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Engraved portrait of Whitney Houston
Music · 1980s

Whitney Houston

In memoriam 1963–2012
Sold more than 200 million records worldwiderecords_sold
First artist with seven consecutive Billboard number-onesconsecutive_number_ones
Debut album topped the Billboard 200 for 14 weeksdebut_album
Acclaimed simply as The Voicenickname
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020honors
The Turning Point

In 1985, Whitney Houston released her self-titled debut album, which topped the Billboard 200 for 14 weeks and produced three number-one singles. It became the best-selling debut by a solo female artist at the time and launched a record-breaking run of hits. The album announced one of the greatest voices in pop.

Gospel Foundations

Born in Newark in 1963, Whitney Houston grew up surrounded by music, the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston and cousin of Dionne Warwick. She sang in church before modeling and recording backing vocals as a teenager.

Record-Breaking Stardom

Her 1985 debut launched a string of chart records, and films like The Bodyguard expanded her into acting. Her crystalline voice and powerful ballads made her one of the best-selling artists of all time.

A Voice Lost Too Soon

Personal struggles shadowed her later career, and she died in 2012 at age 48. She is remembered as one of the most gifted vocalists in the history of popular music.

Career Timeline

  1. 1963Born in Newark, New Jersey
  2. 1983Signs with Arista Records under Clive Davis
  3. 1985Debut album Whitney Houston makes her a star
  4. 1987Whitney becomes her second chart-topping album
  5. 1988Sets record for consecutive number-one singles
  6. 1992Stars in The Bodyguard and marries Bobby Brown
  7. 1993I Will Always Love You tops charts for 14 weeks
  8. 1998Releases the album My Love Is Your Love
  9. 2009Comeback album I Look to You debuts at number one
  10. 2012Dies in Beverly Hills at age 48

Biggest Hits

1985
Saving All My Love for YouHer first US number-one single and first Grammy
1985
How Will I KnowUpbeat number-one hit from her debut album
1986
Greatest Love of AllInspirational ballad that topped the charts
1987
I Wanna Dance with SomebodyJoyful number-one signature dance-pop hit
1992
I Will Always Love YouRecord 14-week number-one from The Bodyguard
Did You Know
  • Houston is the only artist to score seven consecutive number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, a record that still stands.
  • Her version of I Will Always Love You was originally written and recorded by country star Dolly Parton.

Portrait: Noah K. Murray (The Star-Ledger) · Public Domain · via Wikimedia Commons

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