Houston, Whitney Elizabeth
1963-2012 · Contribution: 1985-1998
Singer & Actress
Known as “The Voice,” became the best-selling female recording artist of the 1980s and 1990s, scored a record seven consecutive number-one Billboard Hot 100 singles, and starred in The Bodyguard (1992), whose soundtrack remains the best-selling album by a female artist and the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time

Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1963
- Active since
- 1985
- Category
- Arts, Music & Entertainment Tech
- Best known for
- "The Voice"Best-selling "Bodyguard" soundtrackSeven straight No. 1 singles
Impact on the world
Houston set a standard of vocal power and pop dominance that reshaped the charts and the ballad. Her crossover success broke barriers on radio and MTV.
Sources
- Britannica
2 more sources and references are available to members.
Related visionaries
Franklin, Aretha Louise
1942-2018
Became known as the “Queen of Soul” and, in 1987, the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, winning 18 Grammy Awards and recording enduring anthems including “Respect,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” and “Think” that became touchstones of the civil rights and women's movements
Jackson, Michael Joseph
1958-2009
Became known as the “King of Pop” after his 1982 album Thriller sold an estimated 70 million copies worldwide to become the best-selling album in history, won a record-setting eight Grammy Awards in a single night in 1984, and transformed the music video into a cinematic art form while breaking racial barriers on MTV and radio
Carroll, Diahann (Carol Diahann Johnson)
1935-2019
First African American woman to star in her own television series in a non-domestic role, with 1968's 'Julia'; first Black woman to win a Tony Award for a leading musical role
Wonder, Stevie (Stevland Hardaway Morris)
1950-present
A blind child prodigy signed to Motown at age 11, became one of the most decorated recording artists in history with 25 Grammy Awards, the most ever won by a male solo artist, and produced a run of 1970s albums including Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life widely regarded among the greatest in popular music