Whitney Houston

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer

Category: Performer

Inducted: 2020

Inducted by: Alicia Keys

Nominated: 2020

First Eligible: 2010 Ceremony


Songwriters Hall of Fame: 1990 (Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award)

Inducted into Rock Hall Projected in 2019 (ranked #230) .

R.S. Top 500 Albums (?)RankVersion
Whitney Houston2492020
Whitney Houston2572012

R.S. Top 500 Songs (?)RankVersion
I Will Always Love You (1992)942021
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (1987)2312021

Essential Albums (?)WikipediaYouTube
Whitney Houston (1985)
Whitney (1987)
I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990)
The Bodyguard: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1992)

Essential Songs (?)WikipediaYouTube
Greatest Love of All (1985)
How Will I Know (1985)
Saving All My Love For You (1985)
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) (1987)
So Emotional (1987)
I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990)
I Will Always Love You (1992)
I Have Nothing (1992)
I'm Every Woman (1992)

Whitney Houston @ Wikipedia



Comments

82 comments so far (post your own)

Apart from Aretha, Whitney Houston's voice is regarded as a voice of her generation. She is the voice. Her music inspired a lot of young girls to be singers. EVERY singer after her from Mariah Carey, to Celine Dion notes her influence. She deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Its a shame she won't be here to receive this honor in person.

Posted by Sarah on Sunday, 05/19/2013 @ 20:49pm


Hell yeah she should be in the Hall. Abba is in there and Whitney is far more deserving.

Posted by Ann on Sunday, 05/19/2013 @ 21:00pm


Whitney sang beautifully. Did she write her lyrics?

Creatively - it's a no.

Posted by 808state on Sunday, 05/26/2013 @ 15:14pm


You could say that about quite a few inducted acts.

Posted by GFW on Sunday, 05/26/2013 @ 15:58pm


Whitney Houston deserves to be in The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Her voice is one of the most successful and groundbreaking in the last 40 years. Her voice will be a voice for all time. The last time I checked a VOICE is just as important to a record as a guitar, glaring rhythms and other instruments, cheap shock value and even more important than dance moves and explosions. The human voice is the most recognizable and most intimate things in music. In this case Whitney Houston vocally stands head and shoulders above most. Whitney is also the most awarded female artist of all time. She inspired many vocal aspirants to hone their crafts, many of which have become well known music artists themselves. The woman and her music helped to change the music industry. She was one of the few black artists who broke through MTV's stiff color quota. She made it easier for new, female and a number of black artists to get decent backing for their art. Her success signaled change in the music industry and America itself. Her music career that spanned almost 30 years on record incompasses soul, pop, gospel, adult contemporary and touches of hip hop and jazz. Before she burst onto the scene as a solo artist she polished her craft for years as session singer for popular soul artists. She could sing just about anything including opera. Whitney is even greater than what meets the eye or ear at first notice. She is an experience and interesting study in contrast.


During the heights of her career and there were many during the 1980s and 1990s she had no peer vocally or success wise. Did she beat us upside the head with political, shock or cheap messages in her music...No. Her message was all things involving LOVE and love is everlasting. Her presence was a message within itself for most of her career. Her success and image broke barriers for Women and Blacks. That cannot be overlooked bias and injustice didn't stop by the 1980s. She was a worldwide superstar and voice. Was she an illustrious songwriter...No. However she does have credits as a writer and producer. Furthermore the Hall is also home to many who have done neither. I hope narrow mindedness doesn't keep Whitney Houston out of the Hall of Fame. Regardless of who you are at one point or another you've heard her name, amazing voice or seen her at some point in your life. Her Voice is a soundtrack to American Popular Singing. She still inspires those to dream big and become great from beyond gender, race, music style and country. Her gift was pure and unique. She was a rare artist who appealed to millions of people regardless of status from royalty to Hall of Famers to Legends to everyday people, no matter age, race, gender and musical style. The Hall should be about those who have helped the industry along, brought joy to so many and those who will last.

Some of her record moments as of 2014:

Some of her moments...
1. Most awarded female of all time.
2. The Bodyguard soundtrack sales made her the 1st artist to sell more than a million copies in a single week.
3. Only artist to have 7 consecutive #1 singles.
4. 'Whitney' is the 1st album by a woman to debut at #1.
--The album held the top spot for a then record of 11 consecutive weeks.
5. The first female artist to have 3 albums in the Top 10 simultaneously.
6. Biggest selling single by a female Artist is "I Will Always Love You".
--It held a then record for week at #1 for 14 weeks.
7. Most successful female artist of the 1980s.
--To date ranks 4th among best selling women.
8. Co-produced songs for the best-selling soundtracks of all time, The Bodyguard.
9. Her $100 million deal with Arista was the highest recording contract for a recording artist in 2001.
--To date her contract ranks 2nd largest for a female artist and places in the Top 10 for all artists.
10. Ties 2nd place with The Beatles and Madonna for number of highest selling albums.
11. The Bodyguard makes her the highest album seller for a female artist and ranks best selling soundtrack of all time.
12. First woman to have four #1's from an album.
13. The 1st artist to make the national anthem a Top 10 hit in the US and have it certified platinum.
14. She has the biggest selling Gospel album with 'The Preacher's Wife' soundtrack.
15. Has charted on the American Pop, R&B, Gospel, Adult Contemporary, Dance and Jazz charts with almost 40 American singles.
16. Has sold upwards of 200 million albums & singles worldwide.
17. She has 11 number 1s on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

Posted by Kay on Monday, 02/17/2014 @ 13:26pm


Really surprised Whitney Houston hasnt been inducted. She was the total package in beauty,performance, & voice. You ask anybody who listened to her powerful voice & they would be impressed.

Whitney sold over 200 million albums world wide & several platinum albums & 11 #1 hits. Two of her songs acclaimed One Moment In Time & The National Anthem. Influenced popular singers Mariah,(BeyjonceMa)) Beyonce and others . She should be in RRHOF by 2020. KING

Posted by KING on Monday, 05/19/2014 @ 15:34pm


Really surprised Whitney Houston hasnt been inducted. She was the total package in beauty,performance, & voice. You ask anybody who listened to her powerful voice & they would be impressed.

Whitney sold over 200 million albums world wide & several platinum albums & 11 #1 hits. Two of her songs acclaimed One Moment In Time & The National Anthem. Influenced popular singers Mariah,(BeyjonceMa)) Beyonce and others . She should be in RRHOF by 2020. KING

Posted by KING on Monday, 05/19/2014 @ 15:35pm


@Andrew What kind of comment is that to say Whitney's biggest influence in the last 15 years was "crack is wack". Stop the lies. Look all around on any show which REAL SINGING and no sex bra are required and YOU WILL SEE Whitney's influence around the world. Madonna's biggest influence is having sex with any human and object

Posted by Truth Teller on Sunday, 06/1/2014 @ 00:42am


Cissy Houston

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 06/26/2014 @ 23:20pm


TruthTeller- let's not get ridiculous now. I certainly don't agree with the other poster./s comments, but there's no need to try (and fail_) to devalue Madonna's influence, impact nd reverence as an artist.

Whitney Houston eventually should get in the Hall- her commercial success aside (which is not a main factor for induction), she much set a blueprint for R&B/pop, much like Madonna did for pop/dance. What hurts some big-voiced "divas," though, is the light, at times syruppy material. Acts like Houston, Carey, Celine Dion, etc. haven't been huge critical hits compared to other acts.

Posted by JR on Monday, 06/30/2014 @ 09:55am


Whitney Houston in my opinion should already be in "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame", I mean she is the best of the very best. So why isn't she already in there?!! I am sorry but I don't get that and am actually very disappointed Whitney isn't and deeply hurt for her family and fans. Now please hurry and put her in as her true fans and I know she deserves to be in and should already be in any case, and sooo much more for what she gave and the love she showed to the world through her music and movies etc! Let's give it back to this special lady!!:) God bless U Whitney. I loveeeeeeee U. x

Posted by Emma Potter on Sunday, 08/31/2014 @ 07:25am


with all the accomplishments and awards there is no one who deserves the honor more than she.She should have been honored before she passed.

Posted by Bonnie Hammond on Thursday, 09/4/2014 @ 08:27am


I am not sure if people understand why they induct artists, musicians etc... into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But having hits records and selling hits record, and being a good singer isn't the reason. The person has to have contributed something considered phenomenal to world or music. I do feel she will get in, but I also feel she can wait her turn like many had to... there are many more important artist to be put into the Hall - before Houston. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes 20 years.

Posted by Dennis on Thursday, 11/20/2014 @ 21:10pm


I am not sure if people understand why they induct artists, musicians etc... into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But having hits records and selling hits record, and being a good singer isn't the reason. The person has to have contributed something considered phenomenal to world or music. As some people read wikipedia and wrong think she was a trailblazer - she was not. The path had been carved by Donna Summer - and as far as MTV by Summer and Tina Turner who were the first to have many videos played in heavy rotation. I do feel she will get in, but I also feel she can wait her turn like many had to... there are many more important artist to be put into the Hall - before Houston. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes 20 years.

Posted by Dennis on Thursday, 11/20/2014 @ 21:14pm


If you are only judging as to if Whitney will get in based on her drug addiction...Remember. .Stevie Nicks, Aerosmith, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Natalie Cole, Okay Osborne, Elton John
Lots of Artists...Randy Travis, George Jones, others, all major artists with drug addictions

Posted by Eric on Sunday, 11/23/2014 @ 21:55pm


Whitney is easy listening in the tradition of Barbara Streisand and Barry Manilow. Many hits and lots of fans, but not rock n roll. Therefore, no place in the Hall o' fame.

Posted by Barry on Friday, 12/12/2014 @ 08:46am


There's no reason why "The Most Awarded Female Act" should not be included. She has set the standard for so many female singers. She is one of the greatest singers of all time who has set records and broken them. She is an Icon and legend. We will always love her.

Posted by Devron on Wednesday, 01/21/2015 @ 12:25pm


Whitney sure could sing and she definitely had the album sales. Where she'll have trouble with the NomCom is that she didn't write her own music. Even her concert performances weren't all that creative.

She could eventually get nominated but it may take a while.

Posted by Marissa on Thursday, 01/22/2015 @ 04:24am


Marissa!

Is it a criteria of the induction that an artist has to write her own music? I did not see any such criteria, but maybe I just missed it.

Whether she wrote her music or not, she was definitely an influential artist. Her strength was in her performance/singing that elevated even mediocre songs to legendary status.

IMO Whitney's snub is the most shocking one (along with Janet Jackson's). Hope they put it right soon.

Posted by Suzy on Thursday, 01/22/2015 @ 07:17am


It is not a criteria, but it sure doesn't hurt to have written your own music (provided said music is worth a crap).

Posted by Paul in KY on Thursday, 01/22/2015 @ 07:27am


I like a lot of different type of music and artists and I appreciate it when someone writes his/her own music because I value creativity. However, in my opinion you can appreciate and value artists from many different angles and reasons and one is not necessarily more important than another. I would not listen to Bob Dylan for his singing abilities and I would not listen to Whitney Houston for her songwriting abilities. They are just different artists with different focuses in their art, but both are important. I mean you can be the best songwriter ever but sometimes I just want to listen to great singing and that we have great singers is not any less important than having great songwriters. Aretha Franklin did not write most of her music either - yet she is in the HOF. Whitney, as a singer, was a very influential one. Just look at all the talent shows - every female singer wants to sing like her.

Posted by Suzy on Thursday, 01/22/2015 @ 07:50am


Send Love and hope to the family

Posted by happy on Monday, 02/2/2015 @ 13:33pm


its almost impossible to classify someone when they are simply the best their was no gene whitney could not sing...and do it far better with a voice that could be recognized the world over with just a letter

Posted by melvin on Tuesday, 03/17/2015 @ 23:12pm


Nobody's perfect!! But with all her accomplishments Whitney deserves our respect and earned the right to be in the rock and roll hall of fame.

Posted by Bonnie on Monday, 07/20/2015 @ 00:38am


Nobody's perfect!! But with all her accomplishments Whitney deserves our respect and earned the right to be in the rock and roll hall of fame.

Posted by Bonnie on Monday, 07/20/2015 @ 00:38am


Nobody's perfect!! But with all her accomplishments Whitney deserves our respect and earned the right to be in the rock and roll hall of fame.

Posted by Bonnie on Monday, 07/20/2015 @ 00:38am


Outside of being the most award female singer in history. Whitney Houston has many musical performances so who have listed her as their musical influence. Whitney's voice was an instrument and she shared it with the world. Even today, Whitney Houston's music and sound is still the VOICE that others try to mimick.

Posted by Sonja B. on Saturday, 08/22/2015 @ 14:15pm


Did Whitney Houston write any of her music, or her lyrics?

Posted by Enigmaticus on Sunday, 08/23/2015 @ 11:28am


Whitney Houston had an extraordinary voice. There is no question about that. But induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame should be about consistent excellence. As far as her vocals are concerned, she has that in her favor. As far as influence on numerous artists, she also has that going in her favor. She co-wrote less than 2% of her songs, however. In the 1960's this would have been standard operating procedure, but was it okay in the 1980's?

Posted by Enigmaticus on Sunday, 08/23/2015 @ 11:42am


Rock and Roll and Rock are TWO different things. Rock n roll encompasses R&B, blues, and popular music in general. Rock is an offshoot of rock n roll and a separate genre in and of itself. There is an actual Rock Hall of fame. THIS IS NOT IT. With that being said, Whitney was one of the most influential artists of the past 20 years. She did what Aretha COULD NOT which is to bring a black/gospel sound of singing to the pop music forefront by BLENDING the soul of gospel with the pop sensibilities and elegance of Barbra Streisand. In the process she broke lots of record and is the most awarded female artist as well as the 4th highest selling of all time proving just how much she was respected and revered in the music community as well as to millions around the world. She set the standard for pop singing in the late 80's to the 90's and is credited by COUNTLESS artists from the jazzy Anita Baker to pop powerhouses Celine and Mariah to even rock artists like Sebastian Bach site her as influential and, for some of them, even pivitol to breaking down the door for them to even get signed. I'm tired of people, especially those in the rock white community understating her clear influence and acting like Aretha and Tina are the only black women that can influence a generation of singers. Whitney went places that Aretha could not due to her ability to appeal to a variety of audiences. Clive Davis signed plenty of beautiful talented black singers as well as Aretha in the 80's and none of them were able to have the impact Whitney did when it came to making that type of singing so hugely popular that so many pop artists after that wanted to emulate it. And please don't tell me that commercial success has NO weight when it comes to who gets inducted definitely does along with influence. You may not like her voice but don't diminish her obvious influence on the countless singers that wanted to sing/be like her.

Posted by destiny on Monday, 08/24/2015 @ 03:05am


The fact that Whitney Houston IS THEE standard in music yet the R&R Hall of Fame HASN'T seen fit to induct her speaks to something deeper. In other words, when you have industry giants such as L.A. Reid or Simon Cowell or [Insert Established Industry Executive Here.] declare an aspiring hopeful is "no Whitney Houston"... THAT'S not INFLUENCE?! Whitney had her OWN exhibit at the Grammy Museum which 1000s of people flocked to see in that crapped vestige.
Perhaps the RRHOF is just out of touch with their Own rationale for doing what they do? Otherwise, NONE if this makes sense. She should've been inducted the Exact same time Madonna was AT LEAST. They Both have FEW "Pop/Rock" Songs...
How Will I Know
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
So Emotional
Queen of The Night
and a couple others...
point is, what valid reasons would the RRHOF be using to keep her out?!? Whitney said it herself, "Our business is Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll."

Posted by Snoop Catt on Tuesday, 09/1/2015 @ 14:15pm


How small minded some people are. We all have had problems in our lives. If you say you haven't, then lying is a problem for you. Whitney deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Her voice and talent are unmatched. She went beyond R&B, pop, and rock. She moved peoples spirits. She is truly an icon.

Posted by Dale on Saturday, 10/10/2015 @ 12:30pm


I applaud the Whitney Houston fans for flooding this site with yes votes, but if Whitney didn't receive a nomination after her untimely death then she's likely to be waiting a very, very long time.

Posted by Ryan on Monday, 10/19/2015 @ 15:46pm


I can't believe Whitney isn't in the Hall of Fame already. The most awarded female artist in history? That's crazy impressive!!! I don't understand all the people being so negative...are they inducting on choices people have made.. or the talent they have? RIP Whitney! I LOVE YOU

Posted by Whitney4Ever on Friday, 10/23/2015 @ 13:38pm


Whitney Houston is one of the greatest Artists of our times and should be acknowledged fullyfor her major contributions to the music world. Her spirit lives on through her music and if anyone deserves the honor of being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it is her!!!! God bless you Whitney and thank you for the amazing music and talent you shared with us.

Posted by Rob Roder on Tuesday, 11/3/2015 @ 22:28pm


Whitney had a powerful voice but her personal demons destroyed it.
She didn't write her own lyrics and contributed very little to the creation of her hits. I think that's what is holding her back from nomination.

Posted by Nick on Wednesday, 12/30/2015 @ 08:56am


Please just add Nip's aka Whitney Houston in here. (IMO) Nip's is #theBESTofthebest, so she should be in already, without any questions. #LoveUmybabyandangelofREALWARMPURELOVEforeverandbeyond. :) XO

Posted by Emma1757 on Thursday, 01/7/2016 @ 05:36am


Whitney Houston was the Greatest Voice of our time!!! Noone has achieved what she achieved. She is a legend at should be voted in!!!

Posted by Tony Washington on Sunday, 01/17/2016 @ 04:31am


Induct Whitney Houston! It is long overdue!

Posted by Cecelia Garvin on Sunday, 01/17/2016 @ 17:02pm


I can't imagine her personal life having anything to do with her not being admitted. If that were the case many of these "rock and rollers" wouldn't have a chance in hell. Possibly song writing credits? The question is 'what in the world is rock and roll?' From NWA to the Shirelles to Queen to Brenda Lee I'm confused. Induct Whitney Elizabeth Houston!

Posted by Crystal on Wednesday, 01/20/2016 @ 22:14pm


It's time for Whitney Houston to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A legend and icon who transcended many categories, her recognition is long overdue. Hope the next round of inductions (for 2017) will include her.

Posted by Chuck on Friday, 04/8/2016 @ 12:08pm


Whitney Houston was NOT a rock n roll artist! Why would she even be considered? May as well induct Judy Garland.

Posted by TomNJ on Wednesday, 04/27/2016 @ 13:51pm


Mariah Carey will likely receive a nomination before Whitney Houston. Mariah wrote some of her own lyrics so that's what pushes her ahead here.

Posted by Ryan on Monday, 05/9/2016 @ 05:03am


It's unbelievable she has not been inducted yet.

Posted by Nip on Thursday, 07/21/2016 @ 15:36pm


You are simply not a hall of fame without her. No question. Her presence in your hall would legitimize it as a Hall of Fame. Without her, you are an empty room.

Posted by Elisa Brasili on Thursday, 07/21/2016 @ 22:32pm


Guess that 'empty room' will remain for another year, Elisa.
Whitney ain't getting nominated this year...

Posted by Marissa on Monday, 09/19/2016 @ 13:22pm


I like her hopes she gets in.. Having said that Its weird when folks spam her vote a 100x's It's counter productive in my opinion

Posted by Happy on Monday, 10/17/2016 @ 21:21pm


Whitney is the first artist Ever to sell a million copies of an album in a week ,I will always love you is the largest selling single in history no other artist has 7 straight number one songs and she's the most awarded Female artist of all time ,she needs ta b there

Posted by Nina on Tuesday, 10/18/2016 @ 07:31am


Regardless of what Andrew had to say, she had her problems, but that doesn't take away from her accomplishments. I mean I don't take anything from old wrinkled up Madonna. She is an icon, but I will correct you. So was Whitney. Now check that.

Posted by JFedd on Tuesday, 11/29/2016 @ 16:58pm


If Anyone should be inducted into the R&RHOF it has to be Whitney Houston for crying out loud she had the Best Voice in the history of Mankind!!

Posted by Gloria Erol on Monday, 12/5/2016 @ 12:58pm


Whitney Houston deserves to be in The Rock and Roll Hall of fame,because she is one of the most talented and gifted artist coming out of the 80a era! Who sold millions and millions of albums through out her career and even bigger success with sold out concerts all over the world. tomorrow!!! (Just in case)
Everything that you have posted it becomes public by tomorrow. Even the messages that have been deleted or the photos not allowed. It doesn't cost nothing to make a simple copy and paste, prevention is better than cure. Channel 13 has talked about the change in the privacy policy of Facebook.
I don't give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, messages or posts, both past and future. With this statement, I give notice to Facebook that it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, or take any other action against me on the basis of this profile and/or its contents. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of privacy can be punished by law (UCC 1-308-1 1 308-103 and the Rome statute). Note: Facebook is now a public entity. All members must post a note like this. If you prefer, you can copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once, you will be technically allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in the updates of your status and profile. Don't share, but copy and paste to be on the safe sideifted to come our of the 80a era

Posted by vivian on Tuesday, 04/4/2017 @ 19:54pm


Whitney Houston deserves to be in The Rock and Roll Hall of fame,because she is one of the most talented and gifted artist coming out of the 80a era! Who sold millions and millions of albums through out her career and even bigger success with sold out concerts all over the world. tomorrow!!! (Just in case)
Everything that you have posted it becomes public by tomorrow. Even the messages that have been deleted or the photos not allowed. It doesn't cost nothing to make a simple copy and paste, prevention is better than cure. Channel 13 has talked about the change in the privacy policy of Facebook.
I don't give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, messages or posts, both past and future. With this statement, I give notice to Facebook that it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, or take any other action against me on the basis of this profile and/or its contents. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of privacy can be punished by law (UCC 1-308-1 1 308-103 and the Rome statute). Note: Facebook is now a public entity. All members must post a note like this. If you prefer, you can copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once, you will be technically allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in the updates of your status and profile. Don't share, but copy and paste to be on the safe sideifted to come our of the 80a era

Posted by vivian on Tuesday, 04/4/2017 @ 19:56pm


In order to induct the late Whitney Houston, we need Janet Jackson first and Cher could also increase the possibilities too if she get's an induction sooner than we think.

Posted by The Dude on Monday, 08/13/2018 @ 00:50am


I think the Americans still do not know what the rock and roll hall of fame means, it surprises me because that music was invented by you. Now r&b artists in the late forties and early fifties invented black rock and roll and then the country and western artists played r&b songs and became popular and the rock and roll era was born in the mid 50s, then the industry created another pop way influenced by rock, well in this way the nominees to enter are the artists that are from the genres and subgenres of rock music, the artists of the genres and subgeneros of the r&b and the pop artists that has a direct or indeterminate relationship to rock or r&b, etc. The other is a myth because blues, jazz, country or gospel artists usually do not enter except as the first influence or if it is directly related to rock or r&b, that is to say that artists usually come from the rock and roll era. from the decade of 50. On the subject of whitney houston, she had to be admitted many years before I still do not understand why she does not enter, she has all the resources to enter the rock hall, hopefully next year she will be nominated

Posted by beatnic on Wednesday, 04/24/2019 @ 22:44pm


NO. GOD PLEASE NO. NO. NOOOOOOOOOO.

Posted by Sam on Friday, 07/26/2019 @ 15:31pm




Janet's induction just cleared the way for Whitney. And it's likely if 2020 repeats 2019, we may see two female artists inducted (Pat and Whitney). Just depends how the Hall plays it and while they go for five, usually if a vote gets close, they'll pick whoever's closest since 2019 seemed to be a very contested race.

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Thursday, 10/17/2019 @ 23:20pm


Whitney should be considered as inductee due to her legendary voice in R&B during the 1980's and 1990's who influenced Beyoncé and Mariah Carey. If Janet Jackson can be inducted in the Hall of Fame due to status of her work along with her family members who are also inducted in Hall of Fame, when Whitney deserves the same status along her mentor Aretha Franklin who influenced Whitney since childhood as a family friend to her mother Cissy Houston. She will have competition with Chaka Khan and Pat Benatar this year with more women peformers needed to be inducted.

Posted by Erayman64 on Saturday, 10/19/2019 @ 23:07pm


Whitney Houston and Chaka Khan duetted before. Whitney Houston did a remake of I'm Every Woman. It's a sign. Michael McDonald, Chaka Khan, and Whitney Houston will all be inducted in 2020!

Posted by Roy on Sunday, 10/20/2019 @ 12:15pm


Roy, I don't think it's impossible for Michael McDonald, Chaka Khan AND Whitney to all be inducted in one year. Especially with Pat Benatar lol

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Sunday, 10/20/2019 @ 16:52pm


Dionne Warwick SHOULD be Whitney's inductor, so both of them could get inducted a couple of years from now.

Posted by The Dude on Sunday, 10/20/2019 @ 20:33pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izx8J6U7xzo

David Byrne of Talking Heads performs Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me), written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam of Boy Meets Girl.

Austin City Limits 2001

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 10/23/2019 @ 05:36am


The Dude,

Dionne inducting Whitney would be great. It would be full circle for her to induct Whitney when 33 years before, she excitedly announced her as the winner of a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1986.

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Tuesday, 10/29/2019 @ 11:55am


@ Tim

Woah! That would make a lotta sense to use that clip from the Grammys in 86 before she kicks in with an induction speech!

Posted by The Dude on Tuesday, 10/29/2019 @ 12:10pm


The Dude,

Most definitely. That would be an epic moment.

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Sunday, 11/3/2019 @ 13:59pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpciOtIh2b0

Whitney Houston's Best Friend: Despite Bobby Brown, 'We Were Never Estranged' | TODAY

Posted by Roy on Tuesday, 11/12/2019 @ 12:22pm


Whitney ranks #11 on Billboard's all time artists list. The third highest ranking female artist behind Mariah Carey and Madonna and third highest ranking African American after Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder.
https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-of-all-time-artists

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Thursday, 11/14/2019 @ 13:47pm


Correction: FIFTH highest ranking woman.

Mariah
Barbra
Taylor
Madonna
Whitney

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Thursday, 11/14/2019 @ 14:00pm


Whitney is the only act on the list of RRHOF nominees who has a current (posthumous) hit record ("Higher Love" with Kygo). She has a bigger hit than this year's inductee Janet Jackson, whose "Made for Now" only stayed at the Hot 100 for a week while "Higher Love" not only charted higher but was certified gold and gave WH, whose music packed dance floors as much as Donna Summer, Madonna and Janet, her 14th number one on the dance charts.

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Sunday, 11/17/2019 @ 08:24am


Kevin Smith on his Whitney Houston obsession (play the video):

shorturl.at/hMY57

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Wednesday, 12/11/2019 @ 13:35pm



Whitney Houston deserves this HONOR in THIS nomination for work. TALENTED Top FEMALE of ALL TIMES The VOICE! Most awarded FEMALE of ALL TIMES!!NATIONAL Treasures not to be messed with THIS WOMAN!!!Im HERS BIGGEST Fan in the WORLD!!

Posted by MICHAEL PROWELL JR. on Monday, 12/30/2019 @ 10:38am


According to Chartmasters.org, based on her studio albums alone (this includes the Bodyguard and Preacher's Wife albums and excluding Waiting to Exhale since it's not considered a WH album), Whitney Houston sold more than 113,600,000 albums with just nine studio works. Probably impressive considering she only released nine albums (compared that to Michael Jackson, who also sold a massive amount of copies despite only releasing ten studio albums in his lifetime). At one point, Whitney was actually outselling Madonna with just two albums compared to Madonna's four during the 1980s. That's how massive Whitney was with just two albums. I'm Your Baby Tonight sold very decently with nearly ten million copies worldwide. The Bodyguard's album sales were just massive, not just for its time either! Including Waiting to Exhale, total album sales would've probably been around over 120 million.

Adding in every single units, Whitney Houston sold a whopping, are you sitting down yet?, 49.52 million copies! I'm guessing this is now at around 50 million copies after the massive success of "Higher Love" (though it would include streaming "units", that puts it at 50,775,000 but on the site, it rounded out to 49.52 million).

So that brings physical record sales so far to around 163,120,000 records worldwide. Of course that's only the half of it.

With digital single sales, Whitney has managed to sell around 34,250,000, this push her sales to around 197,370,000 copies.

Streaming "sales" for everything tallied are around 920,820 copies. I'm sure it'll pass the one million mark in the future if it hasn't already.

When you add compilations, there's 14,900,000 copies added to the total so it's now around 212,270,000 million copies worldwide. Add in "other" albums (including the Dancin' Special from 1986, several box sets and Live: Her Greatest Performances), they bring a total of around 625,000 total copies. Add in music videos, Whitney sold around 1,650,000 copies, bringing the full total to 214,545,000 million records worldwide.

Add in the stream units, the full number would be 215,370,000 copies. Again, impressive for someone whose discography were smaller compared to many of her peers, including Janet Jackson, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Madonna. Imagine if she had actually released a studio album in between The Bodyguard and The Preacher's Wife.

I don't add stream sales, so the total we have is 214,545,000 copies worldwide.

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Monday, 12/30/2019 @ 21:06pm


Congratulations to Whitney Houston for being inducted in the rock 'n' roll Hall of Fame. She was a true talent, legend and icon.

Posted by Sam on Sunday, 01/19/2020 @ 20:11pm


Cissy Houston needs to get over herself and accept the award along with Bobby Brown on stage with her. He lost his daughter too. Whitney Houston had problems long before Bobby Brown came in the picture. Cissy takes the trophy home. I would like Dionne Warwick to be the presenter, and hopefully it will lead to her induction in 2021 along with Burt Bacharach and Hal David, but it will most likely be Beyonce who will be the presenter, or maybe three presenters: Beyonce, Dionne Warwick, Clive Davis. It's happened before. Beyonce should perform 3 original tracks: How Will I Know, I Wanna Dance With Somebody Who Loves Me, Didn't We Almost Have It All. No Dolly Parton song! Don't hold the Dee Dee Warwick issues over Dionne Warwick's head.

Posted by Roy on Saturday, 03/28/2020 @ 16:19pm


If Whitney Houston deserves induction into the Hall, why did it take 10 years? Truly great artists are usually inducted in their first year of eligibility. I would like to have seen her cousin Dionne Warwick inducted first. She was Luther Vandross's favorite female vocalist. Unlike Whitney, Dionne had good songs from Bacharach/David, while Whitney was saddled with Narada Michael Walden. Dionne may be underestimated as a singer: the changes on "Say a Little Prayer" were difficult; not even Aretha attempted them in her version. It would've been nice if Dionne had been inducted while Whitney was alive so she could present her cousin at the ceremony, but she would probably have been too much of a wreck to attend. Fame ruined her. Whitney Houston's life was the greatest waste of talent.

Commentators have said Whitney had the greatest voice; others say she's second to Aretha. There's no doubt to me about which is the greatest. Aretha is the epitome of greatness and there's nothing subjective about greatness. Debating her stature is like denying scientific fact. She "isn't great" like Mozart "isn't great". Her achievements: She was the first woman inducted in the Hall- and before the Beatles. She was the first woman of Soul; there would be no Whitney without her example. Aretha's singles of 1967-8 are unmatched by any singer or band in a year or career. Classics galore, "Never Loved a Man", "Respect", "Chain of Fools", Baby I Love You" , "Since You Been Gone" , "Think". An absolutley devastating run. They may not have been great songs, but Aretha's talent transformed them into gems. Unlike Whitney, Aretha covered "rock" songs: "The Weight", " Bridge Over Troubled Water", " Let It Be", even "Respect" was a rocker(Otis Redding said "the girl done stole my song"). Whitney had imitators, most of them bad; Aretha had none because no one could imitate her(Her sisters Erma and Carolyn were talented, too and deserve recognition). Bottom line is that comparisons between Aretha and any mortal are ridiculous including here. Aretha was a miracle; Whitney was a tragedy.

Aretha covered rock, but Whitney didn't. She had hits on the R&B charts, which is close to rock. But I wouldn't exactly describe her as Soul, except for a few ballads. Babyface and L.A. Reid also gave her credibility in "urban" music. She was mainly dance pop and adult contemporary. Her cousin Dionne Warwick was also not really Soul or R & B, but the difference was she had much better songs that are standards. Whitney's songs are not in that league. Her voice wasn't enough to transcend the mediocrity she got. Those reasons are strikes against her: the songs weren't really rock/R & B and the songs were mediocre.
I think people categorize Whitney Houston as Soul because of race. That is outrageously condescending. A black person doesn't represent a genre because of color. Music has qualities that make it a certain way; it's not the person making it. There are white artists who are better exponents of Soul than black singers.
Supporters point to sales as a reason to induct Whitney, but that's a weak argument. There are many record artists, including Whitney imitators, with platinum (1 million+) or diamond (10 million+) sales, and most of them aren't serious contenders. High sales only point out the bad taste of too many American buyers. The logic seems to say that high sales may not get someone in but really astronomically high sales, in Whitney's case, will be enough. Or, the fact that she's sold more records than anyone is the clincher. That's a dubious claim because the distinction is thin. There's not much of a gap as a percentage between, for instance, 100 million sales and 95 million sales.
Now Whitney Houston is enshrined. I would like to see some sort of recognition for her mother Cissy Houston, who was also a great singer. She gave birth to a goddess, which shows that the acorn didn't fall far from the tree. Unfortunately, stardom picked up the nut and carried it towards the road of self destruction.
Whitney Houston's legacy may condensed in Shakespeare's eulogy for Caesar: the evil that men do lives after them; the good is interred with their bones. I'm afraid future generations yet unborn will remember her this way.

Posted by Buĺl frog on Thursday, 04/2/2020 @ 18:23pm


The member ahead sounds absolutely ridiculous. The point of her induction, which is happening whether you think she's truly worthy or even a great artist which she is (which is a bad claim because 1- we know the Hall has biased against dance-pop/R&B musicians and 2- Michael Jackson was also not immediately inducted after her was first eligible in 1996/97 and he's one of the greatest), is to celebrate the greatness of her work and talent. Not to go over the long and tired and overplayed story of her immense personal struggles and demise. The obsession over that part of her life is rather unsettling. Plenty of pop culture icons were messes in their lives like Elvis and Marilyn but they are remembered for being icons and talented influential performers and that's exactly how generations will remember Whitney, personal life be damned.

Posted by ABJ on Friday, 10/30/2020 @ 17:44pm


What is the obsession with putting this woman down, Bull frog and others - if you don't "get" her or think she is unworthy of the induction your opinion is not going to convince people who love her that she is bad. Music is subjective, she moved some, repelled others - it happens. Personally many of these "greats" people love to compare to whitney - the Dionne's, the Aretha's, Chaka khan's etc don't touch me the way whitney does. And trust me I have taken my time out to listen to the albums of these artists and live work to see if the criticism of whitney is justified. Well, nope it isn't, they don't touch me they way she did with her phenomenal voice.

Her voice and singing went straight to my heart. She took me "there" wherever there is she took me there- the chill factor. Her vocals move me spiritually, they made me cry. Her live singing is also amazing where she switches up the arrangements of her songs and she was a great performer. She never sang a song the same way twice. She is more than deserving, the best actually. I also think Mariah Carey deserves to be inducted, she is another one whose voice gives me a lot of joy.

Posted by dbred on Saturday, 01/9/2021 @ 11:57am


30 years ago at Super Bowl XXV in 1991, Whitney Houston performed her iconic and legendary rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner", which was also being played in Tampa, like today. This was just 10 days after the beginning of the Gulf War and Desert Storm. ESPN just did a piece on her being chosen to sing the National Anthem, and replayed her historic and patriotic version. It is a great time to honor Whitney, 30 years after she moved the sports and music world, so emotionally, at that Super Bowl.

Posted by Will N. on Sunday, 02/7/2021 @ 09:28am


To the comment above thank you - the constant criticisms for whitney are boring. To the people saying black audiences turned away from her - maybe for a short period in the 80s but since then no, I can confidently say whitney's biggest fan base are black women especially from the church. I know because I'm one of them. Her powerballads in the 90s and 80s pop songs made her almost raceless and genreless, it gave her massive appeal worldwide. In Asia whitney is very popular. Her songs are always covered and sung by upcoming singers. Same in Africa and South America. Don't believe me go on YouTube and you will see.

Posted by dbred on Friday, 02/19/2021 @ 02:48am


RIP Cissy Houston

Posted by J.W. on Monday, 10/7/2024 @ 15:42pm


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Future Rock Legends is your home for Whitney Houston and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, including year of eligibility, number of nominations, induction chances, essential songs and albums, and an open discussion of their career.


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