Remembering Whitney Houston's Remarkable Career

The icon would have been 60 years old today.

080423-celebs-whitney-houston.jpg

1 / 17

On what would have been her 60th birthday, we remember the remarkable Whitney Houston. With her mesmerizing voice, powerful performances, and countless chart-topping hits, Whitney became an iconic figure in the music world. Although she passed away in 2012 at 48, her talent will forever shine bright. Happy birthday, Whitney Houston!

Photo By Photo by Suzie Gibbons/Redferns

Cover Girl - Even before Clive Davis discovered her tremendous singing talent, a modeling scout noticed Whitney for her cover girl good looks. In the early 1980s, she appeared in Glamour, Cosmopolitan and was even one of the first African-American women to grace to cover of Seventeen. (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

2 / 17

Cover Girl - Even before Clive Davis discovered her tremendous singing talent, a modeling scout noticed Whitney for her cover girl good looks. In the early 1980s, she appeared in Glamour, Cosmopolitan and was even one of the first Black women to grace to cover of Seventeen. (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

Whitney Houston - With the release of her self-titled debut album in 1985, there was no looking back for Whitney. Early hits such as "Saving All My Love for You" and "How Will I Know" made her an overnight superstar. (Photo: Paul Natkin/WireImage)

3 / 17

Whitney Houston - With the release of her self-titled debut album in 1985, there was no looking back for Whitney. Early hits such as "Saving All My Love for You" and "How Will I Know" made her a music superstar. (Photo: Paul Natkin/WireImage)

Fresh-Faced - In the early '80s, Whitney Houston started working as a model after a photographer saw her perform with her gospel singing mother, Cissy Houston, at Carnegie Hall. Her girl-next door charm and gorgeous looks made her one of the most sought out models of that time.(Photo: dpa /Landov)

4 / 17

You Never Forget Your First - By the end of her career, she had amassed enough awards to form her own army of statuettes (415 to be exact), but it all started with her first Grammy win in 1986 for Best Pop Vocal Performance for "Saving All My Love for You." (Photo: dpa /Landov)

Record Smasher - While critics claimed Whitney's second album, simply titled Whitney, sounded too much like her first, listeners couldn't get enough. Whitney became the first female artist in history to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and she scored a record seven consecutive top hits, besting the Beatles' six. (Photo:  Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

5 / 17

Record Smasher - While critics claimed Whitney's second album, titled Whitney, sounded too much like her first, listeners couldn't get enough. Whitney became the first female artist in history to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and she scored a record seven consecutive top hits. (Photo:  Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

ADVERTISEMENT
A Voice for Justice - A supporter of Nelson Mandela and his anti-apartheid movement, in 1988 Houston joined other musicians to perform at Wembley Stadium in London to celebrate a then-imprisoned Mandela's 70th birthday. The event raised $1 million for charities and brought awareness to the apartheid movement. (Photo:  Darlene Hammond/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

6 / 17

A Voice for Justice - A supporter of Nelson Mandela and his anti-apartheid movement, in 1988 Houston joined other musicians to perform at Wembley Stadium in London to celebrate a then-imprisoned Mandela's 70th birthday. The event raised $1 million for charities and brought awareness to the apartheid movement. (Photo:  Darlene Hammond/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

America, the Beautiful - Whitney's performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl in 1991 — while America was entangled in the Persian Gulf War — drew such an overwhelming response that it was released as a single along with a video of her heartfelt performance.(Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

7 / 17

America, the Beautiful - Whitney's performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl in 1991 — while America was entangled in the Persian Gulf War — drew such an overwhelming response that it was released as a single along with a video of her heartfelt performance. (Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

Photo By Ron Galella

The Bodyguard - With her gorgeous face and undeniable presence on camera, offers from Hollywood had been pouring in for years. But Houston waited til 1992 to make her big-screen debut opposite Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard. Again, critics weren't exactly kind to her portrayal of a spoiled rock star who falls in love with her security guard, but audiences loved it. The film went on to gross $410 million at the box office.(Photo: REUTERS/Mark Peterson /Landov)

8 / 17

The Bodyguard - With her gorgeous face and undeniable presence on camera, offers from Hollywood had been pouring in for years. But Houston waited until 1992 to make her big-screen debut opposite Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard. Again and audiences loved it. The film went on to gross $410 million at the box office. (Photo: REUTERS/Mark Peterson /Landov)

Hat Trick - Most artists could retire after seven consecutive number-one hits, but Whitney beat herself at her own game when she scored three simultaneous chart toppers in 1992: "I Will Always Love You," from the Bodyguard soundtrack, "I Have Nothing" and "I'm Every Woman."(Photo: Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

9 / 17

Hat Trick - Most artists could retire after seven consecutive number-one hits, but Whitney beat herself at her own game when she scored three simultaneous chart toppers in 1992: "I Will Always Love You," "I Have Nothing" and "I'm Every Woman" -- all from the Bodyguard soundtrack. (Photo: Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

Part of History - At the peak of her career in 1994, Houston took a break from film premieres and sold-out tours to honor just-elected South African president Nelson Mandela by playing three concerts in his newly unified nation. She became the first international performer to visit the country post-apartheid. (Photo:  MARK CARDWELL/AFP/Getty Images)

10 / 17

Part of History - At the peak of her career in 1994, Houston took a break from film premieres and sold-out tours to honor just-elected South African president Nelson Mandela by playing three concerts in his newly unified nation. She became the first international performer to visit the country post-apartheid. (Photo:  MARK CARDWELL/AFP/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
Waiting to Exhale & The Preacher's Wife - With her big-screen credentials in check, Houston followed up her star-making turn in The Bodyguard with back-to-back hits Waiting to Exhale, opposite Angela Bassett and Lela Rochon, and The Preacher's Wife, with Denzel Washington. Houston earned $10 million for the latter role, making her one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood at the time.  (Photo:  Jan Persson/Redferns)

11 / 17

Waiting to Exhale and The Preacher's Wife - With her big-screen credentials in check, Houston followed up her star-making turn in The Bodyguard with back-to-back hits Waiting to Exhale, opposite Angela Bassett and Lela Rochon, and The Preacher's Wife, with Denzel Washington. Houston earned $10 million for the latter role, making her one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood at the time. (Photo:  Jan Persson/Redferns)

Back to the Studio - After taking an extended break from the studio to pursue her movie career, Whitney recorded her first album in eight years in 1998. The studio session for My Love Is Your Love, originally concieved to be mostly a greatest hits album, were so fruitful that Houston made it into a full-length album, and earned some of the best reviews of her career. (Photo:  Ron Galella/WireImage)

12 / 17

Back to the Studio - After taking an extended break from the studio to pursue her movie career, Whitney recorded her first album in eight years in 1998. My Love Is Your Love became a monster hit, which included Wyclef Jean, Kelly Price, Faith Evans and more. (Photo:  Ron Galella/WireImage)

Silver Lining - While Houston's personal problems continued to grab headlines, music executives hadn't yet lost faith in her golden voice. In 2001, Houston signed the most lucrative recording contract in music history with Arista/BMG: $100 million for six new albums. (Photo:  Larry Busacca/WireImage)

13 / 17

Silver Lining - In 2001, Houston signed the most lucrative recording contract in music history with Arista/BMG: $100 million for six new albums. (Photo:  Larry Busacca/WireImage)

Being Bobby Brown - Whitney stole the spotlight once again when she appeared on husband Bobby Brown's Bravo reality show, Being Bobby Brown. But, while she hoped it would show fans that her life and marriage were intact, the effect was quite the opposite. (Photo: L. Cohen/WireImage)

14 / 17

Being Bobby Brown - Whitney stole the spotlight once again when she appeared on husband Bobby Brown's Bravo reality show, Being Bobby Brown. The reality show aired for one season in 2005. (Photo: L. Cohen/WireImage)

Comeback - After a decade marred by drug use, rehab and divorce, Whitney came back to the studio for I Look to You. The album debuted in 2009 at number one, earning her the best opening-week sales of her career and her first number-one album since 1987's Whitney. An interview with Oprah Winfrey in which she finally admitted to her personal problems helped with the damage control. (Photo:  Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

15 / 17

Comeback - After a decade, Whitney came back to the studio for I Look to You in 2009. The album debuted at No. one, earning her stellar opening-week sales, proving the The Voice still had it. (Photo:  Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

ADVERTISEMENT
Nothing But Love Tour & BET Honors - In 2010, Houston looked happier and healthier than ever when she embarked on her first world tour in over a decade. Critics were not kind, but her true fans rallied and she won a BET Honors Award for her lifetime of achievement. (Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)

16 / 17

Nothing But Love Tour And BET Honors - In 2010, Houston looked happier and healthier than ever when she embarked on her first world tour in over a decade. That same year, she was also awarded a lifetime of achievement award at BET Honors. (Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)

Sparkle - After a 15-year hiatus from the big screen, Whitney was finally ready to face the camera again for a remake of the 1976 film Sparkle. She produced the film and starred as the unsupportive mother to Jordin Sparks's aspiring singing star, admitting that she channeled her own mother, Cissy Houston, into the role. Sparkle is set to release in August of this year.

17 / 17

Sparkle - After a 15-year hiatus from the big screen, Whitney was finally ready to face the camera again for a remake of the 1976 film Sparkle. She produced the film and starred as the mother to Jordin Sparks's character in her sisters. The film was released six months after Whitney Houston death at 48 on February 11, 2012. Happy heavenly birthday, Whitney!