Whitney Elizabeth Houston (born August 9, 1963 - February 11, 2012) was an American R&B/pop singer, actress, and former fashion model. Houston is the most awarded female artist of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 2 Emmy Awards, 6 Grammy Awards, 16 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among a total of 415 career awards as of 2010. Houston is also one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums and singles worldwide.
Inspired by several prominent soul singers in her extended family, including mother Cissy Houston and cousins Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, as well as her godmother, Aretha Franklin, Houston began singing with New Jersey church's junior gospel choir at age 11. After she began performing alongside her mother in night clubs in the New York City area, she was discovered by Arista Records label head Clive Davis. As of 2011, Houston has released six studio albums and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which have had diamond, multi-platinum, platinum, or gold certification.
Houston's 1985 debut album, Whitney Houston, became the best-selling debut album by a female act at the time of its release. Her second studio album, Whitney (1987), became the first album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Houston's crossover appeal on the popular music charts as well as her prominence on MTV, starting with her video for "How Will I Know", enabled several African-American female artists to follow in her success. Houston's first acting role was as the star of the feature film The Bodyguard (1992). The movie's original soundtrack won the 1994 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Its lead single, "I Will Always Love You", became the best-selling single by a female artist in music history. The album makes her the only female act ranked in the list of the top-10 best-selling albums, at number four.
Houston continued to star in movies and contribute to soundtracks, including with the films Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher's Wife (1996). Three years after the release of her fourth studio album, My Love Is Your Love (1998), she renewed her recording contract with Arista Records. She released her fifth studio album, Just Whitney, in 2002, and the Christmas-themed One Wish: The Holiday Album in 2003. Amid widespread media coverage of personal and professional turmoil, Houston ended her 14-year marriage to singer Bobby Brown in 2006. In 2009, Houston released her seventh studio album, I Look To You.
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Known For
I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston
Self (archive footage)
2023
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody
Self (archive footage)
2022
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self (archive footage)
2022
Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL
Self (archive footage)
2022
Cinderella: The Reunion, A Special Edition of 20/20
Self (archive footage)
2022
George Michael: Freedom Uncut
Self (archive footage)
2022
Whitney, a Look Back
Self (archive footage)
2022
You're Watching Video Music Box
Self (archive footage)
2021
Whitney Houston at the BBC
2021
90s Divas: Whitney, Mariah, Céline
Self (archive footage)
2019
Whitney
Self (archive footage)
2018
Whitney Houston: Close Up
Self
2018
Whitney: Can I Be Me
Self (archive footage)
2017
Freedom : La Story de George Michael
Self (archive footage)
2016
Night Flight: Born Again
Self
2016
Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances
Herself
2014
The Houstons Remember Whitney
Herself
2012
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Vocals
2012
Sparkle
Emma
2012
Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You
Self (archive footage)
2012
Whitney Houston - The Greatest Love Of All
Self
2012
Always Whitney Houston
Self (archive footage)
2012
Whitney Houston: The Woman Behind the Voice
Self
2012
George Michael - Twenty Five
Self
2006
Nora's Hair Salon
Herself
2004
VH1: Divas Las Vegas
Self - Performer
2002
Whitney Houston - The Ultimate Collection
2000
Arista Records' 25th Anniversary Celebration
Self
2000
Whitney Houston: The Greatest Hits
Herself
2000
VH1 Divas Live 2: An Honors Concert for VH1's Save the Music
Self - Performer
1999
Heartbreak Hotel
Whitney Houston
1999
Cinderella
Fairy Godmother
1997
Scratch the Surface
Self
1997
Classic Whitney: Live from Washington, D.C.
Self
1997
The Preacher's Wife
Julia Biggs
1996
Waiting to Exhale
Savannah
1995
The Bodyguard
Rachel Marron
1992
Whitney Houston: This is My Life
Herself
1992
Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston
Self
1991
Whitney Houston: Live in Concert
Herself
1991
Whitney Houston - Live in Japan
Herself
1991
Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul
Self
1988
Whitney Houston: Live in Rio
Self
BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions
Self (archive footage)
2025
Whitney Houston: The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban)
Self (archive footage)
2024
Whitney Houston Born to Sing
Self (archive footage)
2024
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2022
Biography: Bobby Brown
Self (archive footage) · (4 episodes)
2022
Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over
Self (archive footage)
2021
Superstar
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2021
Fame Kills: Whitney Houston
Self (archive footage)
2021
This Is Pop
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2021
Whitney Houston & Bobbi Kristina: Didn't We Almost Have It All
Self (archive footage)
2021
Whitney Houston: As I Am
Herself
2021
The True Story of...
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2020
Whitney: The Last Great Diva
Self (archive footage)
2018
Do I Look Like a Lady? (Comedians and Singers)
Self (archive footage)
2016
Four Falls of Buffalo
Self (archive footage)
2015
Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon
Self
2011
O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar
Self (archive footage)
2009
Web Junk 20
(1 episode)
2006
The Reichen Show
Self · (1 episode)
2005
Being Bobby Brown
(11 episodes)
2005
WHITNEY HOUSTON - Live (Norfolk - USA)
2005
Retro Video Collection 1975-1999 vol3
self
2004
It's Black Entertainment
Self
2002
A New Princess
Self
2001
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration
Self
2001
Boston Public
Self · (1 episode)
2000
The Prince of Egypt
The Balladeer (voice) (uncredited)
1998
E! True Hollywood Story
(1 episode)
1996
Whitney Houston Live à Brunei
self
1995
The Music Biz
Self · (1 episode)
1995
Whitney Houston Live in Johannesburg 1994
1994
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
Self
1990
MTV Rockumentary
(1 episode)
1989
The Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Concert
Self
1988
Sacrée soirée
Self · (2 episodes)
1987
Superstars and their Moms
Self
1987
Kids' Choice Awards
Herself - Host · (2 episodes)
1987
Barbra Streisand: One Voice
Self (Interviewee)
1986
Women in Rock
Self
1986
MTV Video Music Awards
Self · (2 episodes)
1984
Wogan
Self · (1 episode)
1982
Champs-Elysées
Self · (2 episodes)
1982
Entertainment Tonight
Self · (3 episodes)
1981
Wetten, dass..?
Self · (1 episode)
1981
Saturday Night Live
Self - Musical Guest · (2 episodes)
1975
Top of the Pops
Self · (3 episodes)
1964
The Grammys
Self · (1 episode)
1959
The Oscars
Self · (2 episodes)
1953
Bambi-Verleihung
Self · (1 episode)
1948