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Whitney Houston was found dead Saturday Feb. 11 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, just hours before she was scheduled to make an appearance at her mentor Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy party. As the world mourns the loss of one of music's most legendary (and, sadly, infamous) pop stars, let's take a look back at the six-time Grammy winner's prolific music career. Here are 10 of her greatest hits.
1. "I Will Always Love You" -- 1992
Houston's bigest hit was actually a cover of a 1970s Dolly Parton single, but when the pop diva sang it for her film The Bodyguard, she managed the rare feat of not only making the song her own but creating the definitive version of the unforgettable track. It's one of the longest-running singles of all time, staying No. 1 for a then-record of 14 weeks.
2. "Greatest Love of All" -- 1986
Anyone who grew up in the '80s can probably sing this entire song verbatim. The inspiration anthem spent three weeks topping Billboard's pop charts, and is one of Houston's signature tracks, considered the pinnacle of her self-titled debut album.
3. "How Will I Know" -- 1986
One of Houston's three biggest hits from her first album, this single showed off Houston's crossover appeal as a pop, R&B and dance artist. The upbeat single with the catchy hook stayed No. 1 for two weeks.
4. "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" -- 1987
The first single released from Houston's sophomore album, Whitney, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" immediately topped the charts, just as the pop star earned the honor of being the first female artist to debut an album at No. 1. The song went on the win a Grammy for best female pop vocal performance.
5. "So Emotional" -- 1987
Another of Houston's dance hits, "So Emotional" (from her second album, Whitney) had a strong guitar riff that gave it a rock feel. Penned by hitmakers Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, who were best known for Madonna's "Like a Virgin" and Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors," the single was the singer's sixth consecutive No. 1 hit, tying Houston with The Beatles and The Bee Gees.
6. "Saving All My Love For You" -- 1985
Originally recorded by R&B couple Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. in the late '70s, Houston's cover from her debut album became the first of her many No. 1 hits. Unlike many of her other songs, which bolstered Houston's then clean-cut image, "Saving All My Love" is from the perspective of a mistress discussing her affair with a married man.
7. "Didn't We Almost Have It All" -- 1987
Nominated for best song at the 1988 Grammys Awards, "Didn't We Almost Have It All" was Houston's second single and No. 1 hit from her album Whitney. It's speculated that the song is about Houston's failed relationship with football player Randall Cunningham.
8. "I'm Your Baby Tonight' -- 1990
Written by R&B hitmakers L.A. Reid and Babyface, "I'm Your Baby Tonight" was the title track from Houston's third studio album. It went on to reach the top of the Billboard charts, making the dance hit her eighth No. 1 single.
9. "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" -- 1988
Houston was reportedly reluctant to include the single in her second studio effort, but Clive Davis persuaded her to record the song. It became her record-breaking seventh consecutive No. 1 hit, making her (to this day!) the only recording artist ever to accomplish that feat.
10. "The Star Spangled Banner" -- 1991
So many artists are famous for flubbing the national anthem, but not Houston. We're not sure any pop star has performed "The Star Spangled Banner" as beautifully as the pitch-perfect Houston at Super Bowl XXV, a particularly poignant year, because our troops were serving in the Persian Gulf.
