Whitney Elizabeth Houston, born on August 9, 1963, and passing on February 11, 2012, would have celebrated her 62nd birthday. Renowned as an American singer, actress, film producer, model, and philanthropist, Houston earned the moniker “the Voice” and stands as one of the most awarded artists in history. Her contributions to music and visual media were instrumental in challenging gender and racial boundaries. Celebrated for her exceptional vocal talent and dynamic live performances, she was ranked second on Rolling Stone’s 2023 list of the greatest singers of all time.
At 19, Houston signed with Arista Records, releasing her first two albums, “Whitney Houston” (1985) and “Whitney” (1987), which dominated the Billboard 200 for 14 and 11 weeks, respectively. Her debut remains the best-selling debut album by a solo artist, while the latter album marked her as the first woman to simultaneously top the US and UK charts. Houston’s third album, “I’m Your Baby Tonight” (1990), showcased a more urban sound, and her performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXV in 1991 was widely praised. She later starred in films such as “The Bodyguard” (1992), “Waiting to Exhale” (1995), “The Preacher’s Wife” (1996), and “Cinderella” (1997), and produced the “The Princess Diaries” and “The Cheetah Girls” film series. The soundtracks for “The Bodyguard” and “The Preacher’s Wife” are the highest-selling soundtrack and gospel albums, respectively, with “The Bodyguard” earning a Grammy for Album of the Year and leading the Billboard 200 for 20 weeks.
Houston’s album “My Love Is Your Love” (1998) marked a successful return after an eight-year hiatus, leading to a significant $100 million contract with Arista in 2001. However, her public image suffered due to drug issues and a rocky marriage with singer Bobby Brown, which affected her subsequent album, “Just Whitney” (2002). After her divorce, she released “One Wish: The Holiday Album” in 2003 and later returned to the top of the charts with “I Look to You” (2009). Tragically, Houston passed away on February 11, 2012, due to accidental drowning, with heart disease and cocaine use as contributing factors. Her death coincided with the 2012 Grammy Awards and received widespread media attention.
As one of the top-selling music artists, Houston sold over 220 million records globally. Her first two albums, along with “The Bodyguard” soundtrack, are among the best-selling albums, making her the only Black artist with three RIAA diamond-certified albums. Iconic singles like “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and “I Will Always Love You” rank among the best-selling singles, with “I Will Always Love You” being the best-selling single by a woman, certified diamond by the RIAA. Houston achieved 11 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles and remains the only artist with seven consecutive singles topping the chart. Her legacy includes numerous hall of fame inductions, and she was named the highest-earning posthumous female celebrity by Guinness World Records, amassing $250 million in assets during her 25-year career.