Top 20 Best Whitney Houston Songs

World Music Awards 2004 - Show
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During her nearly 30 years in the public eye, Whitney Houston sang some of the most popular songs to ever hit the charts. Here is a list of what we think are the top 20 recordings of her career.

20
of 20

'I Look To You' - 2009

Whitney Houston I Look To You
Courtesy Arista

Written by R&B singer-songwriter R. Kelly, "I Look to You" is the title song from Houston's final studio album. The song was her highest charting single on the Billboard Hot 100 in eight years, and it broke into the top 40 on the R&B, adult contemporary, and dance charts. Houston sang the song live from Central Park on Good Morning America soon after the single hit the charts, but it was clear by this point that her once magnificent voice had seen better days. R. Kelly sang the song at her funeral only three years later. 

19
of 20

'I Believe In You and Me' - 1996

Whitney Houston I Believe In You and Me
Courtesy Arista

This ballad was first recorded in 1983 by the Four Tops. They released it as a single and it peaked at No. 40 on Billboard's R&B singles chart. Houston covered the song for the soundtrack to the film "The Preacher's Wife," in which she also starred. Her new version peaked at No. 4 on the pop singles and No. 2 on the adult contemporary charts. It earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal.

18
of 20

'Miracle' - 1991

Whitney Houston Miracle
Courtesy Arista

L.A. Reid and Babyface wrote and produced this top 10 hit—Houston's 13th—which was released as the third single from the album "I'm Your Baby Tonight." The accompanying music video made the downbeat ballad seem like it was a song about the regret of an abortion, a rumor the singer adamantly denied. 

17
of 20

'Heartbreak Hotel,' featuring Faith Evans and Kelly Price - 1998

Whitney Houston Heartbreak Hotel
Courtesy Arista

"Heartbreak Hotel" was recorded with rising R&B vocalists Faith Evans and Kelly Price. The collaboration helped keep Houston fresh in the minds of young fans. The single was the second release from the album "My Love Is Your Love," and it reached No. 2 on Billboard's pop singles chart. Remixes helped it top the dance chart. "Heartbreak Hotel" earned Grammy Award nominations for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

16
of 20

'Exhale (Shoop Shoop)' - 1995

Whitney Houston Exhale
Courtesy Arista

Babyface wrote and produced "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" for the soundtrack to the film "Waiting To Exhale," in which Houston had a starring role. The singer wasn't planning to record any songs for the project, but Babyface convinced her otherwise. This song became her 11th and final No. 1 pop hit. It earned four Grammy Award nominations, including Song of the Year, and it won Best R&B Song.

15
of 20

'It's Not Right But It's Okay' - 1999

Whitney Houston It's Not Right But It's Okay
Courtesy Arista

Produced and co-written by Rodney Jerkins, aka Darkchild, "It's Not Right But It's Okay" was released as the third single from the album "My Love Is Your Love." The song is probably best remembered for the Thunderpuss dance remix, which turned Houston's light R&B song into a pounding, stomping dance anthem. The original single reached the top 5 on the pop chart, went to No. 1 on the dance chart, and earned Houston a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

14
of 20

'One Moment In Time' - 1988

Whitney Houston One Moment In Time
Courtesy Arista

Albert Hammond and John Bettis wrote "One Moment In Time" as a theme song for the 1988 Summer Olympics. Recorded by Whitney Houston, it became a top 10 pop smash. It also topped the adult contemporary chart and is remembered as one of her best inspirational anthems.

13
of 20

'My Love Is Your Love' - 1999

Whitney Houston My Love Is Your Love
Courtesy Arista

"My Love Is Your Love" is the title song from the singer's fourth studio album. It was co-written and co-produced by Wyclef Jean with a strong reggae influence. The song peaked at No. 4 in the U.S. and became one of her biggest international hits, reaching No. 2 in the U.K. and the top 5 across Europe. Remixes made the song a dance hit as well.

12
of 20

'You Give Good Love' - 1985

Whitney Houston - You Give Good Love
Courtesy Arista

The lead single to Houston's debut album, "You Give Good Love" was originally intended for Roberta Flack, but producer Kashif thought it was a better fit for the new artist. Advice columnist Ann Landers gave it some notoriety when she listed it as a song with a suggestive title. Not only did the song top the R&B chart it also became Whitney Houston's first top 10 pop hit, earning the singer Grammy Award nominations for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Female Vocal.

11
of 20

'I'm Every Woman' - 1993

Whitney Houston I'm Every Woman
Courtesy Arista

Chaka Khan originally took this song, which was written by the legendary team of Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, to No. 21 on the Billboard pop chart in 1978. Houston's cover was released in 1993 as a single from the soundtrack to the hit film "The Bodyguard." It peaked at No. 4 on the pop singles chart and went all the way to the top of the dance chart, earning Houston a Grammy nod for Best Female R&B Vocal. Chaka Khan is mentioned in the recording's fade-out. 

10
of 20

'So Emotional' - 1987

Whitney Houston - So Emotional
Whitney Houston - "So Emotional". Courtesy Arista

This song was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, the pair responsible for Madonna's huge hit "Like a Virgin." This song became Houston's sixth consecutive No. 1 hit, tying her with the Beatles and Bee Gees. She later broke her own record. 

09
of 20

'I'm Your Baby Tonight' - 1990

Whitney Houston - I'm Your Baby Tonight
Courtesy Arista

Whitney Houston was given more control over the songwriting and production on her third studio album, "I'm Your Baby Tonight," which showcases a more urban R&B vibe. The title song was the first single from the project and brought her back to No. 1 on the pop singles chart for the eighth time. 

08
of 20

'Saving All My Love For You' - 1985

Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love For You
Courtesy Arista

This song was originally a minor hit for the duo Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. in 1978. It became Houston's second hit single from her self-titled debut album and became her first No. 1. She won her first Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal for the recording.

07
of 20

'Didn't We Almost Have It All' - 1987

Whitney Houston - Didn't We Almost Have It All?
Courtesy Arista

"Didn't We Almost Have It All?" was Whitney Houston's second single and second No. 1 from the album "Whitney." A big, emotional production that pulls out all of the stops vocally, it was nominated for Song of the Year at the 1988 Grammy Awards.

06
of 20

'Where Do Broken Hearts Go?' - 1988

Whitney Houston - Where Do Broken Hearts Go?
Courtesy Arista

The singer was originally reluctant to record this song because she didn't feel like it was special enough. Clive Davis, convinced it would be a No. 1 hit, finally talked her into it. Sure enough, it became Houston's seventh consecutive No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, setting an all-time record for most consecutive No. 1 hits. 

05
of 20

'I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)' - 1987

Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Courtesy Arista

George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, better known as the popular duo Boy Meets Girl, wrote this song specifically for Houston, and it became her second No. 1 hit. It entered the top of the chart the same week that "Whitney" became the first album by a female artist to debut at No. 1 on the album chart. Whitney Houston earned a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for this recording. 

04
of 20

'All The Man That I Need' - 1990

Whitney Houston - All The Man That I Need
Courtesy Arista

Houston's second No. 1 from the album "I'm Your Baby Tonight," "All the Man That I Need" had been previously recorded by dance artists Linda Clifford and Sister Sledge. Produced by Narada Michael Walden, Houston's version has a prominent gospel choir in the final chorus. 

03
of 20

'How Will I Know' - 1985

Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
Courtesy Arista

"How Will I Know" was also written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, but it was originally intended for Janet Jackson. The song helped demonstrate Houston's cross-format appeal, becoming a major R&B, dance, adult contemporary, and pop hit. This was Houston's second No. 1 pop chart hit, where it spent two weeks at that top rating.

02
of 20

'Greatest Love Of All' - 1986

Whitney Houston - Greatest Love Of All
Courtesy Arista

"Greatest Love Of All" was originally recorded by George Benson for the soundtrack to the film "The Greatest," about Muhammad Ali. The song was included on Houston's self-titled first album and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the pop singles chart. It is regarded as one of Whitney Houston's most inspirational hits.

01
of 20

'I Will Always Love You' - 1992

Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You
Courtesy Arista

Perhaps no other song showcases the powerhouse vocals for which Houston rightly became famous more impressively than "I Will Always Love You." The original, a plaintive ballad was written and recorded by Dolly Pardon, was a minor hit on the country charts. Houston turned it into a showstopper. As the lead single from the soundtrack to the movie "The Bodyguard," where Houston made her acting debut, it shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 only three weeks after its release.  It became one of the biggest pop hit singles of all time spending 14 weeks at the top of the chart and selling 12 million copies worldwide.