A8. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
175. ^ Paeth, Greg (November 9, 1994). "HBO worth seeing". Cincinnati Post. p. 7B.
176. ^ "Whitney In South Africa". Ebony. Vol. 50, no. 4\. February 1995. pp. 116–124. ISSN 0012-9011.
177. ^ Billboard. July 15, 1995. pp. 38–. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
178. ^ a b Farley, Christopher John (December 4, 1995). "No More Prissy". Time. Archived from the original on May 28, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2007.
179. ^ "Waiting to Exhale (1995)". Box Office Mojo. March 2, 1996. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
180. ^ African American Filmmakers, African American Films: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Library. Berkeley, CA: UC Berkeley Library. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
181. ^ Ascher-Walsh, Rebecca (August 14, 1998). "Back in the Groove?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 8, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
182. ^ LaPorte, Nicole (March 6, 2005). "Diary of a Mad Niche Hit". Variety. Archived from the original on March 8, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
183. ^ White, Jack E. (January 15, 1996). "Heavy Breathing". Time. Archived from the original on May 28, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2007.
184. ^ Holden, Stephen (December 22, 1995). "Waiting to Exhale (1995) Film Review;4 Divas Have Lots Of Fun Telling Off Mr. Wrong". The New York Times. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
185. ^ "The 27th NAAPC Image Awards Official Ballot". The Crisis. Vol. 103, no. 2\. February 3, 1996. pp. 20–22. ISSN 0011-1422. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
186. ^ a b Cane, Clay (December 21, 2010). "'Waiting To Exhale' Celebrates 15 Years Today". BET.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
187. ^ Entertainment Weekly. December 1, 1995. p. 73.
188. ^ Willman, Chris (October 12, 2001). "100 Best Movie Soundtracks". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 9, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2007.
189. ^ Laurence, Charles (December 14, 1996). "The Arts: The gospel according to Whitney". The Daily Telegraph.
190. ^ "Box office / Business for "The Preacher's Wife"". IMDb. December 13, 1996. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
191. ^ Stack, Peter (December 13, 1996). "Human Comedy's Divine in 'Preacher's Wife'". San Francisco Chronicle.
192. ^ "Ebony's 50th Anniversary Show, Denzel Washington Among NAACP Image Award Winners". Jet. Vol. 95, no. 15\. March 3, 1997. pp. 60–61. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
193. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History: Top Gospel Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
194. ^ Susman, Gary (February 13, 2012). "Whitney Houston 1996 Interview Sheds Light on Movie Career, Personal Demons". Moviefone. AOL. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
195. ^ a b "Whitney May Pass on Grammys Over Gospel Snub". MTV. February 18, 1998. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
196. ^ a b "Whitney Scores As Producer and Star". Ebony. November 1997. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
197. ^ Purdum, Todd S. (November 2, 1997). "Television; The Slipper Still Fits, Though the Style Is New". The New York Times.
198. ^ "Whitney & Brandy in Cinderella". Ebony. November 1997. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
199. ^ Carter, Bill (November 5, 1997). "TV Notes; Happy Ending For 'Cinderella'". The New York Times. p. 7.
200. ^ "Whitney Houston To Take On "Christie Love". MTV News. April 9, 1997. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013.
201. ^ "Streetwise Houston tries new approach Singer's tour hits town Monday" (Article ID: R00018180056). The Washington Times. July 3, 1999.
202. ^ Samuels, Anita M. (March 14, 1998). "Badu Heads Soul Train; Singer Picks Up 4 Awards". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 11\. p. 10\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
203. ^ "Soul Train Music Awards Library: 1998 The 12th Soul Train Music Awards". Don Cornelius Productions, Inc. February 27, 1998. Archived from the original on July 25, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
204. ^ "The 71st Academy Awards (1999) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. March 21, 1999. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
205. ^ "The Billboard 200 chart listing for the week of December 5, 1998". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 49\. December 5, 1998. p. 126\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
206. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles / European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 34\. August 21, 1999. pp. 11–12. OCLC 29800226 - via World Radio History.
207. ^ "Vibe". Vibe Vixen. April 1999. p. 60\. ISSN 1070-4701.
208. ^ Aletti, Vince (December 8, 1998). "Look Who's Ticking". The Village Voice. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
209. ^ Newman, Melinda (October 31, 1998). "Houston Finds a New Groove with Arista Set". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 44\. pp. 1, 86. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
210. ^ ""My Love Is Your Love" single; triple platinum worldwide". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 47\. November 20, 1999. p. 137\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
211. ^ "Whitney Houston - Grammy History". Grammy Awards. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
212. ^ "Entertainment: Dublin gears up for MTV show". BBC News. November 11, 1999. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
213. ^ "Spears Tops 1999 MTV Europe Music Awards". Billboard. November 12, 1999. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
214. ^ Ives, Brian (November 12, 1999). "Bono Honored As Britney Spears Dominates MTV Europe Awards". MTV Network. Archived from the original on April 17, 2001. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
215. ^ "1999 MTV Video Music Awards". MTV Network. September 9, 1999. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
216. ^ "US city makes $100,000 Whitney claim". BBC News. August 26, 1999. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
217. ^ "Whitney Houston World Tour '99 Becomes Europe's Highest Grossing Arena Tour of the Year". AllBusiness.com. October 19, 1999. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
218. ^ "The American Recording Industry Announces its Artists of the Century". Recording Industry Association of America. November 10, 1999. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
219. ^ Basham, David (February 11, 2000). "TLC Nominated For Three Soul Train Music Awards". MTV. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
220. ^ Mitchell, Gail (March 18, 2000). "TLC Rides Soul Train". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 12\. p. 20\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
221. ^ "The Billboard 200 chart listing for the week of June 3, 2000". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 23\. June 3, 2000. p. 116\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
222. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 25\. June 17, 2000. pp. 72–73. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
223. ^ "Reviews & Previews: Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 21\. May 20, 2000. p. 26\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
224. ^ Huey, Steve. "Whitney: The Greatest Hits review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
225. ^ "Florida Orchestra Sues Arista Over Anthem". Billboard. December 17, 2001. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
226. ^ "Whitney Houston biography". Rolling Stone. 2012. Archived from the original on December 9, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
227. ^ Larry McShane, "Whitney Houston Gets Bad Press", The Washington Post, April 6, 2000.
228. ^ Vanhorn, Teri (January 17, 2000). "Whitney Houston reportedly Escapes Drug Arrest in Hawaii". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014.
229. ^ "Whitney Houston Faces Charges". CBS News. September 29, 2000.
230. ^ "Fears for Whitney Houston Grow". TCM Breaking News. September 11, 2001. Archived from the original on September 24, 2009.
231. ^ a b c Dansby, Andrew (June 7, 2000). "Whitney Insider Tells of Drug Use, Failed Intervention". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 27, 2009.
232. ^ Movie & TV News @ IMDb, "Houston's Oscar Confusion" Archived March 25, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, December 23, 2004. Houston was replaced at that Oscar telecast by singer Faith Hill.
233. ^ a b c Diane Sawyer, Interview, ABC Primetime, December 4, 2002 (transcript available here [1]).
234. ^ McNeil, Liz (November 7, 2019). "Whitney Houston First Tried Cocaine at 14 Years Old Says Best Friend Robyn Crawford in New Memoir". People. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
235. ^ a b Caramanica, Jon (November 7, 2019). "Whitney Houston's Confidante Robyn Crawford Breaks Her Silence". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019.
236. ^ Lafranco, Robert; Binelli, Mark; Goodman, Fred (July 4, 2002). "The Rolling Stone Money Report". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 4, 2007. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
237. ^ "Whitney Houston Signs $100 Million Contract with Arista Records". Jet. August 20, 2001. p. 18.
238. ^ Mitchell, Gail (December 14, 2002). "Arista Aims New Houston Album At 'Core Urban' Fans". Billboard.
239. ^ Knolle, Sharon (September 13, 2001). "Reports of Whitney Houston's Death Denied". ABC News. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
240. ^ Winfrey, Oprah (September 2009). "Remembering Whitney: The Oprah Winfrey Interview" (video). Oprah Winfrey Network. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
241. ^ Holloway, Lynette (November 11, 2002). "In Switch, Whitney Houston Has to Sell an Album". The New York Times'. p. C0009.
242. ^ Reid, Shaheem (September 17, 2001). "Whitney Houston's 'Star-Spangled Banner' To Wave Again". MTV Networks (Viacom). Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
243. ^ "Whitney Houston Billboard chart history". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
244. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (October 8, 2002). "Whitney Houston Sued For $100 Million By Dad's Company". MTV. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
245. ^ "Whitney Houston is sued for $100 million by her father's entertainment company". Jet. October 28, 2002. p. 64.
246. ^ Friedman, Roger (February 10, 2003). "Whitney and Bobby No-Shows at Dad's Funeral". Fox News. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
247. ^ "Judge throws out Houston lawsuit". BBC News. April 15, 2004. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
248. ^ "Crack is Wack, 1986". The Keith Haring Foundation. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
249. ^ "Just Whitney" by Whitney Houston". Metacritic. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
250. ^ "Vibe". Vibe Vixen. September 2003. p. 186\. ISSN 1070-4701.
251. ^ "RIAA Certification Searchable Database". Record Industry Association of America. January 10, 2003. Archived from the original on June 26, 2007. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
252. ^ Norment, Lynn (June 2003). "L.A. Reid: The Most Powerful Black In The Music Business". Ebony. pp. 116–124. ISSN 0012-9011. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
253. ^ Nero, Mark Edward (May 24, 2019). "10 Great R&B Christmas Songs". Live About. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
254. ^ a b c "Bobby Brown charged with battery". CNN. December 10, 2003. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
255. ^ Cashmere, Paul (September 17, 2004). "Whitney Back With Clive Davis". Archived from the original on July 9, 2012.
256. ^ Barry Garron, "'Being Bobby Brown' Is Disgusting", MSNBC, June 29, 2005.
257. ^ Steve Rogers, "Report: Bravo's 'Being Bobby Brown' coming back for second season", RealityTV World, October 31, 2005.
258. ^ "Brown Reality Show Cancelled" Archived September 24, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, SFGate, The Daily Dish, January 10, 2007.
259. ^ "Whitney Houston to Tell All On Oprah" CBS, August 20, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
260. ^ "Whitney Houston – Houston Details Drug Use: 'We Laced Marijuana With Rock Cocaine". Contact Music. September 15, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
261. ^ Moody, Nekesa Mumbi (February 11, 2012). "Whitney Houston, pop superstar, dies in Beverly Hills hotel". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012.
262. ^ Oprah Winfrey (September 2009). "Remembering Whitney: The Oprah Winfrey Interview" (video). Oprah Winfrey Network. Retrieved December 25, 2017. "I did my stint. You do your 30 days. I went to one where I could take my child with me. Everywhere I just had to have her with me. I wanted her to understand. I didn't lie to her. I couldn't."
263. ^ Winfrey, Oprah (September 2009). "Remembering Whitney: The Oprah Winfrey Interview" (video). Oprah Winfrey Network. p. 40:02 minutes. Retrieved April 21, 2010. "I see the love and the passion that my mother had for me and she walks in with these sheriffs and she says 'I have a court junction [sic] here. Either you do it my way or we're just not going to do this at all. We're going to go on TV and you're going to retire and say you're going to give this up. Because this is not worth it. It's not worth it. And if you move, Bobby [Brown], [these officers are] going to take you down. Don't you make one move. Let's go. Let's do this. I'm not losing you to the world. I'm not losing you to Satan. I want my daughter back. I'm not doing this. I want my daughter back. I want you back. I want to see that glow in your eyes, that light in your eyes. I want to see the child I raised. You weren't raised like this. And I'm not having it.'"
264. ^ Otis, Ginger Adams (January 26, 2013). "Cissy Houston details daughter Whitney's decline in new book". Daily News. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
265. ^ Marikar, Sheila (September 14, 2009). "Whitney Houston Reveals Dark Days With Bobby Brown: 'He Spit on Me'". ABC News. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
266. ^ Parade (September 16, 2009). "Whitney Houston Staying Sober 'One Day at a Time'". Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays.
267. ^ "Whitney Houston Album Due Out Sept. 1; 'American Idol' Auditions Kick Off". VOA News. Voice of America. June 9, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
268. ^ Singh, Anita (October 20, 2009). "Whitney Houston's weird performance on The X-Factor gives her top five hit". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
269. ^ Harmsworth, Andrei (October 23, 2009). "Whitney Houston sparkles on Italian X Factor". Metro. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
270. ^ "This just in: Whitney Houston disappoints in Australia, Charlie Sheen enters rehab, Placido Domingo to undergo surgery". The Washington Post. February 24, 2010. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
271. ^ Scott, Elizabeth (April 7, 2010). "Whitney cancels more shows". ITN. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
272. ^ Goldsmith, Belinda (April 6, 201). "Due To Illness". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
273. ^ "High: A Lifetime of Achievements (2010) from Whitney Houston's Highs & Lows". E!.
274. ^ "2010 BET Honors". Essence. January 16, 2010. Archived from the original on November 23, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
275. ^ Childs, Joy (December 17, 2010). "Whitney Houston, Kim Burrell Turn BET's Celebration of Gospel Out". Los Angeles Sentinel. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
276. ^ D'Zurilla, Christie (May 9, 2011). "Whitney Houston in outpatient rehab for alcohol, drugs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
277. ^ Kit, Borys. Billboard. September 12, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
278. ^ Stransky, Tanner (September 12, 2011). "Whitney Houston circling 'Sparkle' musical remake with Jordin Sparks". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
279. ^ Kit, Borys (September 12, 2011). "Whitney Houston in Talks to Star in Music-Themed Drama 'Sparkle' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
280. ^ Sneider, Jeff (September 23, 2011). "Cee-Lo Green joins 'Sparkle' cast". Variety. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
281. ^ Sneider, Jeff (December 8, 2011). "Sony dates a trio of pics". Variety.[permanent dead link]
282. ^ Ballhorn, Kelly (May 21, 2012). "WORLD PREMIERE: Whitney Houston & Jordin Sparks Duet 'Celebrate' From 'Sparkle' [AUDIO]". ryanseacrest.com. Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
283. ^ "5 faith facts about Whitney Houston, set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". Religion News. November 6, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
284. ^ "Vibe". Vibe Vixen. June 2007. p. 78\. ISSN 1070-4701.
285. ^ Chang, Rachel. "Inside Whitney Houston's Relationship With Best Friend Robyn Crawford". Biography. Archived from the original on October 4, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
286. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (November 7, 2019). "Whitney Houston's close friend Robyn Crawford says they had sexual relationship". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
287. ^ Connor, Tracy (March 5, 2012). "Whitney Houston and Jermaine Jackson had year-long love affair early in their careers: report". Daily News. New York.
288. ^ "Whitney Houston Sets The Record Straight About Rumors Of Her Troubled Marriage To Bobby Brown". Jet. April 26, 1999. p. 60\. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
289. ^ "Warrant issued for Bobby Brown". CNN. January 16, 2003.
290. ^ Lee, Chris (February 12, 2012). "Inside Whitney Houston's Violent Marriage to Bobby Brown". Daily Beast.
291. ^ Speidel, Maria (March 22, 1993). "Passages". People. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
292. ^ Bologna, Caroline (October 19, 2017). "50 Celebrities Who Opened Up About Their Miscarriages". HuffPost. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
293. ^ "Whitney Houston Suffers Miscarriage". The Associated Press. July 13, 1994. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
294. ^ Lewittes, Michael (December 21, 1996). "Whitney Miscarries Third Time". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
295. ^ "Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown separate". Today. September 13, 2006. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
296. ^ "Whitney Houston files for divorce from Brown - The Hollywood Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter. October 18, 2006. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
297. ^ "Whitney Houston Wins Custody in Divorce from Bobby Brown". People. April 4, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
298. ^ Fleeman, Mike (February 12, 2012). "Whitney Houston's Final Days Marked by Erratic Behavior". People. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016.
299. ^ McCartney, Anthony (February 13, 2012). "Investigators seek answers to Houston's death". ABC News 4. WorldNow. Retrieved February 14, 2012.[dead link]
300. ^ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (February 13, 2012). "Grammys 2012: Clive Davis sets the stage for Brandy/Monica redux". Los Angeles Times Blogs. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
301. ^ Fashingbauer, Gael (February 12, 2012). "Watch Whitney Houston's final performance". MSNBC Entertainment. MSNBC. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
302. ^ "Whitney Houston's 'haunting' last performance". The Week. January 9, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
303. ^ Winton, Richard; Blankstein, Andrew (February 13, 2012). "Whitney Houston was found underwater in bathtub, police say". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
304. ^ Whitney: Tribute to a Music Legend. Boca Raton, Florida: American Media. 2012. (one-time newsstand collector's publication) Pg. 37: "434: The room number at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles in which she was found dead on Feb 11, 2012."
305. ^ a b Blankstein, Andrew; Lewis, Randy. "Whitney Houston's death: Medics performed CPR for about 20 minutes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
306. ^ Marikar, Sheila (February 12, 2012). "Whitney Houston, Iconic Pop Star, Dies at 48". ABC News. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
307. ^ Pareles, Jon; Nagourney, Adam (February 11, 2012). "Whitney Houston, Pop Superstar, Dies at 48". The New York Times. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
308. ^ Yan, Holly; Quan, Denise (February 12, 2012). "Music exec: Whitney Houston looked 'healthy and beautiful' days earlier". CNN. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
309. ^ Newcomb, Alyssa (February 19, 2012). "Whitney Houston Funeral: Singer Laid to Rest". ABC News. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
310. ^ a b "Whitney Houston's funeral: Love and humor dominate remembrances of pop superstar". The Star-Ledger. November 1, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
311. ^ a b Gamboa, Glenn (February 18, 2012). "Whitney Houston funeral notable moments and celebrities". Newsday. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
312. ^ Allin, Olivia (February 19, 2012). "Whitney Houston funeral: Bobby Brown leaves shortly after service began". OnTheRedCarpet.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
313. ^ Terruso, Julia (February 18, 2012). "Whitney Houston to be buried in Westfield: A Jersey girl comes home". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
314. ^ Wynter, Kareen; Martinez, Michael (March 22, 2012). "Coroner: Drowning, heart disease, cocaine use killed Houston". CNN. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
315. ^ "Whitney Houston drowned after cocaine use, says coroner". BBC. March 22, 2012.
316. ^ "Coroner: Whitney Houston died of accidental drowning". Today Entertainment. MSNBC. March 22, 2012. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
317. ^ McCartney, Anthony (March 22, 2012). "Houston died from drowning, coroner says". Associated Press (via Y! Music). Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
318. ^ Blankstein, Andrew (April 4, 2012). "Whitney Houston: Final coroner's report". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
319. ^ "Clive Davis: Whitney Houston would have wanted the music to go on". Los Angeles Times. February 12, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
320. ^ "Tony Bennett calls for legalization of drugs". Toronto Sun. February 12, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
321. ^ Gipson, Brooklyne (February 14, 2012). "Chaka Khan: Clive Davis Should Have Canceled His Party". BET. BET Interactive. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
322. ^ Harp, Justin (February 16, 2012). "Sharon Osbourne slams Clive Davis party after Whitney Houston death". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
323. ^ Bob Considine/The Star-Ledger (February 13, 2012). "Whitney Houston's talent was evident in her childhood years, singer Darlene Love recalls". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
324. ^ "Singer Whitney Houston dies at 48". CNN. February 12, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
325. ^ "Mariah Carey, Diddy, Others React to Whitney Houston's Death". Rolling Stone. February 12, 2012. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
326. ^ Rice, Lynette (February 11, 2012). "Celebs react to Whitney Houston death: 'Please tell me it's not true'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
327. ^ "'SNL' Showcases Karmin, Honors Whitney Houston". Idolator. February 12, 2012. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
328. ^ "'SNL' Honors Whitney Houston". The Daily Beast. February 12, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
329. ^ a b "TV's most memorable moments: 9/11 tops the list". CBS. July 11, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
330. ^ "Fans, celebrities react to Whitney Houston's death: 'We will always love you'". CNN. February 11, 2012. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
331. ^ "Bobby Brown Says 'I Love You, Whitney' During Emotional Concert". Billboard. February 12, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
332. ^ "Singer Whitney Houston found dead". Fox News. February 12, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
333. ^ "Grammys honor 'fallen sister' Houston". New York Post. NYP Holdings. February 13, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
334. ^ Botelho, Greg (February 12, 2012). "Grammys salute late icon: 'Whitney, we will always love you'". CNN. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
335. ^ Kaufman, Gil (February 13, 2012). "Grammy Ratings Up Thanks To Adele, Whitney Houston Tribute". MTV. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
336. ^ Rahman, Ray (February 18, 2012). "NAACP Image Awards tributes Whitney Houston, hands prizes to 'The Help' and George Lucas". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
337. ^ "Michigan man burns N.J. state flag to protest lowering of flags for Whitney Houston". The Star-Ledger. Associated Press. February 20, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
338. ^ "Brit Awards 2012: Rhianna and Bruno Mars win international gongs at Brit Awards 2012". The Daily Telegraph. February 22, 2012. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
339. ^ J. Downey, Ryan (February 27, 2012). "Whitney Houston, Elizabeth Taylor Remembered At Oscars". MTV. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
340. ^ "Academy pays tribute to Whitney Houston at Oscars". The Guardian. February 27, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
341. ^ McCall, Tris (May 12, 2012), "At Gospelfest, big tributes for Whitney Houston", The Star-Ledger, retrieved October 15, 2012
342. ^ Anderson, Kyle (May 29, 2012). "Beyonce's post-baby concerts: Whitney Houston tribute, Goo Goo Dolls and Lauryn Hill songs". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
343. ^ Johnston, Maura (May 27, 2012). "Live: Beyoncé Brings The House Down At Atlantic City's Newest Casino". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
344. ^ Weiss, Todd R. (December 12, 2012). "Whitney Houston, Gangnam Style, Hurricane Sandy Top Google Searches in 2012". eWEEK. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
345. ^ Wass, Mike (May 2, 2017). "Bebe Rexha Samples Whitney Houston On New Single". idolator. Retrieved July 16, 2019.[permanent dead link]
346. ^ "Listen: Bebe Rexha channels Whitney Houston on 'The Way I Are' featuring Lil Wayne". AXS. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
347. ^ Seabrook III, Robby (May 20, 2017). "Lil Wayne & Bebe Rexha Pay Homage To Whitney Houston On New Single "The Way I Are"". genius.com. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
348. ^ O'Malley Greensburg, Zack (October 24, 2012). "Why Whitney Houston Didn't Make Forbes' List Of Top Earning Dead Celebs". Forbes. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
349. ^ O'Connell, Mikey (February 15, 2012). "Whitney Houston's Posthumous Sales Surge: By the Numbers". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
350. ^ O'Connell, Mikey (February 11, 2012). "Whitney Houston Dominates iTunes Charts". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
351. ^ "Whitney Houston songs race up music charts". Today.com.
352. ^ "The Hot 100". Billboard. February 15, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
353. ^ Caufield, Keith (February 24, 2012). "Whitney Houston's YouTube & Vevo Plays Gain 4,523%". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
354. ^ Caufield, Keith (February 29, 2012). "Whitney Houston: First Woman With Three Albums In Billboard 200's Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
355. ^ Caufield, Keith (March 7, 2012). "Kid Cudi's WZRD scores top Billboard 200 Debut, Adele still No. 1". Retrieved September 7, 2021.
356. ^ "Catalog Albums". Billboard. March 17, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
357. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. March 17, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
358. ^ "Most simultaneous albums on the US Billboard 200 (female)". Guinness World Record. March 4, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
359. ^ "The Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities of 2023". Forbes. October 31, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
360. ^ "Highest-earning dead celebrity (female, current)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
361. ^ "Sneak Peek: Whitney Houston's New Duet With R. Kelly 'I Look to You' (Audio)". RyanSeacrest.com. September 24, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
362. ^ "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU: THE BEST OF WHITNEY HOUSTON". Record Industry Association of America. March 3, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
363. ^ "Billboard 200 (Week of May 27, 2023)". Billboard. May 27, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
364. ^ Houston's first live album, "Whitney Houston Live" makes impressive debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Top R&B Albums, #17 on Billboard 200.PRNewswire.com
365. ^ Farber, Jim (November 7, 2014). "Five Star Review for Whitney Houston's Live Album". Daily News. New York. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
366. ^ "Discs: Whitney Houston, 'Live: Her Greatest Performances'". Buffalo News. November 12, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
367. ^ a b Anderson, Trevor (December 1, 2017). "Whitney Houston's 'Bodyguard' Redux Debuts on Charts After American Music Awards Tribute". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
368. ^ White, Jack (June 27, 2019). "Whitney Houston's first posthumous release in seven years announced as Kygo collaboration Higher Love". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
369. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Kygo x Whitney Houston – Higher Love". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
370. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Kygo x Whitney Houston – Higher Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
371. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Kygo x Whitney Houston – Higher Love". VG-lista. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
372. ^ Aniftos, Rania (September 22, 2020). "Post Malone Leads 2020 Billboard Music Awards Nominations With 16: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
373. ^ Aniftos, Rania (January 8, 2020). "iHeartRadio Music Awards: Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Jonas Brothers Among Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
374. ^ "American single certifications – Kygo & Whitney Houston – Higher Love". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
375. ^ "ARIA Dance Singles Chart #16". auspOp. January 25, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
376. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Kygo". Music Canada. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
377. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD – Archiwum – Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
378. ^ "British single certifications". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
379. ^ "Danish single certifications". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
380. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards 2020". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
381. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2020". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
382. ^ "Spanish certifications – Kygo / Whitney Houston – Higher Love". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
383. ^ a b "MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE "WHITNEY HOUSTON: I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY", TO BE RELEASED BY RCA RECORDS ON DECEMBER 16". PRNewsWire. December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
384. ^ McIntyre, Hugh (April 7, 2023). "Whitney Houston Returns to Billboard's Gospel Chart After More Than a Quarter Century Away". Forbes. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
385. ^ Asker, Jim (April 5, 2023). "Whitney Houston's 'I Go to the Rock' Debuts on Top Gospel Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
386. ^ "Taylor Swift Tops 2023 Billboard Music Awards Finalists". The Hollywood Reporter. October 26, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
387. ^ Robinson, Peter (October 16, 2019). "Whitney Houston: the life, death and rebirth of a pop princess". The Times. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
388. ^ Pareles, Jon (September 19, 1994). "POP REVIEWS: Part Divas, Part Goddesses: 2 Women of Glamour and Music; Whitney Houston At Radio City". The New York Times. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
389. ^ a b "The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. January 1, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
390. ^ Perpetua, Matthew (February 13, 2012). "Photos: Ten Incredible Whitney Houston Performances". Rolling Stone. Jann S. Wenne. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
391. ^ Ahmed, Tufayel (August 5, 2016). "Whitney Houston's 'One Moment In Time': The Anatomy of an Olympic Anthem". Newsweek. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
392. ^ Gardner, Elysa (November 24, 1996). "Oh, Whitney – for Heaven's Sake". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
393. ^ a b "Interview: Michael Jackson Vibe Magazine 2002". Vibe. March 2002. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
394. ^ "Why Whitney Houston Deserves To Be Called 'The Voice'". Vibe. January 7, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
395. ^ Group, Vibe Media (November 1998). "Higher and Higher". Vibe. Vol. 6, no. 9\. p. 95\. ISSN 1070-4701. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
396. ^ a b Powers, Ann. "Album Review: Whitney Houston's 'I Look To You'". Los Angeles Times. August 25, 2009
397. ^ Everitt, Lauren (February 15, 2012). "Whitney Houston and the art of melisma". BBC. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
398. ^ "If Ella Fitzgerald is the queen of jazz, Billie Holiday first lady of the blues and Aretha Franklin the queen of soul, then who is the queen of pop? In the 1990s, it would seem to be a three-way tie between Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. Certainly all three have their devotees and detractors, but their presence has been inescapable." in Lister, Linda (2001). "Divafication: The Deification of Modern Female Pop Stars". Popular Music and Society. Vol. 25, no. 3/4. p. 1\. ISSN 0300-7766.
399. ^ Holden, Stephen (July 22, 1993). "Review/Pop; For Whitney Houston, Showy Doesn't Count: The Show Is the Voice". The New York Times. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
400. ^ Perry, Caroline (August 12, 2012). "Whitney's bitter pill". New York Post. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
401. ^ a b Connelly, Chris (February 17, 2012). "Whitney Houston Insider Reveals Singer's Anguished Fight to Win Back Her Voice". ABC News. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
402. ^ a b "Whitney Houston". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
403. ^ "500 Greatest Albums: Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston". Rolling Stone. May 31, 2009. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
404. ^ Farber, Jim (May 16, 2000). "Whitney Goes Half-Wild: Latest album set is 1 part bad ballads and 1 part boogie bliss". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
405. ^ Mezydlo, Jeff (June 22, 2021). "Dance with somebody: The ultimate Whitney Houston playlist". Yard Barker. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
406. ^ Clark, Randy (January 23, 1993). "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 5. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
407. ^ "Chartslot". Daily Record. July 16, 1999. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
408. ^ Agbai, Bailey (November 13, 2020). "The evolution of R&B: from the 90s to now". The Boar. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
409. ^ Abdullah, Galilee (July 14, 2017). "You're Guaranteed to Get "So Emotional" Watching Whitney Houston Sing With Luciano Pavarotti". wfmt. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
410. ^ Cocker, Dan. "BBC - Music - Review of Whitney Houston - My Love Is Your Love". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
411. ^ "The Top 10 Best Christmas Songs Recorded By Whitney Houston - A Definitive List Of Her Holiday Recordings". December 4, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
412. ^ "Whitney Houston's 25 Best Songs: Staff Picks". Billboard. June 11, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
413. ^ a b c Huey, Steve. "Whitney Houston Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
414. ^ Simon-Aaron, Charles (February 21, 2012). "Whitney: Cultural icon of our era". The Herald. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
415. ^ a b "The 35 Greatest R&B Artists Of All Time". Billboard. September 3, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
416. ^ a b "50 Most Influential RnB Stars". Essence. June 21, 2011. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
417. ^ "How Whitney Houston changed MTV - Macleans.ca". macleans.ca. February 12, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
418. ^ Maura Johnston; Jeff Gage (February 22, 2023). "Whitney Houston's 1985 MTV Debut Broke Barriers for Black Artists — Here's the Story of 'How Will I Know'". Woman's World. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
419. ^ "Remembering Whitney Houston 3 years after her untimely death". ABC7. February 12, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
420. ^ Rizzo, Frank (August 30, 1987). "Houston Tops New Wave of Women With Pop Punch Aplenty". Orlando Sentinel. p. 11.
421. ^ Hunt, Dennis (February 1, 1987). "Anita Baker: 'Most Powerful Black Woman Singer of 80s'". San Francisco Chronicle. p. 44.
422. ^ Welsh, Susan; Yamada, Haley (August 9, 2021). "Whitney Houston's close friends Chaka Khan, Brandy reflect on her life and legacy". ABC. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
423. ^ Hunt, Dennis (January 18, 1987). "Baker And The Rise Of Black Women In Pop". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
424. ^ Holden, Stephen. "The Pop Life; 1986, A Musically Conservative Year". The New York Times. December 31, 1986.
425. ^ Holden, Stephen. "Review/Pop; Diana Ross Flirts With a Willing Audience". The New York Times. June 16, 1989.
426. ^ Gill, Any (February 17, 2012). "Whitney Houston, the greatest voice of her generation". The Independent. Independent Print. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
427. ^ Macnie, Jim (2001). "Whitney Houston Biography". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
428. ^ "The 10 Best R&B Soloists of All Time, Ranked". Essence. October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
429. ^ "Whitney Houston: "She Was Relatable," Says Taylor Swift". E!News. February 20, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
430. ^ "Rihanna Expresses Interest in Portraying Whitney Houston". E! Online. April 3, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
431. ^ Trzcinski, Matthew (January 24, 2021). "Rihanna: This Whitney Houston Hit Made Her Want to Pursue Music". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
432. ^ "Beyonce Remembers Whitney Houston". Billboard. February 12, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
433. ^ "Beyonce: 'I Always Wanted To Be Just Like Whitney Houston'". Essence. October 28, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
434. ^ "INTERVIEW: Sam Smith On… the Beauty of One-Night Stands, Whitney Houston and the 'Lord of the Rings' Musical". self-titled. May 27, 2014.
435. ^ "Britney 'devastated' by Whitney death". Digital Spy. February 17, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
436. ^ Trzcinski, Matthew (November 26, 2022). "Why Lady Gaga Imagined Whitney Houston Singing 'Born This Way' While She Wrote It". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
437. ^ "Lady Gaga on Whitney Houston: 'She's the Greatest of All Time'". Rap-Up. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
438. ^ Lanford Beard (February 13, 2012). "Celine Dion: Whitney Houston was 'an amazing inspiration'". EW.com. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
439. ^ "Whitney Houston Honored 10 Years After Her Death with PEOPLE Special Edition". Peoplemag. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
440. ^ "interview | lucky daye". Schon. August 4, 2021.
441. ^ "Demi Lovato credits career, success to Black women". UPI. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
442. ^ Scaggs, Austin (March 15, 2012). "Q&A: Kelly Clarkson on Loving Whitney Houston, Adele and More". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
443. ^ "Kelly Clarkson is 'saving all her love' in latest Whitney Houston cover". TODAY.com. October 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
444. ^ Johnston, Lucy Hunter (February 1, 2013). "Hero worship: today's stars pay homage to their childhood idols". Evening Standard. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
445. ^ "Kelly Rowland: "Whitney Houston Inspired Me To Sing" - The Hot Hits". September 29, 2013. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
446. ^ "More than a woman: Toni Braxton". gulfnews.com. March 29, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
447. ^ "Ashanti Tributes Whitney Houston With 'I Have Nothing'". MTV. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
448. ^ Mitchell, Gail (August 22, 2014). "Deborah Cox on Re-Recording Whitney Houston's Vocals for Lifetime Biopic: 'I Had Some Big Shoes to Fill'". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
449. ^ "Whitney Houston 'So Special,' Robin Thicke Says". MTV. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
450. ^ "Ciara Pays Tribute To Whitney Houston Five Years After Her Death". Music. February 11, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
451. ^ "Brandy opens up about loving and losing Whitney Houston in new biography 'Didn't We Almost Have It All'". New York Daily News. February 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
452. ^ Alexander, Brenda (March 4, 2022). "Monica Reveals the Biggest Piece of Advice Whitney Houston Gave Her". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
453. ^ "Whitney Houston Tribute: Watch LeAnn Rimes' Emotional Performance of "I Will Always Love You" - E! Online". www.eonline.com. February 14, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
454. ^ "Whitney Houston Tribute: Melanie Fiona Sings 'One Moment in Time'". Billboard. February 13, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
455. ^ "Must-See: Jennifer Hudson Pays Tribute to Whitney Houston". Essence. October 28, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
456. ^ "Christina Aguilera Honors Whitney Houston With Emotional American Music Awards Performance". Entertainment Tonight. November 19, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
457. ^ "Jordin Sparks Says She Feels 'Empowered' by Husband Dana Isaiah and 'Inspired' by Whitney Houston". Peoplemag. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
458. ^ Daly, Rhian (November 8, 2020). "Alicia Keys inducts Whitney Houston into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: "Her music will live forever"". NME. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
459. ^ "Radio Swiss Classic". www.radioswissclassic.ch. Retrieved May 4, 2023.[permanent dead link]
460. ^ "Gimme Five: Ariana Grande's Most Inspirational Female Singers". Billboard. October 9, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
461. ^ Papa, Rocco (December 26, 2022). "What Happened Between Mariah Carey And Whitney Houston?". TheThings. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
462. ^ "From Beyonce to Gaga: 8 Singers Influenced by Whitney Houston". ABC News. February 15, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
463. ^ "Jennifer Lopez: 'Whitney's death so sad'". Digital Spy. February 14, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
464. ^ "Nicki Minaj Talks About Her 'Connection' to Whitney Houston, Dishes on Pink Friday 2 World Tour Details". Billboard. December 15, 2023.
465. ^ Talarico, Brittany (November 11, 2009). "Whitney Houston to Take the Stage at the AMAs". OK!. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
466. ^ Willman, Chris (December 10, 1993). "Pop Music Review: Houston Tops Off Record Night With Show's Highlight". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
467. ^ Dezzani, Mark (May 21, 1994). "World Music Awards Gaining Stature". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 21\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
468. ^ Susman, Gary (June 22, 2001). "Black Power, Plus Phantom Menace DVD will compete with pirated edit, another movie ad scandal and more". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 23, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
469. ^ "First recipient of the BET Lifetime Achievement Award". Guinness World Records. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
470. ^ "The Greatest " Ep. 071 "50 Greatest Women of the Video Era"". VH1. May 17, 2003. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
471. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists". Billboard. 2008. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
472. ^ Holden, Stephen (February 16, 1985). "Cabaret: Whitney Houston". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
473. ^ Juzwiak, Rich (August 25, 2010). "Who Will Come Out On Top Of VH1's 100 Greatest Artists Of All Time? | Vh1 Blog". VH1. Archived from the original on August 23, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
474. ^ "Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years". Billboard. November 18, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
475. ^ "Billboard 110 Years: A Billboard Anniversary Salute". Billboard. November 27, 2004. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
476. ^ "11 of Whitney Houston's Most Dazzling Beauty Looks". Vogue. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
477. ^ "Whitney Houston story, song by song". Marie Claire. May 25, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
478. ^ "The American Recording Industry Announces its Artists of the Century". Recording Industry Association of America. November 10, 1999. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
479. ^ Flatow, Joel (February 13, 2012). "Whitney Soars in Our Hearts". Record Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
480. ^ "Gold & Platinum". Record Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
481. ^ "Search – Whitney Houston". Record Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
482. ^ "Whitney Houston Attends Elementary School Naming Ceremony". MTV News. June 13, 1997. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
483. ^ "Ebony". Ebony. June 1990. pp. 138–. ISSN 0012-9011. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
484. ^ "2013 Inductees". New Jersey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 17, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
485. ^ Yarborough, Chuck (August 19, 2014). "R&B Music Hall of Fame sets big weekend to induct sophomore class featuring Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Marvin Gaye, Norm N. Nite and more". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
486. ^ "Class of 2020 Nominees". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
487. ^ Coscarelli, Joe (January 15, 2020). "Whitney Houston and Nine Inch Nails Make the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
488. ^ "National Recording Registry Class Produces Ultimate 'Stay at Home' Playlist". Library of Congress. March 25, 2020. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020.
489. ^ Curran, Sarah (October 27, 2020). "Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You' Hits 1 Billion Views On YouTube". ET Canada. Archived from the original on September 4, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
490. ^ Grein, Paul (May 4, 2023). "BRIT Billion Award, Marking 1 Billion Career UK Streams is Unveiled". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
491. ^ @popbase (July 11, 2023). "Whitney Houston's classic hit 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' has surpassed 1 BILLION streams on Spotify. It is the first song by an female artist who debuted in the 80s to achieve this" (Tweet). Retrieved July 12, 2023 - via Twitter.
492. ^ "The Story of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody", the Billboard Staff's No. 1 Pop Song". Billboard. October 19, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
493. ^ a b c Jay Lustig (December 18, 2023). "Whitney Houston exhibit unveiled at Garden State Parkway service area". NJArts.net. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
494. ^ "Greenlight Announces Representation of Whitney Houston". Associated Press News. February 5, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
495. ^ "A Look at Whitney's Great Charity Work, She was a True Humanitarian!". BCG. August 9, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
496. ^ "Whitney Houston Gives $500,000". The Mount Airy News. Heartland Publications, LLC. May 23, 1991. p. 9A. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
497. ^ "Houston Raises $500,000 for Red Cross; Named Its to Its Board of Governors". Jet. Vol. 80, no. 9\. June 17, 1991. p. 37. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
498. ^ Reid, Shaheem (September 17, 2001). "Whitney Houston's 'Star-Spangled Banner' To Wave Again". MTV. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
499. ^ Rose, Steve (July 7, 2018). "'Not black enough': the identity crisis that haunted Whitney Houston". The Guardian. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
500. ^ "From 'Kingston Town' to the Nelson Mandela Tribute in 1988: interview with UB40". The Shortlisted. April 14, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
501. ^ "Songs That Soundtracked the AIDS Epidemic: Whitney's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"". March 23, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
502. ^ The Incredible Night Whitney Befriended Me And I Saw She Was Doomed by Peter Tatchell, Mail on Sunday, February 19, 2012
503. ^ a b c "Whitney Houston's 1999 Epic NYC Pride Appearance Is Released". July 16, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
504. ^ "Whitney Houston Surprises Crowd at Lesbian-Gay Pride Event". MTV. June 28, 1999. Archived from the original on May 9, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
505. ^ Heching, Dan (August 25, 2017). "6 Things We Learned From the Heartbreaking Whitney Houston Movie". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
506. ^ Farber, Jim (April 26, 2017). "Nick Broomfield on his damning Whitney Houston film: 'She had very little control over her life'". The Guardian.
507. ^ "Whitney Houston's life to be documented on film". BBC News. April 28, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
508. ^ Kyriazis, Stefan (April 5, 2018). "Whitney Houston film trailer: Biopic reveals all in HEARTBREAKING new home videos". Daily Express. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
509. ^ Ho, Rodney (February 3, 2021). "Lifetime doc explores Whitney Houston, Bobbi Kristina Brown tragedies". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
510. ^ "Whitney's Anthem: New ESPN E60 Traces Backstory of Singer's Epic Super Bowl National Anthem Performance". ESPN. February 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
511. ^ "A Whitney Houston Biopic Is Officially In the Works". Vibe. April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
512. ^ Tonya Pendleton (April 23, 2020). "Whitney Houston biopic planned with 'Photograph' director possibly on board". The Grio. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
513. ^ Tom Beasley (April 23, 2020). "Whitney Houston is getting a family-approved movie biopic". Yahoo! News. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
514. ^ Mia Galuppo (December 15, 2020). "Whitney Houston Biopic Finds Its Star in Naomi Ackie". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
515. ^ Rebecca Rubin (December 15, 2020). "Whitney Houston Biopic Casts Naomi Ackie in Lead Role". Variety. Retrieved December 15, 2020.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Ammons, Kevin; Bacon, Nancy (1998). Good Girl, Bad Girl: An Insider's Biography of Whitney Houston. Secaucus, NJ: Carol Publ. Group. ISBN 978-0-8065-8012-8.
* Bowman, Jeffery (1995). Diva: The Totally Unauthorized Biography of Whitney Houston. New York: Harper. ISBN 978-0-06-100853-5.
* Halstead, Craig (2010). Whitney Houston: For the Record. Sandy, Bedfordshire, UK: Authors OnLine. ISBN 978-0-7552-1278-1. OCLC 751138536.
* Houston, Whitney (March 1999). My Love Is Your Love: Piano, Vocal, Chords. Los Angeles: Alfred Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0-7692-7734-9.
* Kennedy, Gerrick (2022). Didn't We Almost Have it All: In Defense of Whitney Houston. New York: Abrams. ISBN 9781419749698. OCLC 1289268049.
* Parish, James Robert (September 2003). Whitney Houston: The Unauthorized Biography. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 978-1-85410-921-7.
* Parish, James Robert (April 2010). Whitney Houston: Return of the Diva. Chicago: John Blake. ISBN 978-1-84454-919-1.

## External links

[edit]

Whitney Houston at Wikipedia's sister projects

* Media from Commons
* Quotations from Wikiquote
* Data from Wikidata

* Whitney Houston at AllMovie
* Whitney Houston at AllMusic
* Whitney Houston discography at Discogs
* Whitney Houston at IMDb
* Whitney Houston at the TCM Movie Database

* v
* t
* e

Whitney Houston

* Albums
* Singles
* Filmography
* Videography
* Songs
* Live performances
* Awards and nominations

Studio albums|

* Whitney Houston
* Whitney
* I'm Your Baby Tonight
* My Love Is Your Love
* Just Whitney...
* One Wish: The Holiday Album
* I Look to You

Soundtrack albums|

* The Bodyguard
* The Preacher's Wife
* I Wanna Dance with Somebody (The Movie: Whitney New, Classic and Reimagined)

Live albums|

* Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances

Compilation albums|

* Whitney: The Greatest Hits
* Love, Whitney
* The Ultimate Collection
* I Will Always Love You: The Best of Whitney Houston
* I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston

Other releases|

* Whitney: Dancin' Special
* I Wish You Love: More from The Bodyguard

Tours|

* US Summer Tour
* The Greatest Love World Tour
* Moment of Truth World Tour
* I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour
* The Bodyguard World Tour
* Pacific Rim Tour
* My Love Is Your Love World Tour
* Soul Divas Tour
* Nothing but Love World Tour
* An Evening with Whitney

Concerts and appearances|

* Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston
* The Concert for a New South Africa
* Whitney: Brunei The Royal Wedding Celebration
* Classic Whitney: Live from Washington, D.C.
* VH1 Divas Live '99

Achievements|

* Chart records and achievements

Related articles|

* "Dance with Somebody"
* The Bodyguard (musical)
* Being Bobby Brown
* The Houstons: On Our Own
* Bobby Brown (ex-husband)
* Bobbi Kristina Brown (daughter)
* Cissy Houston (mother)
* Whitney (2015 film)
* Whitney: Can I Be Me (2017 film)
* Whitney (2018 film)
* Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022 film)

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Whitney Houston singles

Whitney Houston|

* "Hold Me"
* "Thinking About You"
* "You Give Good Love"
* "All at Once"
* "Saving All My Love for You"
* "How Will I Know"
* "Greatest Love of All"

Whitney|

* "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
* "Didn't We Almost Have It All"
* "So Emotional"
* "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"
* "Love Will Save the Day"
* "I Know Him So Well"

I'm Your Baby Tonight|

* "I'm Your Baby Tonight"
* "All the Man That I Need"
* "Miracle"
* "My Name Is Not Susan"
* "I Belong to You"
* "We Didn't Know"

The Bodyguard|

* "I Will Always Love You"
* "I'm Every Woman"
* "I Have Nothing"
* "Run to You"
* "Queen of the Night"

Waiting to Exhale|

* "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"
* "Count On Me"
* "Why Does It Hurt So Bad"

The Preacher's Wife|

* "I Believe in You and Me"
* "Step by Step"
* "My Heart Is Calling"

My Love Is Your Love|

* "When You Believe"
* "Heartbreak Hotel"
* "It's Not Right but It's Okay"
* "My Love Is Your Love"
* "I Learned from the Best"

Whitney: The Greatest Hits|

* "Same Script, Different Cast"
* "Could I Have This Kiss Forever"
* "If I Told You That"
* "Fine"

Just Whitney...|

* "Whatchulookinat"
* "One of Those Days"
* "Try It on My Own"
* "Love That Man"

One Wish: The Holiday Album|

* "One Wish (for Christmas)"

I Look to You|

* "I Look to You"
* "Million Dollar Bill"

Sparkle|

* "Celebrate"
* "His Eye Is on the Sparrow"

I Will Always Love You|

* "I Look to You"

Featured / promotional singles|

* "Do You Hear What I Hear?"
* "One Moment in Time"
* "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be"
* "Takin' a Chance"
* "The Star Spangled Banner"
* "Something in Common"
* "I Didn't Know My Own Strength"
* "Memories"
* "Higher Love"

Awards for Whitney Houston

* v
* t
* e

American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist

* Natalie Cole (1992)
* Michael Bolton (1993)
* Kenny G (1994)
* Michael Bolton (1995)
* Eagles (1996)
* Whitney Houston (1997)
* Elton John (1998)
* Celine Dion (1999)
* Phil Collins (2000)
* Celine Dion (2001)
* Sade (2002)
* Celine Dion (2003)
* Celine Dion (2003)
* Sheryl Crow (2004)
* Kelly Clarkson (2005)
* Kelly Clarkson (2006)
* Daughtry (2007)
* Jordin Sparks (2008)
* Taylor Swift (2009)
* Michael Bublé (2010)
* Adele (2011)
* Adele (2012)
* Maroon 5 (2013)
* Katy Perry (2014)
* Taylor Swift (2015)
* Adele (2016)
* Shawn Mendes (2017)
* Shawn Mendes (2018)
* Taylor Swift (2019)
* Jonas Brothers (2020)

* v
* t
* e

American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist

* Helen Reddy (1974)
* Olivia Newton-John (1975)
* Olivia Newton-John (1976)
* Olivia Newton-John (1977)
* Linda Ronstadt (1978)
* Linda Ronstadt (1979)
* Donna Summer (1980)
* Barbra Streisand (1981)
* Pat Benatar (1982)
* Olivia Newton-John (1983)
* Pat Benatar (1984)
* Cyndi Lauper (1985)
* Tina Turner (1986)
* Whitney Houston (1987)
* Whitney Houston (1988)
* Whitney Houston (1989)
* Paula Abdul (1990)
* Janet Jackson (1991)
* Paula Abdul (1992)
* Mariah Carey (1993)
* Whitney Houston (1994)
* Mariah Carey (1995)
* Mariah Carey (1996)
* Alanis Morissette (1997)
* Celine Dion (1998)
* Celine Dion (1999)
* Shania Twain (2000)
* Faith Hill (2001)
* Janet Jackson (2002)
* Sheryl Crow (2003)
* Jennifer Lopez (2003)
* Sheryl Crow (2004)
* Gwen Stefani (2005)
* Kelly Clarkson (2006)
* Fergie (2007)
* Rihanna (2008)
* Taylor Swift (2009)
* Lady Gaga (2010)
* Adele (2011)
* Katy Perry (2012)
* Taylor Swift (2013)
* Katy Perry (2014)
* Ariana Grande (2015)
* Selena Gomez (2016)
* Lady Gaga (2017)
* Taylor Swift (2018)
* Taylor Swift (2019)
* Taylor Swift (2020)
* Taylor Swift (2021)
* Taylor Swift (2022)

* v
* t
* e

American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist

* Roberta Flack (1974)
* Diana Ross (1975)
* Aretha Franklin (1976)
* Aretha Franklin (1977)
* Natalie Cole (1978)
* Natalie Cole (1979)
* Donna Summer (1980)
* Diana Ross (1981)
* Stephanie Mills (1982)
* Diana Ross (1983)
* Aretha Franklin (1984)
* Tina Turner (1985)
* Aretha Franklin (1986)
* Whitney Houston (1987)
* Anita Baker (1988)
* Whitney Houston (1989)
* Anita Baker (1990)
* Janet Jackson (1991)
* Mariah Carey (1992)
* Patti LaBelle (1993)
* Whitney Houston (1994)
* Anita Baker (1995)
* Mariah Carey (1996)
* Toni Braxton (1997)
* Mariah Carey (1998)
* Janet Jackson (1999)
* Lauryn Hill (2000)
* Toni Braxton (2001)
* Aaliyah (2002)
* Mary J. Blige (2003)
* Aaliyah (2003)
* Alicia Keys (2004)
* Mariah Carey (2005)
* Mary J. Blige (2006)
* Rihanna (2007)
* Rihanna (2008)
* Beyoncé (2009)
* Rihanna (2010)
* Beyoncé (2011)
* Beyoncé (2012)
* Rihanna (2013)
* Beyoncé (2014)
* Rihanna (2015)
* Rihanna (2016)
* Beyoncé (2017)
* Rihanna (2018)
* Beyoncé (2019)
* Doja Cat (2020)
* Doja Cat (2021)
* Beyoncé (2022)

* v
* t
* e

American Music Award of Merit

* Bing Crosby (1974)
* Berry Gordy (1975)
* Irving Berlin (1976)
* Johnny Cash (1977)
* Ella Fitzgerald (1978)
* Perry Como (1979)
* Benny Goodman (1980)
* Chuck Berry (1981)
* Stevie Wonder (1982)
* Kenny Rogers (1983)
* Michael Jackson (1984)
* Loretta Lynn (1985)
* Paul McCartney (1986)
* Elvis Presley (1987)
* The Beach Boys (1988)
* Willie Nelson (1989)
* Neil Diamond (1990)
* Merle Haggard (1991)
* James Brown (1992)
* Bill Graham (1993)
* Whitney Houston (1994)
* Prince (1995)
* Tammy Wynette (1996)
* Little Richard (1997)
* Frank Sinatra (1998)
* Billy Joel (1999)
* Gloria Estefan (2000)
* Janet Jackson (2001)
* Garth Brooks (2002)
* Alabama (2003)
* Bon Jovi (2004)
* Annie Lennox (2008)
* Sting (2016)

* v
* t
* e

Best-selling singles by year in the United Kingdom

1950s|

* 1952: "Here in My Heart" – Al Martino
* 1953: "I Believe" – Frankie Laine
* 1954: "Secret Love" – Doris Day
* 1955: "Rose Marie" – Slim Whitman
* 1956: "I'll Be Home" – Pat Boone
* 1957: "Diana" – Paul Anka
* 1958: "Jailhouse Rock" – Elvis Presley
* 1959: "Living Doll" – Cliff Richard (UK)

1960s|

* 1960: "It's Now or Never" – Elvis Presley
* 1961: "Wooden Heart" – Elvis Presley
* 1962: "I Remember You" – Frank Ifield (UK)
* 1963: "She Loves You" – The Beatles (UK)
* 1964: "Can't Buy Me Love" – The Beatles (UK)
* 1965: "Tears" – Ken Dodd (UK)
* 1966: "Green, Green Grass of Home" – Tom Jones (UK)
* 1967: "Release Me" – Engelbert Humperdinck (UK)
* 1968: "Hey Jude" – The Beatles (UK)
* 1969: "Sugar, Sugar" – The Archies

1970s|

* 1970: "The Wonder of You" – Elvis Presley / "In the Summertime" – Mungo Jerry (UK)
* 1971: "My Sweet Lord" – George Harrison (UK)
* 1972: "Amazing Grace" – Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (UK)
* 1973: "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" – Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
* 1974: "Tiger Feet" – Mud (UK)
* 1975: "Bye Bye Baby" – Bay City Rollers (UK)
* 1976: "Save Your Kisses for Me" – Brotherhood of Man (UK)
* 1977: "Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School" – Wings (UK)
* 1978: "Rivers of Babylon" / "Brown Girl in the Ring" – Boney M.
* 1979: "Bright Eyes" – Art Garfunkel

1980s|

* 1980: "Don't Stand So Close to Me" – The Police (UK)
* 1981: "Tainted Love" – Soft Cell (UK) / "Don't You Want Me" – The Human League (UK)
* 1982: "Come On Eileen" – Dexys Midnight Runners (UK)
* 1983: "Karma Chameleon" – Culture Club (UK)
* 1984: "Do They Know It's Christmas?" – Band Aid (UK)
* 1985: "The Power of Love" – Jennifer Rush
* 1986: "Don't Leave Me This Way" – The Communards (UK)
* 1987: "Never Gonna Give You Up" – Rick Astley (UK)
* 1988: "Mistletoe and Wine" – Cliff Richard (UK)
* 1989: "Ride on Time" – Black Box

1990s|

* 1990: "Unchained Melody" – The Righteous Brothers
* 1991: "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" – Bryan Adams
* 1992: "I Will Always Love You" – Whitney Houston
* 1993: "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" – Meat Loaf
* 1994: "Love Is All Around" – Wet Wet Wet (UK)
* 1995: "Unchained Melody" – Robson & Jerome (UK)
* 1996: "Killing Me Softly" – Fugees
* 1997: "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" / "Candle in the Wind 1997" – Elton John (UK)
* 1998: "Believe" – Cher
* 1999: "...Baby One More Time" – Britney Spears

2000s|

* 2000: "Can We Fix It?" – Bob the Builder (UK)
* 2001: "It Wasn't Me" – Shaggy featuring Rikrok (UK)
* 2002: "Anything Is Possible" / "Evergreen" – Will Young (UK)
* 2003: "Where Is the Love?" – Black Eyed Peas
* 2004: "Do They Know It's Christmas?" – Band Aid 20 (UK)
* 2005: "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" – Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay (UK)
* 2006: "Crazy" – Gnarls Barkley
* 2007: "Bleeding Love" – Leona Lewis (UK)
* 2008: "Hallelujah" – Alexandra Burke (UK)
* 2009: "Poker Face" – Lady Gaga

2010s|

* 2010: "Love the Way You Lie" – Eminem featuring Rihanna
* 2011: "Someone like You" – Adele (UK)
* 2012: "Somebody That I Used to Know" – Gotye featuring Kimbra
* 2013: "Blurred Lines" – Robin Thicke featuring T.I. & Pharrell Williams
* 2014: "Happy" – Pharrell Williams
* 2015: "Uptown Funk" – Mark Ronson (UK) featuring Bruno Mars
* 2016: "One Dance" – Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla (UK)
* 2017: "Shape of You" – Ed Sheeran (UK)
* 2018: "One Kiss" – Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa (UK)
* 2019: "Someone You Loved" – Lewis Capaldi (UK)

2020s|

* 2020: "Blinding Lights" – The Weeknd
* 2021: "Bad Habits" – Ed Sheeran (UK)
* 2022: "As It Was" – Harry Styles (UK)
* 2023: "Flowers" – Miley Cyrus

* v
* t
* e

Billboard Millennium Award

* Beyoncé (2011)
* Whitney Houston (2012)
* Britney Spears (2016)

* v
* t
* e

Billboard Year-End number one albums

1956–1975|

* 1956: Calypso – Harry Belafonte
* 1957: Music from My Fair Lady – Original Cast
* 1958: Music from My Fair Lady – Original Cast
* 1959: The Music from Peter Gunn – Henry Mancini
* 1960: Music from The Sound of Music – Original Cast
* 1961: Camelot – Original Cast
* 1962: West Side Story – Soundtrack
* 1963: West Side Story – Soundtrack
* 1964: Music from Hello, Dolly! – Original Cast
* 1965: Mary Poppins: Original Cast Soundtrack – Soundtrack
* 1966: Whipped Cream & Other Delights – Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
* 1967: More of the Monkees – The Monkees
* 1968: Are You Experienced – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
* 1969: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida – Iron Butterfly
* 1970: Bridge over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel
* 1971: Jesus Christ Superstar – Soundtrack
* 1972: Harvest – Neil Young
* 1973: The World Is a Ghetto – War
* 1974: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John
* 1975: Greatest Hits – Elton John

1976–2000|

* 1976: Frampton Comes Alive! – Peter Frampton
* 1977: Rumours – Fleetwood Mac
* 1978: Saturday Night Fever – Soundtrack
* 1979: 52nd Street – Billy Joel
* 1980: The Wall – Pink Floyd
* 1981: Hi Infidelity – REO Speedwagon
* 1982: Asia – Asia
* 1983: Thriller – Michael Jackson
* 1984: Thriller – Michael Jackson
* 1985: Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen
* 1986: Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston
* 1987: Slippery When Wet – Bon Jovi
* 1988: Faith – George Michael
* 1989: Don't Be Cruel – Bobby Brown
* 1990: Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 – Janet Jackson
* 1991: Mariah Carey – Mariah Carey
* 1992: Ropin' the Wind – Garth Brooks
* 1993: The Bodyguard – Soundtrack
* 1994: The Sign – Ace of Base
* 1995: Cracked Rear View – Hootie & the Blowfish
* 1996: Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette
* 1997: Spice – Spice Girls
* 1998: Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture – James Horner
* 1999: Millennium – Backstreet Boys
* 2000: No Strings Attached – NSYNC

2001–present|

* 2001: 1 – The Beatles
* 2002: The Eminem Show – Eminem
* 2003: Get Rich or Die Tryin' – 50 Cent
* 2004: Confessions – Usher
* 2005: The Massacre – 50 Cent
* 2006: Some Hearts – Carrie Underwood
* 2007: Daughtry – Daughtry
* 2008: As I Am – Alicia Keys
* 2009: Fearless – Taylor Swift
* 2010: I Dreamed a Dream – Susan Boyle
* 2011: 21 – Adele
* 2012: 21 – Adele
* 2013: The 20/20 Experience – Justin Timberlake
* 2014: Frozen – Soundtrack
* 2015: 1989 – Taylor Swift
* 2016: 25 – Adele
* 2017: Damn – Kendrick Lamar
* 2018: Reputation – Taylor Swift
* 2019: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? – Billie Eilish
* 2020: Hollywood's Bleeding – Post Malone
* 2021: Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen
* 2022: Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny
* 2023: One Thing at a Time – Morgan Wallen

* v
* t
* e

Billboard Year-End Top Artist

1981–1999|

* 1981: REO Speedwagon
* 1982: The Go-Go's
* 1983: Michael Jackson
* 1984: Lionel Richie
* 1985: Madonna
* 1986: Whitney Houston
* 1987: Bon Jovi
* 1988: George Michael
* 1989: New Kids on the Block
* 1990: New Kids on the Block
* 1991: Mariah Carey
* 1992: Garth Brooks
* 1993: Garth Brooks
* 1994: Ace of Base
* 1995: TLC
* 1996: Alanis Morissette
* 1997: LeAnn Rimes
* 1998: Usher
* 1999: Backstreet Boys

2000–2019|

* 2000: Destiny's Child
* 2001: Destiny's Child
* 2002: Nelly
* 2003: 50 Cent
* 2004: Usher
* 2005: 50 Cent
* 2006: Chris Brown
* 2007: Akon
* 2008: Chris Brown
* 2009: Taylor Swift
* 2010: Lady Gaga
* 2011: Adele
* 2012: Adele
* 2013: Bruno Mars
* 2014: One Direction
* 2015: Taylor Swift
* 2016: Adele
* 2017: Ed Sheeran
* 2018: Drake
* 2019: Post Malone

2020-present|

* 2020: Post Malone
* 2021: Drake
* 2022: Bad Bunny
* 2023: Taylor Swift

* v
* t
* e

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program

1959–1975|

* Perry Como / Dinah Shore (1959)
* Harry Belafonte (1960)
* Fred Astaire (1961)
* Carol Burnett (1962)
* Carol Burnett (1963)
* Danny Kaye (1964)
* No Award (1965)
* No Award (1966)
* Art Carney (1967)
* Art Carney / Pat Paulsen (1968)
* Arte Johnson / Harvey Korman (1969)
* No Award (1970)
* Harvey Korman (1971)
* Harvey Korman (1972)
* Tim Conway (1973)
* Harvey Korman / Brenda Vaccaro (1974)
* Jack Albertson / Cloris Leachman (1975)

1976–1990|

* Chevy Chase / Vicki Lawrence (1976)
* Tim Conway / Rita Moreno (1977)
* Tim Conway / Gilda Radner (1978)
* No Award (1979)
* No Award (1980)
* Sarah Vaughan (1981)
* Nell Carter / André De Shields (1982)
* Leontyne Price (1983)
* Cloris Leachman (1984)
* George Hearn (1985)
* Whitney Houston (1986)
* Robin Williams (1987)
* Robin Williams (1988)
* Linda Ronstadt (1989)
* Tracey Ullman (1990)

1991–2008|

* Billy Crystal (1991)
* Bette Midler (1992)
* Dana Carvey (1993)
* Tracey Ullman (1994)
* Barbra Streisand (1995)
* Tony Bennett (1996)
* Bette Midler (1997)
* Billy Crystal (1998)
* John Leguizamo (1999)
* Eddie Izzard (2000)
* Barbra Streisand (2001)
* Sting (2002)
* Wayne Brady (2003)
* Elaine Stritch (2004)
* Hugh Jackman (2005)
* Barry Manilow (2006)
* Tony Bennett (2007)
* Don Rickles (2008)

* v
* t
* e

Grammy Award for Album of the Year

1950s|

* The Music from Peter Gunn – Henry Mancini (1958)
* Come Dance with Me! – Frank Sinatra (1959)

1960s|

* The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart – Bob Newhart (1960)
* Judy at Carnegie Hall – Judy Garland (1961)
* The First Family – Vaughn Meader (1962)
* The Barbra Streisand Album – Barbra Streisand (1963)
* Getz/Gilberto – Stan Getz & João Gilberto (1964)
* September of My Years – Frank Sinatra (1965)
* A Man and His Music – Frank Sinatra (1966)
* Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles (1967)
* By the Time I Get to Phoenix – Glen Campbell (1968)
* Blood, Sweat & Tears – Blood, Sweat & Tears (1969)

1970s|

* Bridge over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel (1970)
* Tapestry – Carole King (1971)
* The Concert for Bangladesh – George Harrison & Friends (1972)
* Innervisions – Stevie Wonder (1973)
* Fulfillingness' First Finale – Stevie Wonder (1974)
* Still Crazy After All These Years – Paul Simon (1975)
* Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder (1976)
* Rumours – Fleetwood Mac (1977)
* Saturday Night Fever – Various Artists (1978)
* 52nd Street – Billy Joel (1979)

1980s|

* Christopher Cross – Christopher Cross (1980)
* Double Fantasy – John Lennon & Yoko Ono (1981)
* Toto IV – Toto (1982)
* Thriller – Michael Jackson (1983)
* Can't Slow Down – Lionel Richie (1984)
* No Jacket Required – Phil Collins (1985)
* Graceland – Paul Simon (1986)
* The Joshua Tree – U2 (1987)
* Faith – George Michael (1988)
* Nick of Time – Bonnie Raitt (1989)

1990s|

* Back on the Block – Quincy Jones and Various Artists (1990)
* Unforgettable... with Love – Natalie Cole (1991)
* Unplugged – Eric Clapton (1992)
* The Bodyguard – Whitney Houston (1993)
* MTV Unplugged – Tony Bennett (1994)
* Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette (1995)
* Falling into You – Celine Dion (1996)
* Time Out of Mind – Bob Dylan (1997)
* The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – Lauryn Hill (1998)
* Supernatural – Santana (1999)

2000s|

* Two Against Nature – Steely Dan (2000)
* O Brother, Where Art Thou? – Various Artists (2001)
* Come Away with Me – Norah Jones (2002)
* Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – Outkast (2003)
* Genius Loves Company – Ray Charles & Various Artists (2004)
* How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb – U2 (2005)
* Taking the Long Way – Dixie Chicks (2006)
* River: The Joni Letters – Herbie Hancock (2007)
* Raising Sand – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (2008)
* Fearless – Taylor Swift (2009)

2010s|

* The Suburbs – Arcade Fire (2010)
* 21 – Adele (2011)
* Babel – Mumford & Sons (2012)
* Random Access Memories – Daft Punk (2013)
* Morning Phase – Beck (2014)
* 1989 – Taylor Swift (2015)
* 25 – Adele (2016)
* 24K Magic – Bruno Mars (2017)
* Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves (2018)
* When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? – Billie Eilish (2019)

2020s|

* Folklore – Taylor Swift (2020)
* We Are – Jon Batiste (2021)
* Harry's House – Harry Styles (2022)
* Midnights – Taylor Swift (2023)

* v
* t
* e

Grammy Award for Record of the Year

1950s|

* "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)" – Domenico Modugno (1958)
* "Mack the Knife" – Bobby Darin (1959)

1960s|

* "Theme from A Summer Place" – Percy Faith (1960)
* "Moon River" – Henry Mancini (1961)
* "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" – Tony Bennett (1962)
* "Days of Wine and Roses" – Henry Mancini (1963)
* "The Girl from Ipanema" – Astrud Gilberto & Stan Getz (1964)
* "A Taste of Honey" – Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass (1965)
* "Strangers in the Night" – Frank Sinatra (1966)
* "Up, Up and Away" – The 5th Dimension (1967)
* "Mrs. Robinson" – Simon & Garfunkel (1968)
* "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" – The 5th Dimension (1969)

1970s|

* "Bridge over Troubled Water" – Simon & Garfunkel (1970)
* "It's Too Late" – Carole King (1971)
* "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" – Roberta Flack (1972)
* "Killing Me Softly with His Song" – Roberta Flack (1973)
* "I Honestly Love You" – Olivia Newton-John (1974)
* "Love Will Keep Us Together" – Captain & Tennille (1975)
* "This Masquerade" – George Benson (1976)
* "Hotel California" – Eagles (1977)
* "Just the Way You Are" – Billy Joel (1978)
* "What a Fool Believes" – The Doobie Brothers (1979)

1980s|

* "Sailing" – Christopher Cross (1980)
* "Bette Davis Eyes" – Kim Carnes (1981)
* "Rosanna" – Toto (1982)
* "Beat It" – Michael Jackson (1983)
* "What's Love Got to Do with It" – Tina Turner (1984)
* "We Are the World" – USA for Africa (1985)
* "Higher Love" – Steve Winwood (1986)
* "Graceland" – Paul Simon (1987)
* "Don't Worry, Be Happy" – Bobby McFerrin (1988)
* "Wind Beneath My Wings" – Bette Midler (1989)

1990s|

* "Another Day in Paradise" – Phil Collins (1990)
* "Unforgettable" – Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole (1991)
* "Tears in Heaven" – Eric Clapton (1992)
* "I Will Always Love You" – Whitney Houston (1993)
* "All I Wanna Do" – Sheryl Crow (1994)
* "Kiss from a Rose" – Seal (1995)
* "Change the World" – Eric Clapton (1996)
* "Sunny Came Home" – Shawn Colvin (1997)
* "My Heart Will Go On" – Celine Dion (1998)
* "Smooth" – Santana featuring Rob Thomas (1999)

2000s|

* "Beautiful Day" – U2 (2000)
* "Walk On" – U2 (2001)
* "Don't Know Why" – Norah Jones (2002)
* "Clocks" – Coldplay (2003)
* "Here We Go Again" – Ray Charles & Norah Jones (2004)
* "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" – Green Day (2005)
* "Not Ready to Make Nice" – Dixie Chicks (2006)
* "Rehab" – Amy Winehouse (2007)
* "Please Read the Letter" – Alison Krauss & Robert Plant (2008)
* "Use Somebody" – Kings of Leon (2009)

2010s|

* "Need You Now" – Lady Antebellum (2010)
* "Rolling in the Deep" – Adele (2011)
* "Somebody That I Used to Know" – Gotye featuring Kimbra (2012)
* "Get Lucky" – Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers (2013)
* "Stay with Me" (Darkchild version) – Sam Smith (2014)
* "Uptown Funk" – Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars (2015)
* "Hello" – Adele (2016)
* "24K Magic" – Bruno Mars (2017)
* "This Is America" – Childish Gambino (2018)
* "Bad Guy" – Billie Eilish (2019)

2020s|

* "Everything I Wanted" – Billie Eilish (2020)
* "Leave the Door Open" – Silk Sonic (2021)
* "About Damn Time" by Lizzo (2022)
* "Flowers" – Miley Cyrus (2023)

* v
* t
* e

MTV Europe Music Award for Best R&B

* Blackstreet (1997)
* Whitney Houston (1999)
* Jennifer Lopez (2000)
* Craig David (2001)
* Alicia Keys (2002, 2004–2005)
* Beyoncé (2003)
* Rihanna (2006)
* Chlöe (2022)

* v
* t
* e

MTV Europe Music Award for Global Icon

* Bon Jovi (2010)
* Queen (2011)
* Whitney Houston (2012)
* Eminem (2013)
* Ozzy Osbourne (2014)
* Duran Duran (2015)
* Green Day (2016)
* U2 (2017)
* Janet Jackson (2018)
* Liam Gallagher (2019)

* v
* t
* e

MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Musical Moment

Best Song from a Movie
(1992–1999, 2009, 2012)|

* Bryan Adams (1992)
* Whitney Houston (1993)
* Michael Jackson (1994)
* Stone Temple Pilots (1995)
* Brandy (1996)
* Bush (1997)
* Will Smith (1998)
* Aerosmith (1999)
* Miley Cyrus (2009)
* LMFAO (2012)

Best Musical Sequence
(2000–2002, 2005, 2014)|

* Terrence and Philip (2000)
* Piper Perabo (2001)
* Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor (2002)
* Jon Heder (2005)
* Backstreet Boys, Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen and Craig Robinson (2014)

Best Musical Moment
(2013, 2017–present)|

* Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, Alexis Knapp, Ester Dean, and Hana Mae Lee (2013)
* Ensemble of Grease Live! (2017)
* Finn Wolfhard and Millie Bobby Brown (2018)
* Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper (2019)
* No Award (2020)
* Madison Reyes, Charlie Gillespie, Owen Joyner and Jeremy Shada (2021)
* Beabadoobee (2022)
* Sofia Carson (2023)

* v
* t
* e

MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video

1980s|

* "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" – Cyndi Lauper (1984)
* "What's Love Got to Do with It" – Tina Turner (1985)
* "How Will I Know" – Whitney Houston (1986)
* "Papa Don't Preach" – Madonna (1987)
* "Luka" – Suzanne Vega (1988)
* "Straight Up" – Paula Abdul (1989)

1990s|

* "Nothing Compares 2 U" – Sinéad O'Connor (1990)
* "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" – Janet Jackson (1991)
* "Why" – Annie Lennox (1992)
* "Constant Craving" – k.d. lang (1993)
* "If" – Janet Jackson (1994)
* "Take a Bow" – Madonna (1995)
* "Ironic" – Alanis Morissette (1996)
* "You Were Meant for Me" – Jewel (1997)
* "Ray of Light" – Madonna (1998)
* "Doo Wop (That Thing)" – Lauryn Hill (1999)

2000s|

* "Try Again" – Aaliyah (2000)
* "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" – Eve featuring Gwen Stefani (2001)
* "Get the Party Started" – Pink (2002)
* "Crazy in Love" – Beyoncé (2003)
* "Naughty Girl" – Beyoncé (2004)
* "Since U Been Gone" – Kelly Clarkson (2005)
* "Because of You" – Kelly Clarkson (2006)
* "Piece of Me" – Britney Spears (2008)
* "You Belong with Me" – Taylor Swift (2009)

2010s|

* "Bad Romance" – Lady Gaga (2010)
* "Born This Way" – Lady Gaga (2011)
* "Starships" – Nicki Minaj (2012)
* "I Knew You Were Trouble" – Taylor Swift (2013)
* "Dark Horse" – Katy Perry (2014)
* "Blank Space" – Taylor Swift (2015)
* "Hold Up" – Beyoncé (2016)

* v
* t
* e

NAACP Image Award for Entertainer of the Year

* Dionne Warwick (1985)
* Patti LaBelle (1986)
* Dionne Warwick (1987)
* Lionel Richie (1988)
* Eddie Murphy (1989)
* Oprah Winfrey (1990)
* Patti LaBelle (1991)
* Michael Jackson (1992)
* Whitney Houston (1993)
* Quincy Jones (1995)
* Denzel Washington (1996)
* Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds (1997)
* Will Smith (1998)
* Halle Berry (1999)
* Steve Harvey (2000)
* Beyoncé (2003)
* Jamie Foxx (2012)
* Kevin Hart (2013)
* Taraji P. Henson (2014)
* Michael B. Jordan (2015)
* Dwayne Johnson (2016)
* Ava DuVernay (2017)
* Beyoncé (2018)
* Lizzo (2019)
* D-Nice (2020)
* Jennifer Hudson (2021)
* Angela Bassett (2022)
* Usher (2023)

* v
* t
* e

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

* Estelle Evans (1969)
* Barbara McNair (1970)
* Jane Fonda (1971)
* Diana Ross (1972)
* No Award (1973)
* Ester Anderson (1974)
* Diahann Carroll (1975)
* Denise Nicholas (1976)
* Cicely Tyson (1977)
* Cicely Tyson (1978)
* Mavis Washington (1979)
* Irene Cara (1980)
* No Award (1981)
* Jayne Kennedy (1982)
* Jennifer Beals (1983)
* Alfre Woodard (1984)
* Tina Turner (1985)
* Whoopi Goldberg (1986)
* Traci Wolfe (1987)
* Whoopi Goldberg (1988)
* Ruby Dee (1989)
* No Award (1990)
* Whoopi Goldberg (1991)
* Whoopi Goldberg (1992)
* Angela Bassett (1993)
* No Award (1994)
* Angela Bassett (1995)
* Whitney Houston (1996)
* Vanessa Williams (1997)
* Angela Bassett (1998)
* Nia Long (1999)
* Sanaa Lathan (2000)
* Halle Berry (2001)
* Angela Bassett (2002)
* Queen Latifah (2003)
* Kerry Washington (2004)
* Kimberly Elise (2005)
* Keke Palmer (2006)
* Jurnee Smollett (2007)
* Rosario Dawson (2008)
* Gabourey Sidibe (2009)
* Halle Berry (2010)
* Viola Davis (2011)
* Viola Davis (2012)
* Angela Bassett (2013)
* Taraji P. Henson (2014)
* Sanaa Lathan (2015)
* Taraji P. Henson (2016)
* Octavia Spencer (2017)
* Amandla Stenberg (2018)
* Lupita Nyong'o (2019)
* Viola Davis (2020)
* Jennifer Hudson (2021)
* Viola Davis (2022)
* Fantasia Barrino (2023)

* v
* t
* e

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration

Duo or Group
(1979–2007)|

* The Jacksons (1979)
* The Commodores (1980)
* Kool & the Gang (1981)
* Gladys Knight & the Pips (1982)
* No Award (1983–1985)
* Atlantic Starr (1986)
* Gladys Knight & the Pips (1987)
* LeVert (1988)
* After 7 (1989)
* No Award (1990)
* The O'Jays (1991)
* Boyz II Men (1992)
* En Vogue (1993)
* No Award (1994)
* Boyz II Men (1995)
* Kirk Franklin (1996)
* Boyz II Men (1997)
* Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey (1998)
* Destiny's Child (1999)
* Destiny's Child (2000)
* Destiny's Child (2001)
* India Arie and Stevie Wonder (2002)
* Outkast (2003)
* Destiny's Child (2004)
* Destiny's Child (2005)
* The Cheetah Girls (2006)
* Eddie Levert and Gerald Levert (2007)

Duo, Group or
Collaboration
(2008–2019)|

* Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia (2008)
* Black Eyed Peas (2009)
* John Legend and The Roots (2010)
* Mary J. Blige and Drake (2011)
* Mary Mary (2012)
* Robin Thicke, T.I., and Pharrell (2013)
* Sam Smith and Mary J. Blige (2014)
* Empire Cast featuring Estelle and Jussie Smollett (2015)
* Beyoncé featuring Kendrick Lamar (2016)
* Kendrick Lamar featuring Rihanna (2017)
* Kendrick Lamar and SZA (2018)
* Blue Ivy, Saint Jhn, Beyoncé, and Wizkid (2019)

Contemporary
(2020–present)|

* Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé (2020)
* Tobe Nwigwe featuring Fat Nwigwe (2021)
* Chris Brown featuring Wizkid (2022)
* Chris Brown featuring Davido and Lojay (2023)

Traditional
(2020–present)|

* Chloe x Halle (2020)
* Silk Sonic (2021)
* Silk Sonic (2022)
* Ciara and Chris Brown (2023)

* v
* t
* e

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist

1970s|

* Dionne Warwick (1979)

1980s|

* Aretha Franklin (1982)
* Anita Baker (1985)
* Aretha Franklin (1986)
* Natalie Cole (1987)
* Stephanie Mills (1988)
* Anita Baker (1989)

1990s|

* Natalie Cole (1991)
* Vanessa Williams (1992)
* Whitney Houston (1993)
* Whitney Houston (1995)
* Toni Braxton (1996)
* Erykah Badu (1997)
* Lauryn Hill (1998)
* Whitney Houston (1999)

2000s|

* Yolanda Adams (2000)
* Aaliyah (2001)
* India Arie (2002)
* Alicia Keys (2003)
* Fantasia (2004)
* Alicia Keys (2005)
* Mary J. Blige (2006)
* Alicia Keys (2007)
* Beyoncé (2008)
* Mary J. Blige (2009)

2010s|

* Mary J. Blige (2010)
* Jill Scott (2011)
* Alicia Keys (2012)
* Beyoncé (2013)
* Beyoncé (2014)
* Jill Scott (2015)
* Beyoncé (2016)
* Mary J. Blige (2017)
* H.E.R. (2018)
* Beyoncé (2019)

2020s|

* Beyoncé (2020)
* Jazmine Sullivan (2021)
* Beyoncé (2022)
* H.E.R. (2023)

* v
* t
* e

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Artist

* Andraé Crouch (1980)
* Shirley Caesar (1987)
* BeBe and CeCe Winans (1989)
* BeBe and CeCe Winans (1990)
* BeBe and CeCe Winans (1992)
* BeBe and CeCe Winans (1993)
* The Winans (1994)
* Kirk Franklin and the Family (1996)
* Whitney Houston and the Georgia Mass Choir (1997)
* God's Property (1998)
* Kirk Franklin (1999)
* Vickie Winans / Yolanda Adams (2000)
* Aaron Neville  / Yolanda Adams (2001)
* Shirley Caesar / Yolanda Adams (2002)
* Kirk Franklin (2003)
* Donnie McClurkin (2004)
* Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama (2005)
* Yolanda Adams (2006)
* Kirk Franklin (2007)
* Kirk Franklin (2008)
* Mary Mary (2009)

* v
* t
* e

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist

1980s|

* Whitney Houston (1984)
* Vanessa Williams (1988)
* After 7 (1989)

1990s|

* Boyz II Men (1991)
* Arrested Development (1992)
* Shai (1993)
* Brandy (1995)
* Kenny Lattimore (1996)
* Erykah Badu (1997)
* Lauryn Hill (1998)
* Eve (1999)

2000s|

* Carl Thomas (2000)
* Alicia Keys (2001)
* Ashanti (2002)
* Ruben Studdard (2003)
* Kanye West (2004)
* Chris Brown (2005)
* Corinne Bailey Rae (2006)
* Jordin Sparks (2007)
* Jennifer Hudson (2008)
* Keri Hilson (2009)

2010s|

* Willow Smith (2010)
* Diggy Simmons (2011)
* Elle Varner (2012)
* K. Michelle (2013)
* 3 Winans Brothers (2014)
* Jussie Smollett (2015)
* Chance the Rapper (2016)
* SZA (2017)
* Ella Mai (2018)
* Lil Nas X (2019)

2020s|

* Doja Cat (2020)
* Saweetie (2021)
* Coco Jones (2022)
* Victoria Monét (2023)

* v
* t
* e

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video

1990s|

* "Unforgettable" – Natalie Cole (1991)
* "Black or White" – Michael Jackson (1992)
* "I'm Every Woman" – Whitney Houston (1993)
* No Award (1994)
* "Waterfalls" – TLC (1995)
* "I Believe I Can Fly" – R. Kelly (1996)
* "Stomp" – God's Property (1997)
* "Just the Two of Us" – Will Smith (1998)
* "Wild Wild West" – Will Smith (1999)

2000s|

* "I Wish" – R. Kelly (2000)
* "You Rock My World" – Michael Jackson (2001)
* "Little Things" – India Arie (2002)
* "Dance with My Father" – Luther Vandross (2003)
* "If I Ain't Got You" – Alicia Keys (2004)
* "Unbreakable" – Alicia Keys (2005)
* "Be Without You" – Mary J. Blige (2006)
* "Like You'll Never See Me Again" – Alicia Keys (2007)
* "Yes We Can" – will.i.am (2008)
* "I Look to You" – Whitney Houston (2009)

2010s|

* "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" – Alicia Keys (2010)
* "Where You At?" – Jennifer Hudson (2011)
* "Girl on Fire" – Alicia Keys (2012)
* "Q.U.E.E.N." – Janelle Monáe featuring Erykah Badu (2013)
* "You & I (Nobody in the World)" – John Legend (2014)
* "Shame" – Tyrese Gibson (2015)
* "Formation" – Beyoncé (2016)
* "That's What I Like" – Bruno Mars (2017)
* "This Is America" – Childish Gambino (2018)
* "Juice" – Lizzo (2019)

2020s|

* "Brown Skin Girl" – Beyoncé, Saint Jhn, and Wizkid featuring Blue Ivy Carter (2020)
* "Essence" – Wizkid featuring Tems (2021)
* "Lift Me Up" – Rihanna (2022)
* "Sensational" – Chris Brown featuring Davido & Lojay (2023)

* v
* t
* e

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song

Song
(1971–2015)|

* "Theme from Shaft" – Isaac Hayes (1971)
* No Award (1972–1994)
* "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" – Whitney Houston (1995)
* "I Believe I Can Fly" – R. Kelly (1996)
* "A Song for Mama" – Boyz II Men (1997)
* "Lean on Me" – Kirk Franklin (1998)
* "Spend My Life with You" – Eric Benét featuring Tamia (1999)
* "Open My Heart" – Yolanda Adams (2000)
* "A Woman's Worth" – Alicia Keys (2001)
* "Brighter Day" – Kirk Franklin (2002)
* "Dance with My Father" – Luther Vandross (2003)
* "If I Ain't Got You" – Alicia Keys (2004)
* "Unbreakable" – Alicia Keys (2005)
* "I Am Not My Hair" – India Arie (2006)
* "Like You'll Never See Me Again" – Alicia Keys (2007)
* "Yes We Can" – will.i.am (2008)
* "God in Me" – Mary Mary (2009)
* "Bittersweet" – Fantasia (2010)
* "I Smile" – Kirk Franklin (2011)
* "I Look to You" – Whitney Houston and R. Kelly (2012)
* "All of Me" – John Legend (2013)
* "We Are Here" – Alicia Keys (2014)
* "Back Together" – Jill Scott (2015)

Contemporary
(2016–2019)|

* "Freedom" – Beyoncé featuring Kendrick Lamar (2016)
* "HUMBLE." – Kendrick Lamar (2017)
* "Boo'd Up" – Ella Mai (2018)
* "Before I Let Go" – Beyoncé (2019)

Traditional
(2016–2019)|

* "I See Victory" – Kim Burrell and Pharrell Williams (2016)
* "That's What I Like" – Bruno Mars (2017)
* "Long as I Live" – Toni Braxton (2018)
* "Spirit" – Beyoncé (2019)

Soul/R&B
(2020–present)|

* "Do It" – Chloe x Halle (2020)
* "Pick Up Your Feelings" – Jazmine Sullivan (2021)
* "Cuff It" – Beyoncé (2022)
* "ICU (Remix)" – Coco Jones featuring Justin Timberlake (2023)

Hip Hop/Rap
(2020–present)|

* "Savage (Remix)" – Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé (2020)
* "Fye Fye" – Tobe Nwigwe featuring Fat Nwigwe (2021)
* "Hotel Lobby" – Quavo and Takeoff (2022)
* "Cobra" – Megan Thee Stallion (2023)

International
(2020–present)|

* "Lockdown" – Original Koffee (2020)
* "Essence" – Wizkid featuring Tems and Justin Bieber (2021)
* "No Woman, No Cry" – Tems (2022)
* "Me & U" – Tems (2023)

* v
* t
* e

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Class of 2020

Performers|

* Depeche Mode
* Vince Clarke, Andy Fletcher, Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Alan Wilder
* The Doobie Brothers
* Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, John Hartman, Michael Hossack, Tom Johnston, Keith Knudsen, Michael McDonald, John McFee, Tiran Porter, Patrick Simmons
* Whitney Houston
* Nine Inch Nails
* Alessandro Cortini, Robin Finck, Danny Lohner, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Ilan Rubin, Chris Vrenna
* The Notorious B.I.G.
* T. Rex
* Marc Bolan, Steve Currie, Mickey Finn, Bill Legend

Non-performers
(Ahmet Ertegun Award)|

* Irving Azoff
* Jon Landau

Authority control databases

International|

* FAST
* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Norway
* Spain
* France
* BnF data
* Germany
* Israel
* Finland
* United States
* Latvia
* Japan
* Czech Republic
* Australia
* Korea
* Croatia
* Netherlands
* Poland

Academics|

* CiNii

Artists|

* Emmy Awards
* Grammy Awards
* MusicBrainz

People|

* Deutsche Synchronkartei
* Deutsche Biographie
* Trove

Other|

* NARA
* SNAC
* IdRef

*[m.]: married
*[div.]: divorced
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template