# List of awards and nominations received by Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston (1963-2012) was an American singer, actress and movie producer who has received numerous awards and honorary accolades throughout a career that spanned more than 25 years and posthumously as well. Known as "The Voice" and a cultural icon, she is one of the most awarded artists of all time, with over 600 awards won. With 22 wins out of 38 nominations, Houston is the second most-awarded female American Music Awards winner ever; at the 1994 American Awards, Houston won a record eight AMAs, setting an all-time record for most wins in a single night. She is the second most awarded winning entertainer at the NAACP Image Awards with 20 wins. Houston is the ninth most awarded artist at the Billboard Music Awards with 16, including 11 alone in 1993. In 2012, Houston posthumously was awarded the Billboard Millennium Award. Houston is one of the few secular artists to receive awards for gospel work, winning a Stellar Award and two Dove Awards.
Between 1986 and 2000, Houston received six competitive Grammy Awards out of 25 nominations. In 1994, Houston won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for her soundtrack album, The Bodyguard, from the film of the same name while winning Record of the Year for "I Will Always Love You". In addition, Houston is a two-time inductee to the Grammy Hall of Fame, due to her landmark recordings, Whitney Houston and "I Will Always Love You" winning the awards, bringing her total of Grammy wins to eight. Houston also has won 14 World Music Awards, including a record five wins in 1994. In 2023, Houston was just one of thirteen musicians to receive the Brit Billion Award for earning a career billion streams in the United Kingdom. A prominent fixture on music video stations such as MTV, BET and VH1 since the 1980s, Houston has been honored with awards from all three networks, and was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards and the first female artist to receive the Global Icon Award at the MTV Europe Music Awards.
Although music was her primary source of accomplishment, Houston also received nominations and awards for other works in philanthropy, film and television. Houston received two Emmy Awards in 1986 and 1988, the former for a 1986 Grammy Awards performance, and the latter for having her song "One Moment in Time" being played during coverage of the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Houston was nominated for several acting awards for her works in The Bodyguard, Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher's Wife and Sparkle, later winning the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress for her role in The Preacher's Wife. Houston's work on Cinderella won her another Emmy nomination. Houston received a United Negro College Fund award, an honorary doctorate from Grambling University and a VH1 Honors Award for her philanthropy work.
Houston has been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the New Jersey Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame as well as the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2019, Houston's landmark recording of "I Will Always Love You" was inducted into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2019. In 2020, Houston was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on her first nomination. A prominent black female entertainer, she was also inducted into the BET Walk of Fame and the Soul Train Hall of Fame.
* Awards and nominations: A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J
* M
* N
* O
* P
* S
* T
* W
* Cultural honors
* Guinness World Records
* Listicles
* Other honors
* Honorary degree
* Vevo Awards
* Notes
* References

## Other accolades
### Cultural honors
### Guinness World Records

As of 2025, Houston has claimed 31 entries in the Guinness World Records with Houston maintaining 24 of the records.
Key :
| † | Indicates a former world-record holder |

### Listicles

Name of publisher, name of listicle, year(s) listed, and placement result :
| Publisher | Listicle | Year(s) | Result | Ref. |
| ABC | 30 Greatest Women in Music | 2013 | 1 | |
| American Dental Hygienists' Association | America's Greatest Smiles | 1988 | Placed | |
| American Film Institute | AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs | 2004 | 65th ("I Will Always Love You") | |
| The A.V. Club | The 30 Greatest National Anthem Performances of All Time, Ranked | 2023 | 1 (The performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV) | |
| The A.V. Club | The Best Movie Soundtracks of All Time, Ranked | 2023 | 12 (The Bodyguard) | |
| Billboard | Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Women Artists | 2017 | 4 | |
| Billboard | Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Artists | 2018 | 9 | |
| Billboard | The 99 Greatest Songs of 1999 | 2019 | 22 ("It's Not Right but It's Okay") | |
| Billboard | Greatest of All Time Dance Club Artists | 2016 | 13 | |
| Billboard | Greatest of All Time Adult Contemporary Artists | 2023 | 15 | |
| Billboard | Rookie of the Year | 1985 | Placed | |
| Billboard | The Greatest Pop Star By Year (1981–2022) | 1986 | 1 | |
| Billboard | The Greatest Pop Star By Year (1981–2022) | 1987 | Honorable mention | |
| Billboard | The Greatest Pop Star By Year (1981–2022) | 1992 | Honorable mention | |
| Billboard | The Greatest Pop Star By Year (1981–2022) | 1993 | Honorable mention | |
| Billboard | Top 50 R&B Artists of the Past 25 Years | 2010 | 3 | |
| Billboard | 35 Greatest R&B Artists of All Time | 2015 | 9 | |
| Billboard | 110 Greatest Musical Moments | 2004 | Placed (The success of Whitney Houston in 1985–86) | |
| Billboard | Greatest Songs of All Time Hot 100 Songs | 2021 | 60 ("I Will Always Love You") | |
| Billboard | Greatest of All Time Songs of the Summer | 2021 | 104 ("I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | |
| Billboard | Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs | 2021 | 85 ("Do You Hear What I Hear") | |
| Billboard | Top 11 Super Bowl National Anthem Performances | 2023 | 1 (The performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV) | |
| Billboard | 500 Best Pop Songs of All Time | 2023 | 1 ("I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" 60 ("I Will Always Love You") 229 ("How Will I Know") | |
| Billboard | 100 Best Breakup Songs of All Time | 2025 | 6 ("I Have Nothing") | |
| Billboard | The Top 50 Best R&B Love Songs of All Time | 2025 | 5 ("I Will Always Love You") | |
| Billboard | The Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century | 2025 | 69 | |
| CBS Sports NFL | Super Bowl all-time national anthems | 2024 | 1 (The performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV) | |
| Complex | The 100 Hottest Female Singers of All Time | 2012 | 51st | |
| Consequence of Sound | The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time | 2016 | 6th | |
| Cosmopolitan | 53 Best Movie Soundtracks of All Time | 2023 | 38th (The Bodyguard) 48th (Waiting to Exhale) | |
| Entertainment Weekly | Entertainers of the Year | 1993 | 5th | |
| Entertainment Weekly | The best LGBTQ anthems of all time | 2018 | 11th ("How Will I Know") | |
| Esquire | The 40 Best Wedding Reception Songs of All Time | 2023 | 1 ("I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | |
| Essence | 50 Most Influential R&B Stars | 2020 | 5 | |
| Essence | The 10 Best R&B Soloists Of All Time | 2022 | 1 | |
| Essence | 66 Boundary-Breaking Black Women Who Have Paved the Way | 2023 | 10 | |
| Forbes | Greatest 1980s songs | 2024 | 15 ("I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)") | |
| Forbes | Greatest 1990s songs | 2024 | 1 ("I Will Always Love You") | |
| Forbes | Greatest 1980s artists | 2024 | 14 | |
| Forbes | Greatest 1990s artists | 2024 | 8 | |
| Forbes Top 40 | Highest earning entertainers | 1987 | 8 | [304] [305] |
| Forbes Top 40 | Highest earning entertainers | 1988 | 17 | |
| Forbes Top 40 | Highest earning entertainers | 1994 | 23 | |
| Forbes Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities | Highest-paid dead celebrities | 2019 | 12 | |
| Forbes Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities | Highest-paid dead celebrities | 2023 | 7 | |
| Forbes Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities | Highest-paid dead celebrities | 2024 | 13 | |
| Google | Most Googled Person of 2012 | 2012 | 1 | |
| Harris Interactive | Favorite Singer/Musician or Musician Group | 1994 | 1 | [311] [312] |
| Harris Interactive | Favorite Singer/Musician or Musician Group | 1995 | 5 | |
| Harris Interactive | Favorite Singer/Musician or Musician Group | 1998 | 3 | |
| Harris Interactive | Most Popular Love Song | 2013 | 1 ("I Will Always Love You") | |
| The Independent | 50 women who broke barriers in the music industry | 2020 | Placed | |
| The Independent | The 40 Greatest Film Soundtracks | 2023 | 35th (The Bodyguard) | |
| MTV | 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s | 2007 | 4 ("I Will Always Love You") | |
| New York Post | The 10 Best Super Bowl National Anthem Performances of All Time | 2023 | 1 (The performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV) | |
| Next Luxury | 20 of the Most Popular Female Singers Ever | 2022 | Placed | |
| NME | NME Greatest No. 1 Singles in History | 2012 | 8 ("I Will Always Love You") | |
| NPR | 150 Greatest Albums Made by Women | 2017 | 14 (Whitney Houston) | |
| Parade | 15 Best Super Bowl National Anthem Performances of All Time | 2024 | 1 (The performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV) | |
| People | People Readers Poll | 1986 | 1 (America's Top New Star) | |
| People | 25 Most Intriguing People of the Year | 1986 | Placed | |
| People | 50 Most Beautiful People | 1991 | Placed | |
| People | 50 Most Beautiful People | 1993 | Placed | |
| People | 25 Most Intriguing People of the Year | 1994 | Placed | |
| People | 25 Musical Moments of the Last 25 Years | 2007 | Placed (Houston's entry into the music business in 1985) | |
| Pitchfork | The 200 Best Songs of the 1980s | 2015 | 20 ("I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)") 103 ("How Will I Know") | |
| Pitchfork | The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s | 2018 | 117 (Whitney Houston) | |
| Pitchfork | The 150 Best Albums of the 1990s | 2022 | 147 (The Bodyguard) | |
| Pitchfork | The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s | 2022 | 59 ("I Will Always Love You") 211 ("I'm Every Woman") | |
| Reuters | Century's Best Female Singer | 1999 | 3rd | |
| The Ringer | The 50 Best Movie Soundtracks of the Past 50 Years | 2021 | 7 (The Bodyguard) | |
| Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | The Definitive 200 | 2007 | 46 (Whitney Houston) | |
| Rolling Stone | 25 Most Memorable Music Moments in NFL History | 2003 | 1 (The performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV) | |
| Rolling Stone | 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s | 2007 | 4 ("I Will Always Love You") | |
| Rolling Stone | 20 Biggest Songs of the Summer: The 1980s | 2019 | 8th ("I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)") | |
| Rolling Stone | 50 Best Songs of the Nineties | 2019 | 19th ("Heartbreak Hotel" ft. Faith Evans and Kelly Price) | |
| Rolling Stone | 500 Greatest Albums of All Time | 2021 | 249th (Whitney Houston) | |
| Rolling Stone | 500 Greatest Songs of All Time | 2021 | 94th ("I Will Always Love You") 231st ("I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)") | [340] [341] |
| Rolling Stone | 100 Best Debut Albums of All Time | 2022 | 89th (Whitney Houston) | |
| Rolling Stone | 200 Greatest Singers of All Time | 2023 | 2 | |
| Rolling Stone | The 30 Greatest Grammy Performances Ever | 2023 | 12 (The performance of "I Will Always Love You") | |
| Rolling Stone | The 20 Most Memorable Super Bowl National Anthems | 2023 | 1 (The 1991 performance at Super Bowl XXV) | |
| Rolling Stone | The 200 Best '80s Songs: Top Tunes from the '80s | 2023 | 6 ("How Will I Know") | |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 100 Best Christmas Movies of All Time | 2023 | 96 (The Preacher's Wife) | |
| Slant Magazine | 100 Greatest Dance Songs | 2020 | 58 ("I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)") | |
| Smooth Radio | The 30 best female singers of all time | 2023 | 1 | |
| Smooth Radio | The 20 greatest Super Bowl National Anthem performances | 2024 | 1 (The performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV) |
| Songs of the Century | "I Will Always Love You" | 2001 | 108 | |
| The Telegraph | Pop's 20 Greatest Female Artists | 2015 | 15 | |
| The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era: 1955-2015 | "I Will Always Love You" | 2015 | 1 | |
| Time | Black History: 50 Cultural Giants | 2012 | Placed | |
| Variety | Best Christmas Movies of All Time | 2023 | Placed (The Preacher's Wife) | |
| VH1 | 100 Greatest Women in Rock & Roll | 1999 | 61 | |
| VH1 | 100 Greatest Pop Songs | 2000 | 40 ("I Will Always Love You") | |
| VH1 | 100 Greatest Rock & Roll Moments on TV | 2000 | 59 (The performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV) | |
| VH1 | VH1's 100 Greatest Dance Songs | 2000 | 86 ("I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)") | |
| VH1 | VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists | 2002 | 24 | |
| VH1 | 100 Greatest Women in Music | 2002 | 4 | |
| VH1 | 50 Greatest Women of the Video Era | 2003 | 3 | |
| VH1 | VH1: 100 Best Songs of the Past 25 Years | 2003 | 8 ("I Will Always Love You") | |
| VH1 | 100 Moments That Rocked TV | 2003 | 12 (The performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV) | |
| VH1 | 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons | 2003 | 116 | |
| VH1 | 25 Greatest Rock Star Cameos | 2003 | 13 (Whitney on Silver Spoons in 1985) | |
| VH1 | 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s | 2006 | 12 ("How Will I Know") | |
| VH1 | VH1's 100 Greatest Women In Music | 2012 | 6 | |

### Other honors

Name of country, year given, and name of honor :
| Country | Year | Honor |
| United States | 1986 | Key to the city of Newark |
| United States | 1991 | American Red Cross Board of Governors |
| United States | 1991 | NFL Pro-Set Card |
| United States | 1997 | Franklin Elementary School (renamed to the Whitney E. Houston Academy of Creative and Performing Arts) |
| United States | 2012 | New Jersey Flags Flown at Half-Staff (in honor of Whitney Houston following her untimely death) |
| United States | 2013 | Madame Tussauds (four different statues of the singer were presented in Las Vegas, Hollywood, New York and Washington D.C.) |
| United States | 2023 | Vaxhaul Service Area (renamed to the Whitney Houston Service Area at mile 142 of the Garden State Parkway North, in Union) |
| Georgia | 2019 | Statue of likeness at the Musician's Park at the Black Sea Arena in Kobuleti |

### Honorary degree

Name of school, year given, and name of degree :
| School | Year | Degree | Ref. |
| Grambling State University | 1988 | Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters | |

### Vevo-certified videos

| Year | Nominee/Work | Certified videos | Ref. |
| 2024 | Whitney Houston | 12 | |
| As of April 12, 2024 ||||