Career Timeline of Whitney Houston: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Whitney Houston made an impact.
Whitney Houston, nicknamed "The Voice," was a highly acclaimed American singer, actress, producer, and philanthropist. Renowned for her exceptional vocal talent and captivating performances, she achieved remarkable chart success and broke down gender and racial barriers in the music industry. Houston remains a cultural icon, recognized as one of the most awarded performers and ranked among the greatest singers of all time.
1980: Start of Modeling Career
In 1980, after being spotted at Carnegie Hall, Whitney Houston began a career as a fashion model, signing first with Click Models before moving onto the Wilhelmina Models agency and landing the cover of Seventeen magazine.
September 1981: Signing with Tara Productions
In September 1981, Whitney Houston signed with Tara Productions and hired Gene Harvey as her manager.
1982: Auditions for Elektra and CBS Records
In 1982, Whitney Houston auditioned for both Elektra Records and CBS Records.
June 1983: National Audience Introduction
In June 1983, Whitney Houston was introduced to a national audience, performing the song "Home" from the Broadway musical The Wiz on The Merv Griffin Show.
May 1984: Release of "Hold Me" Duet
In May 1984, Whitney Houston's duet with Teddy Pendergrass, "Hold Me", was released on his album Love Language, giving Houston her first taste of success as a top-ten hit on the US R&B and adult contemporary charts.
1984: Collaboration with Teddy Pendergrass
In 1984, Whitney Houston had a hit with Teddy Pendergrass before winning a grammy in 1986 which was cited as a factor in her Grammy nomination.
February 14, 1985: Release of Whitney Houston's Debut Album
On February 14, 1985, Whitney Houston's self-titled debut album was released.
March 30, 1985: Debut on Billboard 200
On March 30, 1985, Whitney Houston's debut album entered the Billboard 200 chart at number 166.
October 1985: Opening at Carnegie Hall
In October 1985, following opening spots on tours by Jeffrey Osborne and Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston opened at Carnegie Hall.
December 1985: MTV Acceptance of "How Will I Know" Video
In December 1985, the music video to "How Will I Know" was submitted and accepted by MTV and sent to heavy rotation, marking a rare occurrence for a black female artist at the time.
1985: Release of "Whitney Houston" Album
In 1985, Whitney Houston released her debut studio album, "Whitney Houston", which topped the Billboard 200 for 14 weeks and became the best-selling debut album by a solo artist in history.
March 1986: Album Reaches Number One
In March 1986, Whitney Houston's debut album reached number one on the Billboard 200, beginning a 14-week run at the top.
July 1986: The Greatest Love World Tour Begins
In July 1986, Whitney Houston embarked on her first world tour, The Greatest Love World Tour, performing a total of 53 dates.
1986: Concert Raises Money for AIDS Action Committee
In 1986, The Advocate reported that one of Whitney Houston's concerts at the Boston Common in Boston raised $30,000 for the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts and the Gay and Lesbian Counseling Service.
1986: Performance at the 1986 MTV VMAs
In 1986, Whitney Houston performed "How Will I Know" at the MTV VMAs. This was one of ten performances acknowledged by Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone.
1986: First Grammy Award Win
In 1986, Whitney Houston won her first Grammy Award for "Saving All My Love for You" for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
June 1987: Release of "Whitney" Album
In June 1987, Whitney Houston's second album, "Whitney", was released, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and making her the first woman in music history to do so. It also reached number one in every country it charted.
July 1987: Moment of Truth World Tour Launch
In July 1987, Whitney Houston launched her second world tour, the Moment of Truth World Tour.
1987: Release of "Whitney" Album
In 1987, Whitney Houston released her second album, "Whitney", which topped the Billboard 200 for 11 weeks. The album made her the first woman to debut atop the US and UK charts.
June 11, 1988: Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert
On June 11, 1988, Whitney Houston participated in the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium in London, which was watched by over half a billion viewers and raised $1 million for charities while raising awareness of apartheid.
1988: Raises Money for the United Negro College Fund
At a 1988 Madison Square Garden concert, Whitney Houston earned more than $250,000 for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).
1988: Forbes Ranking
In 1988, Whitney Houston ranked 17th on Forbes magazine, highlighting her financial success.
1988: Participation in Freedomfest for Nelson Mandela
In 1988, Whitney Houston's participation at the Freedomfest performance in London (for a then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela) grabbed the attention of other musicians and the media.
January 1989: Formation of The Whitney Houston Foundation For Children
In January 1989, Whitney Houston established The Whitney Houston Foundation For Children, a non-profit dedicated to raising funds for children globally, addressing issues like homelessness, cancer, AIDS, and self-empowerment. It is now known as the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation.
1989: Establishes Whitney Houston Foundation for Children
In 1989, Whitney Houston established the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children, offering medical assistance to sick and homeless children, preventing child abuse, teaching children to read, creating inner-city parks and playgrounds, and granting college scholarships.
November 1990: Release of "I'm Your Baby Tonight" album
In November 1990, Whitney Houston released her third studio album, "I'm Your Baby Tonight," which marked her debut as an executive producer, allowing her to exert more creative control. She collaborated with mostly black producers, and the album featured a mix of rhythmic grooves, soulful ballads, and dance tracks, resulting in mixed to positive reviews.
1990: Release of "I'm Your Baby Tonight"
In 1990, Whitney Houston released her third album, "I'm Your Baby Tonight", taking a more urban musical direction.
1990: Takes Part in Arista Records' AIDS Benefit Gala
In 1990, Whitney Houston took part in Arista Records' 15th anniversary gala, which was an AIDS benefit, where she sang "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)", "Greatest Love of All" and, with cousin Dionne Warwick, "That's What Friends Are For".
January 27, 1991: Performance at Super Bowl XXV
On January 27, 1991, Whitney Houston performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV. Though her vocals were pre-recorded, the performance became a chart hit and raised money for the American Red Cross Gulf Crisis Fund.
September 1991: Participates in Reach Out & Touch Someone AIDS Vigil
In September 1991, Whitney Houston participated in the Reach Out & Touch Someone AIDS vigil at London while finishing her ten-date residency at London's Wembley Arena, stressing the importance of AIDS research and addressing HIV stigma.
1991: Donates Earnings from Super Bowl Performance
In 1991, Whitney Houston donated all the earnings from her Super Bowl XXV performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" sales to Gulf War servicemen and their families. The record label followed suit and she was voted to the American Red Cross Board of Directors as a result.
1991: Performance at the 1991 Super Bowl
In 1991, Whitney Houston performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl. This was one of ten performances acknowledged by Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone.
1991: Super Bowl XXV Performance
In 1991, Whitney Houston performed an acclaimed rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV.
1991: Success of "I'm Your Baby Tonight" album
In 1991, Whitney Houston's album "I'm Your Baby Tonight" became the tenth best-selling album of the year, topping the Top R&B Albums chart for eight weeks and becoming the best-selling R&B album. She also set a chart record with multiple number-one singles from the album.
1991: Welcome Home Heroes concert and world tour
In 1991, following her Super Bowl performance, Whitney Houston organized the Welcome Home Heroes concert with HBO for soldiers returning from the Persian Gulf War. Later in 1991, she embarked on the I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour, performing 96 shows, including a residency at Wembley Arena in London.
1992: First film role in "The Bodyguard"
In 1992, Whitney Houston made her film debut in "The Bodyguard," playing a star who hires a bodyguard, portrayed by Kevin Costner, to protect her from a stalker. The movie addressed interracial relationships, sparking some controversy.
1992: Release of "The Bodyguard" Soundtrack
In 1992, the soundtrack of Whitney Houston's film debut, "The Bodyguard", was released. It won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, topped the Billboard 200 for 20 weeks, and became the best-selling soundtrack album of all time. The lead single, "I Will Always Love You", won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
March 13, 1993: Billboard Chart Record
On the week of March 13, 1993, Whitney Houston set a new Billboard Hot 100 chart record when the singles "I Will Always Love You", "I'm Every Woman" and "I Have Nothing" simultaneously charted inside the top 20, a first for an artist in the Nielsen SoundScan era and a first for a female artist.
June 10, 1993: Rolling Stone Cover Story
In the June 10, 1993 issue, Whitney Houston became a cover story for Rolling Stone magazine, following the success of The Bodyguard.
July 20, 1993: Radio City Music Hall Concert Review
On July 20, 1993, Stephen Holden of The New York Times reviewed Whitney Houston's Radio City Music Hall concert, praising her voice as sufficient entertainment without the need for additional theatrics, highlighting her stylistic trademarks like shivery melismas and twirling embellishments.
November 1993: The Bodyguard Soundtrack Goes Diamond
In November 1993, Whitney Houston became the first female artist to go diamond with an album after her soundtrack to The Bodyguard went ten-times platinum.
November 1993: Success of "The Bodyguard" soundtrack
In early November 1993, "The Bodyguard" soundtrack was certified diamond by the RIAA, making it the first album by a female artist to achieve this milestone. It also became the first album in music history to sell more than a million copies in a single week under the Nielsen Soundscan tracking system.
1993: Release and Reception of "The Bodyguard"
In 1993, "The Bodyguard" was released and received mixed reviews. Whitney Houston received both Razzie and NAACP Image Awards nominations for her performance. The film grossed over $410 million worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing films at the time.
1993: Houston addresses controversy over "The Bodyguard" advertising
In 1993, Whitney Houston addressed the controversy surrounding the advertising for her film "The Bodyguard," where some felt her face was intentionally left out to hide the film's interracial relationship.
1993: The Bodyguard World Tour
In 1993, Whitney Houston embarked on The Bodyguard World Tour, performing for sold-out audiences across five continents and becoming one of the highest-earning female entertainers.
1993: Houston Wins Multiple Billboard Awards
In 1993, Whitney Houston won more than 11 Billboard awards in one night at its fourth annual ceremony, setting a Guinness World Record at the time.
January 1994: Whitney Houston Album Certified Diamond
In January 1994, Whitney Houston's debut album Whitney Houston was the first studio album by a woman to be certified ten-times platinum, making her the first solo artist to receive two diamond-certified albums.
October 1994: Performance at White House state dinner for Nelson Mandela
In October 1994, Whitney Houston attended and performed at a state dinner in the White House honoring newly elected South African president Nelson Mandela.
1994: Houston Wins Multiple World Music Awards
In 1994, Whitney Houston won five trophies at the sixth World Music Awards, holding the record for the most WMAs won in a single year.
1994: Grammy Award for Album of the Year
In 1994, Whitney Houston won the Grammy for Album of the Year for "The Bodyguard" soundtrack, becoming the first black woman to win as producer and artist.
May 1995: Hosting the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
In May 1995, Whitney Houston hosted the 8th Annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.
June 1995: VH1 Honor for charitable work
In June 1995, Whitney Houston's Whitney Houston Foundation for Children was awarded a VH1 Honor for their charitable work.
1995: Starred in Waiting to Exhale
In 1995, Whitney Houston starred in Waiting to Exhale as Savannah Jackson, a TV producer. She praised the film for its positive portrayal of black women. The film was a box office success, grossing over $67 million in the US and $81 million worldwide. Houston received positive reviews for her role and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. She also contributed three songs to the soundtrack.
January 1996: Waiting to Exhale Soundtrack Reaches Number One
In January 1996, the soundtrack for Waiting to Exhale, featuring multiple contributions by Whitney Houston, reached number one on the Billboard 200. The soundtrack was later certified seven-times platinum in the US, received eleven Grammy nominations, and won the American Music Award for Favorite Soundtrack.
1996: Formed BrownHouse Productions
In 1996, Whitney Houston formed her film production company, BrownHouse Productions, with Debra Martin Chase. Their goal was to improve the portrayal of African-Americans in film and television. Their first project was a remake of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, in which Houston starred as the Fairy Godmother.
1996: Starred in The Preacher's Wife
In 1996, Whitney Houston starred in The Preacher's Wife alongside Denzel Washington and Courtney B. Vance, earning $10 million for the role. The movie was a moderate success, earning about $50 million in the US. Houston received positive reviews for her acting and won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. She also produced the accompanying gospel soundtrack, which became the best-selling gospel album of all time.
1997: Honor from the Dove Awards
In 1997, Whitney Houston received a special honor from the Dove Awards for bringing gospel music to mainstream attention.
1997: Starring in "Cinderella"
In 1997, Whitney Houston starred in "Cinderella". The soundtrack of "The Preacher's Wife" became the best-selling gospel album of all time.
1998: Release of "My Love Is Your Love"
In 1998, Whitney Houston released "My Love Is Your Love", her first studio album in eight years, achieving critical and commercial success.
June 1999: Surprise Performance at NYC Lesbian & Gay Pride Dance
In June 1999, Whitney Houston gave a surprise performance at the 13th Annual New York City Lesbian & Gay Pride Dance, ushering in a new era of high-profile artists performing at LGBTQ events.
August 1999: 'My Love Is Your Love' Reached Number One in Europe
In August 1999, Whitney Houston's 'My Love Is Your Love' reached number one on the European Top 100 Albums chart, staying there for six weeks, fueled by the success of her European tour. All of Houston's singles from the album were successful internationally. The album achieved global sales of 15 million units worldwide.
1999: "Higher Love" charted for the first time
In 1999, "Higher Love" was initially released as a bonus track from the Japanese edition of an album.
1999: Named Best-Selling Female R&B Artist of the 20th Century
In 1999, the RIAA ranked Whitney Houston as the best-selling female R&B artist of the 20th century.
May 2000: Released 'Whitney: The Greatest Hits'
In May 2000, Whitney Houston's first compilation album, 'Whitney: The Greatest Hits', was released. The album reached number five in the US and number one in the UK and also reached the top ten in multiple countries. The double-disc collection featured her hit ballads, house and club remixes, and four new tracks, including duets with Deborah Cox, Enrique Iglesias, and George Michael.
August 2001: Signed $100 Million Record Deal
In August 2001, Whitney Houston signed a $100 million record deal with Arista/BMG, renewing her contract to release six new albums.
September 11, 2001: Re-release of "The Star-Spangled Banner" after 9/11
Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Whitney Houston's single, "The Star-Spangled Banner", was rereleased, with all profits going towards the firefighters and victims of the attacks, reaching number 6 in the Hot 100 and becoming certified platinum.
September 2001: Performance at Michael Jackson Anniversary and Re-release of 'The Star-Spangled Banner'
In September 2001, Whitney Houston's performance at Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary Special led to rumors of drug use due to her thin appearance. She canceled a second performance. Also in September 2001, her rendition of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' was re-released after the September 11 attacks to raise funds for relief efforts.
October 2001: Re-releases "The Star-Spangled Banner" for 9/11 Relief
In October 2001, following the terrorist attacks, Whitney Houston re-released "The Star-Spangled Banner" to support the New York Firefighters 9/11 Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Fraternal Order of Police, waiving her royalty rights and generating more than $1 million.
2001: Receives BET Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2001, Whitney Houston became the first artist to receive the BET Lifetime Achievement Award.
2001: Renewal of Arista Records Contract
In 2001, Whitney Houston renewed her contract with Arista Records for $100 million, marking one of the largest recording deals of all time.
December 2002: Released 'Just Whitney' Album
In December 2002, Whitney Houston released her fifth studio album, 'Just Whitney'. The album debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum, though it received mixed reviews.
2002: Release of "Just Whitney"
In 2002, Whitney Houston released her album "Just Whitney", which received mixed reviews as her music career became overshadowed by personal struggles.
August 2003: The Cheetah Girls Premiered on Disney Channel
In August 2003, The Cheetah Girls, Whitney Houston's second television film as a producer, premiered on the Disney Channel. The soundtrack of the film, executive produced by Houston, was successful and reached double platinum status in the US.
April 2004: Success of "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement"
In April 2004, Whitney Houston's second film as producer, "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement", was a box office success, earning $134 million.
June 2005: Premiere of "Being Bobby Brown"
In June 2005, the reality show "Being Bobby Brown" premiered on Bravo. The show received criticism, but also achieved high ratings. It was not renewed for a second season after Whitney Houston declined further participation.
2006: Airing of "The Cheetah Girls 2"
In 2006, "The Cheetah Girls 2", for which Whitney Houston served as executive producer, aired. The film became one of the highest-rated Disney Channel Original Movies, with over 8.1 million viewers.
2007: Entrance into Music Industry Considered a Milestone
In 2007, USA Today considered Whitney Houston's entrance into the music industry one of the 25 musical milestones of the last 25 years, noting she paved the way for Mariah Carey.
2008: Ranked in Billboard's All-Time Top Artists
In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists to celebrate the US singles chart's 50th anniversary, ranking Whitney Houston at number nine.
August 2009: Release of "I Look to You"
In August 2009, Whitney Houston released her album "I Look to You". It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 305,000 copies sold. She later performed on European television shows and appeared on "The X Factor" in the UK. She also had a wardrobe malfunction during her performance of "Million Dollar Bill", but the single achieved commercial success. After the album's release, she started the "Nothing but Love World Tour".
2009: Release of "I Look to You"
In 2009, after divorcing Bobby Brown, Whitney Houston returned to the top of the Billboard 200 with her final album, "I Look to You".
January 2010: Awards and Honors
In January 2010, Whitney Houston was nominated for two NAACP Image Awards and won Best Music Video for "I Look to You". On January 16, she received the Entertainers Award at the BET Honors, acknowledging her lifetime achievements.
November 2010: Ranked in Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artists
In November 2010, Billboard ranked Whitney Houston at number three on its "Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years" list.
2010: Casting in "Sparkle" Remake
In 2010, Whitney Houston was cast in the remake of the 1976 film "Sparkle" as a star and executive producer. This marked her final acting role.
May 2012: Release of "Celebrate"
In May 2012, Whitney Houston's last song, "Celebrate", from the movie "Sparkle", was released.
August 17, 2012: Release of "Sparkle" Movie
On August 17, 2012, the movie "Sparkle" was released, featuring "Celebrate", the last song Whitney Houston recorded.
October 2020: Whitney Album Certified Diamond
In October 2020, Whitney Houston's sophomore album, Whitney (1987), was certified diamond, making Houston the first black recording artist in history to have three diamond-certified albums.
October 2020: "I Will Always Love You" Music Video Reaches 1 Billion Views
In October 2020, the music video for "I Will Always Love You" surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube, making Whitney Houston the first solo 20th-century artist to have a video reach that milestone.
January 2021: "I Will Always Love You" Certified Diamond
In January 2021, "I Will Always Love You" was certified diamond, making Whitney Houston one of only four female artists to earn a diamond-certified single and album. It remains the best-selling US single by a female artist.
2025: Ranked Among Best-Selling Artists in the United States
As of 2025, Whitney Houston is ranked as one of the best-selling artists in the United States by the RIAA with 61 million certified albums.
2025: Houston's Consecutive Number One Hits Record
As of 2025, Whitney Houston remains the only artist in history to score seven consecutive number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
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