Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. She is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston released seven studio albums and two soundtrack albums, all of which have been certified diamond, multi-platinum, platinum, or gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her crossover appeal on the popular music charts as well as her prominence on MTV influenced several African-American female artists.
Houston began singing in church as a child and became a background vocalist while in high school. With the guidance of Arista Records chairman Clive Davis, she 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 the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, from "Saving All My Love for You" in 1985 to "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" in 1988.
Houston's third studio album, I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990), yielded two Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "All the Man That I Need", and was certified quintuple platinum by RIAA. Houston made her acting debut with the romantic thriller film The Bodyguard (1992). She recorded six songs for the film's soundtrack, including "I Will Always Love You", which won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and became the best-selling physical single by a female in music history. It won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and remains the best-selling soundtrack album of all time. Houston starred and recorded soundtracks for two other high-profile films, Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher's Wife (1996), with the latter's soundtrack being the best-selling gospel album of all time.
ouston was considered by many to be a "singer's singer", who had an influence on countless other vocalists, both female and male.[118][337] 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.[333] Rolling Stone, on her biography, stated that Houston "redefined the image of a female soul icon and inspired singers ranging from Mariah Carey to Rihanna".[338] Essence ranked Houston sixth on their list of 50 Most Influential R&B Stars of all time, calling her "the diva to end all divas".[339]
Numerous artists have acknowledged Houston as an influence, including Celine Dion,[340][341] Mariah Carey,[118] Toni Braxton,[342] Lady Gaga,[343] Christina Aguilera,[344] LeAnn Rimes,[345] Jessica Simpson,[346] Nelly Furtado,[347] Kelly Clarkson,[348] Britney Spears,[349] Ciara,[350] Pink,[349] Aneeka,[351] Ashanti,[352] Hayley Williams, Robin Thicke,[353] Jennifer Hudson,[354] Stacie Orrico,[355] Amerie,[356]
