American singer and actress born August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey; died February 11, 2012. Among the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated worldwide sales of 200 million-plus units. Distinguished by her powerful vocal range and influential interpretations of popular standards.
Released seven studio albums between Whitney Houston (1985) and I Look to You (2009). Commercial peak: Whitney Houston (diamond-certified), Whitney (1987), I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990), and The Bodyguard (1992, the best-selling soundtrack of all time at 45 million-plus copies, featuring her recording of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You"). Six Grammy Awards. Died at age 48 by drowning in a bathtub, with cocaine use and heart disease cited as contributing factors. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.
