Whitney Houston's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Whitney Houston.

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.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

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.

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.

1988: Forbes Ranking

In 1988, Whitney Houston ranked 17th on Forbes magazine, highlighting her financial success.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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: 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.

1998: Boycotted Grammy Awards

In 1998, Whitney Houston boycotted the 40th Annual Grammy Awards due to not receiving a gospel nomination for The Preacher's Wife soundtrack, despite its success. She was later acknowledged by the Dove Awards and the NAACP Image Awards, where she received the award for Outstanding Gospel Artist.

1998: Received Quincy Jones Award

In early 1998, Whitney Houston received the Quincy Jones Award for outstanding career achievements at the 12th Soul Train Music Awards, recognizing her contributions to the music industry.

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: 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.

March 2000: Honored as Female Artist of the Decade

In March 2000, Whitney Houston received a special honor at the 14th Soul Train Music Awards, being named the female artist of the decade for her extraordinary artistic contributions during the 1990s.

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.

2001: Receives BET Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2001, Whitney Houston became the first artist to receive the BET Lifetime Achievement Award.

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.

April 2004: Dismissal of Lawsuit

In April 2004, the lawsuit against Whitney Houston by John Houston Enterprise was dismissed with no compensation awarded.

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.

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.

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.

2013: Named Greatest Woman in Music by ABC

In 2013, ABC named Whitney Houston the greatest woman in music, acknowledging her profound influence.

2013: Inducted into New Jersey Hall of Fame

In 2013, Whitney Houston was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

2014: Inducted into Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame

In 2014, Whitney Houston was inducted into the official Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in its second class.

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.

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.

May 2023: Receives 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.

October 2023: Posthumous Earnings and Record

In October 2023, Whitney Houston made the list of the top 10 highest-earning posthumous celebrities on Forbes, earning $30 million, and she later won a posthumous Guinness World Records entry as the highest-earning posthumous female celebrity, her record 31st.

2023: Rolling Stone Ranks Houston Second Greatest Singer

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Whitney Houston second on their list of the greatest singers of all time, highlighting her powerful yet tender soprano voice and her defining 1990s single, a cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You."

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2023: Rolling Stone's Greatest Singers List

In 2023, Whitney Houston was ranked second on Rolling Stone's list of the greatest singers of all time, solidifying her legacy as one of the most influential vocalists.