Whitney Houston Biography , Songs, Discography, Albums & Awards

Houston’s Award-Winning Career as An Actress and Singer Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, movie actress, and film producer considered by many as one of the best vocalists in the history of modern music. She is commonly known as The Voice due to her powerful mezzo-soprano voice that was full of tone, deep emotional delivery, and unparalleled control. She revolutionized the entire music industry, paving the way for black artists on MTV and setting records in commercialized vocal performance pop crossover appeal, and global fame.

She was born in Newark, New Jersey to gospel singer Cissy Houston. Ironically, she was also the niece of Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick. Coming from a musical family, Whitney’s singing journey started from the New Hope Baptist Church where she became a soloist at the age of 12. Whitney’s career was made possible due to her mother, who inspired her through gospel, soul, and pop singers such as Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, and Roberta Flack.

Houston started her career at the age of 15 as a backup singer for Chaka Khan and Lou Rawls. In 1983 Clive Davis from Arista Records saw her at a show and signed her, and Houston began work on her debut album. In 1985 Whitney Houston was released, and to this day it has won three different awards for best debut album of all time. Whitney went on to become the best selling album of all time for a female artist, marking a new skyrocket in the rise of Houston’s career.

Her follow up album, Whitney (1987), was at number one on the Billboard 200 making Whitney Houston the first woman ever to hold such a milestone. this Album also came with four more of Whitney’s songs that dominated the music charts and solidified Houston’s title as a global singer. She was known in the 80s and early 90s as a superstar who could appeal to multiple audiences, both Pop and R&B, along with winning numerous critic’s awards for her amazing performance.

Houston made her acting debut with Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard in 1992. The film got mixed reviews, but the soundtrack topped them all. The soundtrack smashed records and has not been surpassed since, all thanks to the diamond single “I Will Always Love You” which was stuck on record of 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This made Whitney Houston one of the best selling singers to exist in reality.Her singing of the national anthem at the Super Bowl XXV in 1991 cemented her status as a national treasure. Besides her music career, she produced films and starred in box-office hits like Waiting to Exhale (1995), The Preacher’s Wife (1996), and Cinderella (1997). The soundtrack to The Preacher’s Wife still holds the record for the best-selling gospel album of all time.

Houston’s 1998 comeback album, My Love Is Your Love, remains one of her critically acclaimed works. However, the early 2000s saw a decline in her personal life with drug addiction and a rocky relationship with Bobby Brown. Her later works, Just Whitney (2002) and I Look to You (2009), were met with mediocre success, struggling to match the heights of her previous albums.

Houston was a forerunner in the 80s and 90s pop and R&B eras. Despite controversies surrounding her, he still faced little adversity in his career. To this day, she is known as one of the best singers and has sold 220 million records, and had over 300 million record sales during her lifetime. Her influence spans rocketed her to gaining several Guinness world records. Whitney tragically passed away February 11, 2012 at the age of 48 due to accidental drowning. Her untimely passing, alongside the reported heart disease and cocaine use, tarnishes the mark she left behind as an iconic voice of the century.

Top Songs

• I Will Always Love You – Her signature song and one of the best-selling singles of all time.
• I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) – A global pop anthem and Grammy winner.
• Greatest Love of All – A soaring ballad about self-empowerment.
• How Will I Know – An upbeat track that brought Houston to MTV and pop audiences.
• Saving All My Love for You – A sultry ballad that won her first Grammy.
• I’m Every Woman – A Chaka Khan cover that showcased Houston’s versatility.
• My Love Is Your Love – A modern R&B hit showing her adaptability to new trends.
• It’s Not Right But It’s Okay – A dance-pop anthem of female empowerment.

Discography (Studio Albums)

1. Whitney Houston (1985)
2. Whitney (1987)
3. I’m Your Baby Tonight (1990)
4. My Love Is Your Love (1998)
5. Just Whitney (2002)
6. One Wish: The Holiday Album (2003)
7. I Look to You (2009)

Top Albums

• Whitney Houston (1985)
  The best-selling debut album by a solo artist with hits like “Saving All My Love for You” and “How Will I Know.”
• Whitney (1987)
  The first album by a female artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200; it spawned four No. 1 singles.
• The Bodyguard Soundtrack (1992)
  One of the best-selling albums of all time with the iconic “I Will Always Love You.”
• My Love Is Your Love (1998)
  Critically acclaimed return featuring modern R&B hits like “Heartbreak Hotel” and “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay.”
• The Preacher’s Wife Soundtrack (1996)
  The best-selling gospel album in history, showcasing Houston’s gospel roots.

Awards and Achievements

• 8 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year.
• 2 Emmy Awards for outstanding music performances.
• 22 American Music Awards, holding the record for most wins in a single year by a female artist.
• 36 Billboard Music Awards, including Top Female Artist and Artist of the Decade.
• 14 World Music Awards, including Legend Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Music Industry.
• RIAA Diamond Certifications for Whitney Houston, Whitney, and The Bodyguard.
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee (2020).
• Guinness World Records holder with 31 entries, including highest-earning posthumous female celebrity.
• 220+ million records sold globally.

Whitney Houston singles

comprehensive list of all official singles released by Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston (1985)

1. Someone for Me (UK only)
2. You Give Good Love
3. All at Once (Europe/Japan only)
4. Saving All My Love for You
5. How Will I Know
6. Greatest Love of All

Whitney (1987)

7. I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)
8. Didn’t We Almost Have It All
9. So Emotional
10. Where Do Broken Hearts Go
11. Love Will Save the Day
12. I Know Him So Well (with Cissy Houston – UK only)

I’m Your Baby Tonight (1990)

13. I’m Your Baby Tonight
14. All the Man That I Need
15. Miracle
16. My Name Is Not Susan
17. I Belong to You
18. We Didn’t Know (duet with Stevie Wonder)

The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album (1992)

19. I Will Always Love You
20. I’m Every Woman
21. I Have Nothing
22. Run to You
23. Queen of the Night (Remix – limited release)

Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album (1995)

24. Exhale (Shoop Shoop)
25. Count On Me (duet with CeCe Winans)
26. Why Does It Hurt So Bad

The Preacher’s Wife: Original Soundtrack Album (1996)

27. I Believe in You and Me
28. Step by Step
29. My Heart Is Calling

My Love Is Your Love (1998)

30. When You Believe (duet with Mariah Carey – from The Prince of Egypt)
31. Heartbreak Hotel (feat. Faith Evans & Kelly Price)
32. It’s Not Right but It’s Okay
33. My Love Is Your Love
34. I Learned from the Best

Whitney: The Greatest Hits (2000)

35. If I Told You That (duet with George Michael)
36. Could I Have This Kiss Forever (duet with Enrique Iglesias)
37. Same Script, Different Cast (duet with Deborah Cox)
38. Fine

Just Whitney (2002)

39. Whatchulookinat
40. One of Those Days
41. Try It on My Own
42. Love That Man

One Wish: The Holiday Album (2003)

43. One Wish (for Christmas)

I Look to You (2009)

44. I Look to You
45. Million Dollar Bill

Posthumous Releases

46. Celebrate (duet with Jordin Sparks, 2012 – from Sparkle)
47. I Will Always Love You (Hex Hector Remix)
48. Higher Love (with Kygo, 2019)