Whitney Houston: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Inductee
Celebrated as the "greatest singer of her generation," Whitney Houston's accomplishments in music were unparalleled -- Houston was inducted posthumously as a performer
The 2020 Inductees Revealed - Celebrate the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Newest Inductee Class (2020)Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Inductees Revealed
Welcome to the official Class of 2020 Inductees, presented by partner Ernst & Young. Watch and celebrate the eight newest Inductees including Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Nine Inch Nails, The Notorious B.I.G., T. Rex, Jon Landau and Irving Azoff.
Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston’s musical upbringing is one of the most storied in the business. Her mother, Cissy Houston – a vocalist who backed artists from Elvis to Aretha Franklin – provided Whitney with expert training from a young age. Her awards – numerous enough to achieve a nod from Guinness World Records – included an Emmy and six GRAMMYs.
Whitney Houston’s ability to connect with audiences set dozens of records: the first artist to have seven consecutive #1 hits, the longest-reigning #1 single on the Hot 100 (“I Will Always Love You”), and the first woman to enter the Billboard 200 at #1 (Whitney).
Houston’s voice was as versatile as it was powerful, and her catalog shows a unique ability to incorporate a range of stylistic elements spanning pop, rock, gospel, R&B, funk, soul and hip-hop. Her sound expanded through collaborations with an array of artists, including Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, George Michael, Missy Elliott, Bobby Brown and Mariah Carey.
Whitney Houston Dress (c. 1990) by Marc BouwerRock & Roll Hall of Fame
Whitney Houston Dress, 1990
Marc Bouwer has created timeless looks for Whitney Houston since the beginning of her career and was one of her favorite designers. This dress was worn by Houston on tour.
Whitney Houston MTV Europe Music Award (1999)Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Whitney Houston MTV Europe Music Award, 1990
“Before Whitney, you were not used to seeing Black females on the top of the charts consistently, having their own video in heavy rotation on MTV," said producer and songwriter Narada Michael Walden, who helped produce “How Will I Know,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and more.
To this day, Houston is the only artist to have seven consecutive No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 with only two albums. Houston was honored at the MTV Europe Music Awards for Best R&B in 1999.
Whitney Houston Jacket (1990) by Marc BouwerRock & Roll Hall of Fame
Whitney Houston Jacket, 1990
“There’s nothing like [singing live], you get to meet the people and see their faces and feel their energy but touring is work, but if you love what you do then it’s fun, and it’s fun,” Houston said in an interview about her 28-day I’m Your Baby Tonight World Tour.
Houston wore this beaded coat in her music video for the hit song “My Name is Not Susan” and while on tour.
Whitney Houston (1991)Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Whitney Houston, 1991
In 1991, as the United States was amid the Gulf War, 27-year old Houston performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXV. The song was recorded in one take, in 4/4 time with accompaniment by the Florida Orchestra and production by Ricky Minor.
The time signature of the song was met with objection by the NFL because of the slowed tempo. Houston sang with a fervor that to this day no other vocalist can replicate. Houston’s version turned the national anthem into a Top 20 pop hit.
Letter from Clive Davis to Whitney Houston (1987)Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Letter from Clive Davis to Whitney Houston, 1987
Credited for mentoring and endorsing the music industry’s brightest stars, Clive Davis discovered Whitney Houston in 1983. At 19, she signed a record contract with Davis and Arista Records.
“We had a very close relationship professionally from the time I found her in 1983,” said Davis to Rolling Stone in 2019. “Do not ignore the music and her natural talent, how she became the greatest singer of her generation. She had a vocal genius.”
The Star-Spangled Banner (2001) by Whitney HoustonRock & Roll Hall of Fame
The Star-Spangled Banner, 2001
Beyond the music, Whitney Houston was deeply philanthropic in her private life contributing to many causes and charities. After terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Whitney’s recording of “The Star-Spangled Banner” was re-released by Arista.
Proceeds from the recording totaled more than $1 million, which were donated to the New York Fraternal Order of Police and The New York Firefighters 9/11 Disaster Relief Fund. The song would again set a record, reaching Number Six on the Billboard Hot 100.
Whitney (1987) by Whitney HoustonRock & Roll Hall of Fame
Whitney, 1987
The vocal power delivered by Houston on her second album changed the course of pop music. Songs such as “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “So Emotional” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” are mainstream classics, and the album remains one of the best-selling of all time.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Pat Houston Accepts for Whitney Houston (2020)Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Induction Acceptance Speech for Whitney Houston, 2020
Whitney Houston's mother Cissy Houston and her sister-in-law Pat Houston accept on the singer's behalf.
Covers of Whitney Houston's songs and tributes since her passing in 2012 have come from all corners of the industry, and her impact lives on through the younger artists inspired by her work.
Induction Ceremony Red Carpet with Carrie Keagan (2020)Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
2020 Induction Ceremony Red Carpet with Carrie Keagan
Back for a third time with the 2020 Induction Ceremony red carpet show hosted by Carrie Keagan with a mix of live and pre-recorded interviews from Inductees and special guests.
ROCK HALL EDU Celebrated as the “greatest singer of her generation,” Whitney Houston’s accomplishments in music were unparalleled. Use the Whitney Houston Collection to introduce learners to her iconic vocal sound. The Inductee Insights video is a great tool for beginning your exploration of Whitney Houston.
SPOTIFY PLAYLIST Record-setting pop chart toppers and powerful, soulful love songs.
The 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees exhibit was onsite at the Rock Hall from August 14, 2020 to June 14, 2021.
