Whitney Houston is undeniably one of the most celebrated artists of the past 100 years. Her total tally of 11 number 1 singles is topped only by a handful of artists in history.Houston’s first #1 came from her self-titled debut album in 1985, when ‘Saving All My Love For You’ topped the billboard charts for one week, instantly turning her into America’s new sweetheart. Although, Whitney already had a #3 hit with ‘You Give Good Love’ from the same album, ‘Saving..’ gave her the crossover edge that helped her sell over 30 million copies of her debut album – becoming the biggest selling debut album by a female artist in history. The album spawned two more #1 singles with the funky and groovy ‘How Will I Know’ and the classic inspirational ballad ‘Greatest Love Of All’.
Whitney’s sophomore album was an equally big success, with the first single ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ topping the Billboard charts and surpassing the worldwide success of her previous hit singles. The next three singles from the album, ‘Didn’t We Almost Have It All’, ‘So Emotional’ and ‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go’ all topped the Pop charts one after another in an unprecedented string of 7 consecutive number one singles, breaking the previous record of most consecutive #1’s, held by The Beatles.
Her third album, spawned two more #1 hits with the gospel-themed powerful love-ballad “All The Man That I Need” and the title track “I’m Your Baby Tonight”
Whitney’s fourth studio project was the soundtrack album for The Bodyguard – which till this day – is the biggest selling album by a female artist in history. The album included some of the most memorable classics by Houston including ‘Run To You’, ‘I’m Every Woman’ and ‘I Have Nothing’, and her 10th #1 smash-hit, ‘I Will Always Love’ – which broke the Billboard record for staying atop the charts for a total of 14 consecutive weeks.
Houston’s 11th and final #1 came from another critically-acclaimed soundtrack from the Forrest Whitaker directed 1995 movie, ‘Waiting To Exhale’. The Babyface composed title track, ‘Exhale (Shoop Shoop)’, debuted straight at #1 and spent a whopping 11 consecutive weeks on the #2 spot of the chart.
Although, Whitney had a string of several Top 10 hits in the next 7-8 years of her career, including songs like ‘I Believe In You and Me’, ‘My Love Is Your Love’ and ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ – ‘Exhale’ remains her final #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Here is a complete list of her iconic chart-toppers in order of their release dates:
Saving All My Love For You
Released in: 1985
How Will I Know
Released in: 1985
Greatest Love Of All
Released in: 1986
I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Released in: 1987
Didn’t We Almost Have It All
Released in: 1987
So Emotional
Released in: 1987
Where Do Broken Hearts Go
Released in: 1988
I’m Your Baby Tonight
Released in: 1990
All The Man That I Need
Released in: 1990
I Will Always Love You
Released in: 1992
Exhale
Released in: 1995
Exhale, released from the critically acclaimed soundtrack of the movie ‘Waiting To Exhale’, was her last #1 single on the Billboard charts, though she continued to enjoy several other Top 10 hits over the years.
Which of these iconic 11 songs do you like the most?
Let us know.