As one of the best-selling artists in the history of recorded music, Whitney Houston was no stranger to seeing her wall lined with plaques from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in her lifetime.
The first Black artist to have 3 Diamond albums to her credit (as we reported here), Houston’s timeless catalog is filled with gargantuan hits – many of which are still collecting accolades nearly 10 years after her untimely death.
Case in point? ‘I Will Always Love You,’ Houston’s 1992 remake of the classic 1970’s Dolly Parton hit.
On January 12, one-month shy of the 10th anniversary of Whitney’s passing, the RIAA took to press to announce the enduring ‘Bodyguard’ number – which already stood in record books as the best-selling single by a female artist – had met is qualifications for Diamond status. This means it’s sold the equivalence of 10 million copies in the United States alone.
With the feat comes three historic achievements.
- The year of its 30th anniversary, ‘I Will Always Love You’ becomes the oldest Diamond-certified song by a solo act. The only song older to have been certified as high is Queen’s 1975 classic, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’
- The tune is the first female song from a soundtrack to be certified as high. Pharrell Williams‘ ‘Happy’ (‘Despicable Me 2’), Wiz Khalifa‘s ‘See You Again’ (‘Fast & Furious 7’), and Post Malone‘s ‘Sunflower’ (‘Spider-man: Into the Spiderverse’) are the only other Diamond-certified soundtrack singles.
- Houston becomes the fourth Black female act to own a Diamond single (following Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, and Mariah Carey).
Overall, Whitney’s ‘I Will Always Love You’ is only the 70th song in history to be awarded Diamond status.
Lol what took her so long? It’s almost 30 years to achieve a diamond certification. Havana took only 3 years.
Stay off drugs! Camila couldn’t even decipherably read the lyrics to I will always love you, speak less actually sing them
Don’t ever compare them!
You deserve it!! Such a pity you are not with us to celebrate😢
are you actually seriously comparing whitney HOUSTON to that a** looking t*****????? girl i gagged!
Wait hold up are they counting streams or physical units? Because this timeless gem definitely should’ve been diamond least decade ago, but nevertheless the album itself did the talking and achieve its feat.
Took TEN TIMES longer than Camila! What a FLOP, hunnie!
Ok Hellen Keller. Only a deaf, blind, and mute dimwit would ever call the Whitney E. Houston a flop.
right. and in favor of that weird looking troll girl who made like one song that you can barely understand?? boo boo……..no
Whitney got a diamond single b4 Madonna, Michael, Prince n Elvis so if she’s a flop what u say about the other legends. Back in the days people bought ALBUMS not singles. Nowadays people but single and not Albums.
She’s a one hit wonder. No comparison your crazy.
We all know Mariah Carey’s one sweet day and we belong together have sold MORE. And have more weeks at number 1;
ummm huh?? (and i’m a lamb…)
Regardless if it happened 30yrs later CONGRATULATIONS WHITNEY! The album sold double of diamond status and now for the single to reach diamond status is HUGE ! No other female artist have three diamond albums and a diamond single. Go play in traffic with your negative comments
Ok I see that people are stupid! IWALY is the biggest selling song by a female artist of all time. Diamond status only counts sales in the UnIted States and has to be at or exceed 10 mil so Camilla or that Mariah girl hasn’t beaten Whitney
Camila is the first Latin female to achieve diamond certification💅🏾 Crackney will never even she bleached her ashy skin
It’s confirmed you a dumb stupid brain dead ass t******. All those STDs got you delirious trick💀💀💀
You mad coz Monica never had a diamond single nor album. Oops! Truth hurts 💅🏾 Keep dreaming sweetie. One more sleep until Diva whip your ugly t w a r t a s s 🖕🏿🖕🏿🖕🏿
The bodyguard soundtrack sold 20m copies that’s double diamond in the USA. So for her to get a diamond single after 20M people Already bought the album is a huge accomplishment
Whitney always finds a way to stay on top. More importantly, it’s her spirit that’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Diamond albums, a single & the STANDARD Vocalist in POP Music.
You deserve it!! Such a pity you are not with us to celebrate😢