How Whitney Houston Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline
A detailed timeline of the impact and legacy of Whitney Houston across different fields.
Whitney Houston, an iconic American singer, actress, and producer, nicknamed "the Voice," is celebrated as one of the most awarded artists ever. Her success transcended genres, breaking down racial and gender barriers in pop culture. Renowned for her exceptional vocal talent and captivating live performances, she was recognized as one of the greatest singers of all time by Rolling Stone in 2023. Houston's influence on music and entertainment remains profound.
1974: "I Will Always Love You" Original Recording
In 1974, Dolly Parton originally wrote and recorded the song "I Will Always Love You", which Whitney Houston later covered for "The Bodyguard" soundtrack.
1985: Early Career
In 1985, Whitney Houston began achieving renown with her first three solo albums and one soundtrack, released from 1985 to 1992. She hybridized pop music, distinguishing herself from contemporaries like Michael Jackson and Madonna by prioritizing her voice over production.
January 1989: The Whitney Houston Foundation For Children Formation
In January 1989, Whitney Houston established The Whitney Houston Foundation For Children, a nonprofit dedicated to aiding children globally. The organization, now known as the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation, addresses issues such as homelessness, childhood cancer, AIDS, and self-empowerment.
1992: Peak Career
From 1985 to 1992, Whitney Houston achieved most of her renown on the strength of her first three solo albums and one soundtrack. By 1992, she was one of the crucial figures to hybridize pop.
1992: Natalie Cole's Grammy Win
In 1992, Natalie Cole won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for her album, Unforgettable... with Love.
1996: Drug Use Escalation
Whitney Houston revealed that by 1996 her drug use had become an everyday thing. She revealed she was no longer happy at this point in time and that she was losing herself.
November 1999: RIAA Century Award
In November 1999, Whitney Houston was named the top-selling R&B female artist of the century by the Recording Industry Association of America.
1999: Highest Charting Single since 1999
In 2019, the posthumous release of the remixed single "Higher Love" became Whitney Houston's highest-charting single in the UK since 1999.
September 11, 2001: Re-release of "The Star-Spangled Banner" after 9/11
Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Whitney Houston's rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was rereleased, with all profits going towards the firefighters and victims of the attacks. It reached number 6 in the Hot 100 and was certified platinum.
May 2003: VH1's Greatest Women of the Video Era
In May 2003, Whitney Houston placed at number three on VH1's list of "50 Greatest Women of the Video Era".
2007: Musical Milestone Recognition
In 2007, USA Today considered Whitney Houston's entrance into the music industry as one of the 25 musical milestones of the last 25 years, noting she paved the way for Mariah Carey's vocal style.
2008: Billboard's Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists
In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked Whitney Houston at number nine on their list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists, celebrating the US singles chart's 50th anniversary.
2008: Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Singers
In 2008, Rolling Stone placed Whitney Houston 34th on their "100 Greatest Singers of All Time" list, recognizing her influence on singers from Mariah Carey to Rihanna.
November 2010: 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, highlighting her success on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts.
February 18, 2012: Memorial Service
On February 18, 2012, Whitney Houston's memorial service was held at her home church, New Hope Baptist Church, in Newark, New Jersey.
2013: Inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame
In 2013, Whitney Houston was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
August 2014: Inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame
In August 2014, Whitney Houston was inducted into the official Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in its second class.
2015: Billboard's Greatest R&B Artists
In 2015, Billboard placed Whitney Houston at number nine (second among female artists) on their list of the "35 Greatest R&B Artists Of All Time".
2019: Posthumous Release of "Higher Love" Remix
In 2019, a remix of Whitney Houston's bonus track "Higher Love" by Kygo was released posthumously, achieving commercial success. It topped the US Dance Club Songs chart and became Houston's highest-charting single in the UK since 1999, reaching number two.
January 2020: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In January 2020, nearly eight years after her death, Whitney Houston was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after her first nomination.
March 2020: "I Will Always Love You" Added to National Recording Registry
In March 2020, Whitney Houston's 1992 single "I Will Always Love You" was added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance.
October 2020: "I Will Always Love You" Surpasses 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.
August 5, 2022: Beyoncé's "The Queens Remix"
On August 5, 2022, Beyoncé released "The Queens Remix" to her single "Break My Soul", which mentions Whitney Houston, along with other cultural icons.
October 2022: Essence's Greatest R&B Solo Artists
In October 2022, Essence magazine ranked Whitney Houston at number one on its list of the 10 greatest R&B solo artists of all time.
May 2023: Brits Billion Award
In May 2023, Whitney Houston was one of the first of 13 artists to be given the Brits Billion Award by the BPI for reaching 1 billion career streams in the United Kingdom.
July 2023: Billion Streams for "I Wanna Dance with Somebody"
In July 2023, Whitney Houston became the first solo artist who debuted in the 1980s to have a song streamed more than a billion times after her 1987 hit, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)", reached that feat.
October 2023: Posthumous Earnings
In October 2023, Whitney Houston was listed among the top 10 highest-earning posthumous celebrities on Forbes, earning $30 million and winning a Guinness World Records entry.
2023: Rolling Stone's Top Singers List
In 2023, Rolling Stone placed Whitney Houston at second place on its top singers list, behind just Aretha Franklin.
2023: Ranked Among Greatest Singers of All Time
In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Whitney Houston second on their list of the greatest singers of all time, highlighting her powerful and tender soprano voice.
2025: Record of Consecutive Number One Hits
As of 2025, Whitney Houston remains the only artist to score seven consecutive number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
