Whitney Houston

Solo Artist · The Voice

Photo: PH2 Mark Kettenhofen · Public domain
Active 1983-2012
Died February 11, 2012
Origin Newark, New Jersey
Albums 6
Tracks 66
Most frequent collaborator Narada Michael Walden · 11 tracks
Genres PopR&BSoulGospel
Singer / Performer
5%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 3 of 66 tracks

Did Whitney Houston write her own songs?

Almost never. Whitney Houston holds a writing credit on only about 5% of her catalogue; she was one of the greatest voices in pop, not a songwriter. Her signature hits, from 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' to 'Greatest Love of All,' were written for her by professionals. Even 'I Will Always Love You,' her biggest song, was written by Dolly Parton. Her genius was interpretation, not composition.

By the Numbers

6
Studio Albums
66
Tracks Credited
5%
Self-Written
220M+
Records Sold
29
Years Active
135
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 3 / 66 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 66 tracks: how many Whitney Houston wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Whitney Houston has a writing credit5%
5%
95%
Sole author0tracks0%
Co-written3tracks5%
Outside writers63tracks95%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Whitney Houston's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 66 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)5%
Composer (music)5%
Producer2%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Whitney Houston's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 5%
0%
0%
0%
0%
10%
18%
1985Whitney Houston
1987Whitney
1990I'm Your Baby Tonight
1998My Love Is Your Love
2003Just Whitney
2009I Look to You
Early · 0% written
Mid · 0% written
Late · 14% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

0%
1980s
Whitney Houston, Whitney
0%
1990s
I'm Your Baby Tonight, My Love Is Your Love
14%
2000s
Just Whitney, I Look to You

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Whitney Houston sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Whitney Houston
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Aretha Franklin14%
The Jacksons24%
Michael Jackson51%
Stevie Wonder64%
George Michael80%
Gwen Stefani88%
Prince96%
5%Whitney Houston
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

You Give Good Love
Whitney Houston
Written by La Forrest Cope
Outside writers
Saving All My Love for You
Whitney Houston
Written by Michael Masser, Gerry Goffin
Outside writers
How Will I Know
Whitney Houston
Written by George Merrill, Shannon Rubicam, Narada Michael Walden
Outside writers
Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston
Written by Linda Creed, Michael Masser
Outside writers
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Whitney
Written by George Merrill, Shannon Rubicam
Outside writers
Didn't We Almost Have It All
Whitney
Written by Michael Masser, Will Jennings
Outside writers
So Emotional
Whitney
Written by Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly
Outside writers
Where Do Broken Hearts Go
Whitney
Written by Frank Wildhorn, Chuck Jackson
Outside writers
I'm Your Baby Tonight
I'm Your Baby Tonight
Written by L.A. Reid, Babyface
Outside writers
All the Man That I Need
I'm Your Baby Tonight
Written by Dean Pitchford, Michael Gore
Outside writers
When You Believe
My Love Is Your Love
Written by Stephen Schwartz, Babyface
Outside writers
Heartbreak Hotel
My Love Is Your Love
Written by Kenneth Karlin, Tamara Savage, Carsten Schack
Outside writers
It's Not Right but It's Okay
My Love Is Your Love
Written by Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, Isaac Phillips, Toni Estes
Outside writers
My Love Is Your Love
My Love Is Your Love
Written by Wyclef Jean, Jerry Duplessis
Outside writers
Whatchulookinat
Just Whitney
Written by Whitney Houston, Tammie Harris, Andre Lewis, Jerry Muhammad
Co-wrote
Try It on My Own
Just Whitney
Written by Kenneth Edmonds, Jason Edmonds, Carole Bayer Sager, Aleese Simmons, Nathan Walton
Outside writers
I Look to You
I Look to You
Written by R. Kelly
Outside writers
Million Dollar Bill
I Look to You
Written by Alicia Keys, Kasseem Dean, Norman Harris
Outside writers

Discography 6 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Whitney Houston66 tracks
11Narada Michael Walden, 11 tracks on Journey's page B11Babyface, 11 tracks 7Michael Masser, 7 tracks 5Harvey Mason Jr., 5 tracks 4L.A. Reid, 4 tracks 4Rodney Jerkins, 4 tracks DW4Diane Warren, 4 tracks K3Kashif, 3 tracks JJ3Jermaine Jackson, 3 tracks on The Jacksons's page GG3Gerry Goffin, 3 tracks FJ3Fred Jerkins III, 3 tracks LD3LaShawn Daniels, 3 tracks TE3Toni Estes, 3 tracks ME3Missy Elliott, 3 tracks DF3David Foster, 3 tracks KE3Kenneth Edmonds, 3 tracks CK3Claude Kelly, 3 tracks LF2La Forrest Cope, 2 tracks GM2George Merrill, 2 tracks SR2Shannon Rubicam, 2 tracks LC2Linda Creed, 2 tracks SD2Sam Dees, 2 tracks RI2Rudolph Isley, 2 tracks RI2Ronald Isley, 2 tracks MI2Marvin Isley, 2 tracks CJ2Chris Jasper, 2 tracks FG2Franne Golde, 2 tracks SW2Stevie Wonder, 2 tracks RM2Rickey Minor, 2 tracks WJ2Wyclef Jean, 2 tracks JW2Jerry Wonda, 2 tracks KB2Kelvin Bradshaw, 2 tracks LT2Lloyd Turner, 2 tracks KB2Kevin Briggs, 2 tracks DR2Dwight Reynolds, 2 tracks PS2Patrice Stewart, 2 tracks S2She'kspere, 2 tracks BB2Bobby Brown, 2 tracks on New Edition's page NH2Nathaniel Hills, 2 tracks D2Danja, 2 tracks JA2Johntá Austin, 2 tracks S2Stargate, 2 tracks RK2R. Kelly, 2 tracks AT2Aliaune Thiam, 2 tracks on Akon's page GT2Giorgio Tuinfort, 2 tracks A2Akon, 2 tracks RJ1Raymond Jones, 1 track FW1Freddie Washington, 1 track JP1James P. Dunne, 1 track PP1Pamela Phillips, 1 track JO1Jeffrey Osborne, 1 track PM1Peter McCann, 1 track SD1Steve Dorff, 1 track TC1Toni C., 1 track J"1John "Jellybean" Benitez, 1 track WJ1Will Jennings, 1 track BS1Billy Steinberg, 1 track TK1Tom Kelly, 1 track LH1LeMel Humes, 1 track JC1James Calabrese, 1 track DH1Dyan Humes, 1 track PG1Preston Glass, 1 track OI1O'Kelly Isley, 1 track FW1Frank Wildhorn, 1 track CJ1Chuck Jackson, 1 track TR1Tim Rice, 1 track BA1Benny Andersson, 1 track on ABBA's page BU1Björn Ulvaeus, 1 track on ABBA's page EF1Eric Foster White, 1 track DP1Dean Pitchford, 1 track MG1Michael Gore, 1 track DB1Derek Bramble, 1 track LV1Luther Vandross, 1 track HE1Hubert Eaves III, 1 track RL1Rhett Lawrence, 1 track BW1Benjamin Winans, 1 track IP1Isaac Phillips, 1 track KK1Kenneth Karlin, 1 track TS1Tamara Savage, 1 track CS1Carsten Schack, 1 track SA1Soulshock and Karlin, 1 track FE1Faith Evans, 1 track KP1Kelly Price, 1 track SS1Stephen Schwartz, 1 track MC1Mariah Carey, 1 track DS1Daryl Simmons, 1 track HC1Henry Cosby, 1 track LM1Lula Mae Hardaway, 1 track SM1Sylvia Moy, 1 track OI1O'Kelly Isley Jr., 1 track EI1Ernie Isley, 1 track KB1Kandi Burruss, 1 track on Xscape's page HL1Holly Lamar, 1 track AR1Annie Roboff, 1 track CB1Charlie Bereal, 1 track KB1Kenny Bereal, 1 track ME1Melissa Elliott, 1 track CK1Charlene Keys, 1 track NS1Nisan Stewart, 1 track EF1Ethan Farmer, 1 track C1CKB, 1 track TB1Ted Bishop, 1 track GC1Gordon Chambers, 1 track GC1Greg Charley, 1 track RF1Rob Fusari, 1 track CG1Calvin Gaines, 1 track EL1Eritza Laues, 1 track BL1Bill Lee, 1 track BM1Balewa Muhammad, 1 track JE1Jason Edmonds, 1 track CB1Carole Bayer Sager, 1 track AS1Aleese Simmons, 1 track NW1Nathan Walton, 1 track DG1Darius Good, 1 track LP1Luke Paterna, 1 track SS1Stephanie Salzman, 1 track TT1Troy Taylor, 1 track TF1The Formula, 1 track JB1Joe Brooks, 1 track TH1Tammie Harris, 1 track AL1Andre Lewis, 1 track JM1Jerry Muhammad, 1 track AK1Alicia Keys, 1 track KD1Kasseem Dean, 1 track NH1Norman Harris, 1 track SB1Swizz Beatz, 1 track FG1Fernando Garibay, 1 track KL1Kasia Livingston, 1 track TE1Tor Erik Hermansen, 1 track MS1Mikkel S. Eriksen, 1 track C"1C. "Tricky" Stewart, 1 track EK1Emanuel Kiriakou, 1 track LR1Leon Russell, 1 track EH1Eric Hudson, 1 track MA1Marcella Araica, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. B Babyface

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Houston's authorship score is remarkably low, approaching 2%, reflecting a career built almost entirely on interpreting songs written by professional outside writers. Her singular greatness as an artist lay in performance and vocal interpretation, not composition; the data makes clear that nearly every defining hit was handed to her fully written.

Quick Facts

  • GrammysWon six competitive Grammy Awards
  • I Will Always Love YouHer version of Dolly Parton's song spent a then-record 14 weeks at number one
  • InterpreterOne of the greatest voices in pop, she recorded songs written by others
  • The BodyguardIts 1992 soundtrack is one of the best-selling albums of all time
  • Best-sellerSold more than 220 million records worldwide

Creative Fingerprint

A voice, not a pen: Whitney Houston wrote almost none of her material, around 5% here, building her catalogue on songs by writers like Michael Masser, Babyface, and Diane Warren. Even her signature 'I Will Always Love You' was written by Dolly Parton.

The Story

Whitney Houston was an American singer, actress, and producer widely regarded as one of the greatest vocalists of all time. She rose to fame with her self-titled 1985 debut album and became one of the best-selling music artists in history, with global sales exceeding 200 million records. Throughout her career she worked almost exclusively with professional outside songwriters and producers, including Narada Michael Walden, Michael Masser, Diane Warren, Babyface, and Rodney Jerkins.

Awards & Recognition

Sold more than 220 million records worldwide, one of the best-selling music artists of all time
Won six competitive Grammy Awards
Her recording of 'I Will Always Love You' spent a then-record 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100
The Bodyguard soundtrack (1992) is one of the best-selling albums of all time
Widely regarded as one of the greatest vocalists of all time, nicknamed 'The Voice'

Frequently Asked Questions Whitney Houston

Did Whitney Houston write her own songs?
Almost never. Whitney Houston holds a writing credit on only about 5% of her catalogue; she was one of the greatest voices in pop, not a songwriter. Her signature hits, from 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' to 'Greatest Love of All,' were written for her by professionals. Even 'I Will Always Love You,' her biggest song, was written by Dolly Parton. Her genius was interpretation, not composition.
Who wrote 'I Will Always Love You'?
'I Will Always Love You' was written and originally recorded by Dolly Parton in 1973. Whitney Houston's 1992 version, from The Bodyguard, spent a then-record 14 weeks at number one and became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Who wrote 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody'?
'I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)' (1987) was written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, not by Whitney Houston. It became one of her signature up-tempo hits.
Did Whitney Houston write any of her music?
Very little. She is credited as a writer on only a handful of songs. She worked with top writers and producers, including Michael Masser, Babyface, Diane Warren, and Rodney Jerkins, who shaped her hits.
Who wrote 'Greatest Love of All'?
'Greatest Love of All' was written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed, originally for a 1977 film about Muhammad Ali. Whitney Houston's 1986 recording became one of her defining ballads.
How many albums did Whitney Houston release?
This catalogue covers her 6 studio albums, from her 1985 self-titled debut to I Look to You (2009). It does not include her blockbuster film soundtracks like The Bodyguard.
How many records did Whitney Houston sell?
More than 220 million worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
When did Whitney Houston die?
Whitney Houston died on February 11, 2012, at the age of 48, after accidentally drowning in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills.
Why was Whitney Houston called 'The Voice'?
She earned the nickname for her extraordinary vocal power, range, and control, which set the standard for pop and R&B singers who followed.
What genre is Whitney Houston?
She is a pop, R&B, and soul singer with deep gospel roots, best known for soaring ballads and dance-pop hits delivered with unmatched vocal power.

Sources

Wikipedia: Whitney Houston