ABC names Whitney Houston ‘Greatest Woman in Music’ during ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’
The first two hours of “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” on ABC Tuesday night was all about counting down the 30 Greatest Women in Music, and there were a number of notable women on this list. You had the likes of Lady Gaga, Cher, Katy Perry, Celine Dion, and so many more, and of the names that we did mention here, the crazy thing is that none of them were even in the top ten.
But who did the show opt to put in the #1 spot? A little over a year after her tragic passing, Whitney Houston was given the prestigious honor, as a performance of her smash hit “I Will Always Love You” played in the background. It’s hard to really argue too much when it comes to her selection, even though there was never really any criteria as to how she ended up getting this honor over some of the other singers on the show like Madonna, Aretha Franklin or even Beyonce.
“New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” has obviously been a tradition for many years now, and what makes the first two hours important in this modern day and age is simply that Dick Clark made such a tradition of bringing music to television viewers. This is why as this countdown went on, you saw a number of performances from both past editions of “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” in addition to some episodes of the classic “American Bandstand.” So many artists ended up finding their place in the industry thanks to this show.
What did you think about Houston’s selection to #1, and were you a fan of what ABC chose to do prior to the start of their special? Share some of your thoughts below!
megan galvez
January 13, 2014 @ 6:31 am
Indeed..WHITNEY is the voices of all singers of today,and she is so ORIG when it comes to her quality of belting voice!!!
Martinovic Marko
January 11, 2014 @ 3:59 pm
Whitney really did a great things for the music, she and late MJ were the final and the biggest punch to the color barrier and they did it like no one else, MJ changed pop music which is considered to be white music Whitney Houston brought black genres such as rnd to the white audience, she set standard for all female vocalists and raised bars soo high that only few menage to achieve, se also sets ubeatable records atill unbroken. RIP Whitney The Voice Hoston. no1 position deserved.
Katy Perry wtf…
Whitney Fan
January 9, 2014 @ 3:43 am
Whitney houston is the most awarded female artist of all time earning an 600 awards. Now what female artist has that many awards? She is the best that there will ever be.
Roi
January 8, 2014 @ 9:21 am
Whitney is absolutely beyond, her voice was “THE VOICE” and there will never be another voice to compare to hers. She deserved that #1 spot, I listen to her everyday and everytime I voice still amazes me everytime! Gone to soon, but forever gold.
Allen Green
January 7, 2014 @ 2:56 pm
THERE WILL NEVER EVER BE ANOTHER VOICE LIKE MRS WHITNEY ELIZABETH HOUSTON, SHE HAD BETTER REMAIN IN THAT NUMBER ONE POSITION FOREVER YAHERDME !
Suzana de Jesus Fragoso Benge
January 7, 2014 @ 11:10 am
ABC , Whitney Houston ela é a melhor sem duvida,já mais haverá igual.
Babette Harrell
January 7, 2014 @ 10:56 am
Thank you ABC!!! In my opinion, Ms. Whitney earned the #1 spot hands down. Her vocals are the greatest to this day, and listening to her is extremely pleasing to the ear. “SHE COULD SANG” without all the hype. No tweaking needed. God surely blessed her with some amazing gifts that she used and shared with the world. Thank You!
The respect that she had for her audience was great, as she never subjected herself to entertain us with inappropriate gestures/costumes on stage like some of the so called role models who made the list. Her music and live performances are appropriate for *all audiences*. Her lyrics were clean and soulful…like a good gospel hymn. To, me she was a teacher/counselor in her own way. She definitely reached and touched a lot of people. She’s one of the musical “classics” that I allow my kids to listen to.
Thank you Cissy for having Whitney, raising her with the gospel, discovering her talent, molding her, and sharing her with the masses. You had to best part of her, which was her. Non of us can touch that. God Bless, and I hope to see you both in heaven walking on those streets of gold some day.
Martha Johnson
January 7, 2014 @ 12:45 am
Whitney tops all other criteria! Hands down and UP to Lord Jesus! Applaud deservedly so!
Katrina
January 7, 2014 @ 12:14 am
Love it…Whitney’s music lives on…R.I.P.Whitney Houston!
Cheryl Moore johns
January 6, 2014 @ 11:45 pm
Whitney is the greatest singer of all time! She has always been my favorite and always will be! The others cant even compare to her unique talent! Whitney is number 1 always!
Ariel Osiris Leyes
January 6, 2014 @ 11:23 pm
TE AMO WITNEY Y SIEMPRE ESTARÀS CON NOSOTROS
CherCrew
January 6, 2014 @ 11:02 pm
Cher should be a top 10. She’s a great singer, show girl and performer! No one can touch her until now.
CarmenAndrews
January 3, 2014 @ 6:45 am
I mean of course Whitney Houston would be the greatest female singer I mean Guinness World Book of world Records cited her the most awarded female act in history with over 500 awards I think just for that would make somebody the queen of music we miss you your fans miss you so much with me gone too soon but always loved in our hearts we will truly miss you Thank You ABC for giving her that honor she really deserves it xoxo
you know Whitney said once that she has been in the business over 30 years she just doesn’t make hit records she has a career that was Whitney rip once again thank you ABC for giving her this honor
N
January 2, 2014 @ 10:56 pm
What was even the list based on?
Talent? Why the hell was Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, and Rihanna even there?
Sales? Why was Celine Dion so low?
Impact? Again, why the hell were Katy Perry and Taylor Swift even on the list?
It seemed like ABC just threw Katy and Taylor in there so they could get the attention of those younger viewers who would be “bored” of actual legends being listed so low.
Chi
January 2, 2014 @ 3:28 pm
Just ecstatic Taylor IS there !
Donna Mentrasti
January 2, 2014 @ 1:54 pm
What a joke. Who’s criteria is used here….someone barely 30? Call this The Greatest Women In ROCK music history, because to call it “music history” is not only disrectful, but makes this list lack any believability or integrity at all. Really? Most of these women can’t hold a candle to the woman who has topped the charts with a number one album in 6 consecutive decades. The woman who has won more awards than any other. The woman who’s voice is so sublime and still going strong at 71. To not even ‘place’ Barbra Streisand on this list is ridiculous. Perhaps though this is the greatest compliment to the greatest ever…. she is so far superior to the rest of the pack, she’s atop a category all her own where none of these others could ever reside. ABC…shame on you!
eric cullen
January 2, 2014 @ 6:33 pm
I agree that ABC should be ashamed of their list, but then again we should all be ashamed of 99% of the performers who pass as “great” these days. They actually went so far as to suggest that “Alicia Keys is a genius” Joke. As great as Barbara or, in my opinion Madonna are, I would never use the word genius to describe them or any pop musician. But quality of voice is so subjective. Who’s to say whether Barbara, or Whitney, or “fill in the blank” has the better voice? If anything good comes from these lists, it’s the critical discussion that is generated among music lovers.
Creighton
January 1, 2014 @ 9:22 pm
First news I read of the new year. Now I wish I was watching abc. Funny Whitney was mentioned as being missed too on cnn. Well deserved Whitney. It’s not all about sales either. She is still the Gold standard. Still hard that she’s gone to soon. Still listening to I Look To You album every day. Her music is so helpful. Joy, health, & happiness to all in the new year.
CCL
January 1, 2014 @ 7:38 pm
Was Carole King even on the list?
Andres
January 1, 2014 @ 8:26 pm
Carole king is a great song writer but not a great singer!!!
CCL
January 1, 2014 @ 7:37 pm
The list sucked.
Peace
January 1, 2014 @ 6:24 pm
WHITNEY HOUSTON! NO DOUBT – THE GREATEST VOICE OF ALL TIME!!!
As Oprah says: THE VOICE!!!
Andres
January 1, 2014 @ 5:15 pm
The reason whitney is number one….. She is the most awarded female singer of all time. Her album the bodyguard is the best selling album in history by a feamle singer. Whitney has sold over 200 million albums and singles with half the amount of albums as the other top selling feamle singers. Whitney has influence a generation of singers from pop, R&B, country, rock and any other style you can think of. Whitney turned the national anthem into a platinum selling single two different times and donated the earnings. She is the number one selling single artists of all time(physical singles). She has toured around the world singing live in over 1000 concerts which is amazing considering her songs. You may not like whitney or her style of singing but you can not despite her impact to the music industry. All the producers, song writer, singers and music executives name whitney as the great singer of any generation according to tommy mattola, Clive Davis, babyface, LA Ried…..
Dr.Roz
January 1, 2014 @ 5:43 pm
You betta say that! Truth! In the music industry ever songer is compared to Whitney and if yournot even clise to that (bcuz there will never be another Whitney) then they make you into ppl like lady gaga and so forth lol
eric cullen
January 1, 2014 @ 3:52 pm
Madonna is the most accomplished woman in music of all time. She is a good singer, but more than that she is a songwriter, producer, record label maven and an icon. She is fiercly independent, and has inspired countless girls and women to be strong and confident. The countdown was called “Greatest Women in Music” (not “greatest singer” or “most records sold”.) Madonna should have been number 1, followed by Aretha Franklin at number 2. Every spot after that could be pretty random.
Blunt Talk
January 1, 2014 @ 6:00 am
So what is the criteria who greatest female in music? Number of sales? Hardly fair to those from the past where there was not number of people out there to buy records. Number of number one hits? Again easily manipulated now by record labels. Song writing? Vocal Range? Purity of voice? Concert attendance? Combination of all of these? It is so easy to throw out a name and let everyone fight over it.
Blunt Talk
January 1, 2014 @ 5:53 am
Don’t look it up but she was called the voice of the millennium. And she was not on the list.
Al
January 1, 2014 @ 5:31 am
So who sold over 300 million records, entered the hall rock of fame, has over 40 # 1’s on the dance charts, 20 MVA’s, has the 2 greatest world tours as a solo artist, was the greatest paid last year as a musician according to Forbes, world Guinness records including the greatest female in music history??? Her name starts with an M.
Randall
January 1, 2014 @ 5:34 am
Madonna was more of an entertainer, yea she had some good hits but she was really never that great of a singer tbh! That’s just my opinion!
Blunt Talk
January 1, 2014 @ 6:07 am
You can say that about the majority of pop singers. They are mainly stage performers.
Blunt Talk
January 1, 2014 @ 6:02 am
Actually there is a female artist who sold over 400 million records
James
January 1, 2014 @ 11:15 pm
No, there isn’t. That is completely false. Do your research.
Blunt Talk
January 3, 2014 @ 1:29 am
Sorry but check your own figures. Madonna sold over 300 million. Nana Mouskouri comfirmed sales between 200 and 300 but some claims have it at over 400 million. Celine Dion over 200, Mariah Carey over 200 and Whitney at 170 million.
Whitney Fan
January 1, 2014 @ 3:53 pm
Madonna voice is horrid! She has nothing on a Whitney houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin and Barbra S. She is nothing more than a overrated entertainer.
brandon li vega
January 9, 2014 @ 2:49 am
Lmao at whitney fans calling Madonna overrated, not only their blasting a legend the level of Elvis and The Beatles, they’re blasting at the greatest woman in music
Whitney Fan
January 9, 2014 @ 3:33 am
Not even worth arguing because you know that is a damn lie. Madonna is not in the league of whitney houston when it comes to singing. Whitney houston knows how to SANG and give people chills. Madonna well knows how to take her clothes off and whore around on stage to gain popularity.
Dr. Roz
January 1, 2014 @ 5:25 pm
And she still didnt top whitney, ask her yourself, she said out her own mouth even years b4 whitneys death “I bow to Whitney, I nor anyone could ever top her she is The VOICE!” And the guinness book of records says so as well. Learn your facts boo, learn them and learn them well.
brandon li vega
January 9, 2014 @ 2:47 am
Oh sweatheart, the delusion blinds you. Of course no one will deny Whitney is also in the position of a legend, her achievements are also quite impressive. But never as big as Madonna’s impact and legacy in modern culture. Whitney’s sucess relied only in the 80s and 90s. Madonna’s still beating singers of this decade. Madonna is not only a performer, she is a trend setter, a cultural icon. Her impact is the greatest of all the singers of this list, that’s why the real #1 belongs to her.
Andres
January 9, 2014 @ 5:51 pm
Madonna is not a singer!!! She is an entertainer. She has been great but she has not had an album sell in years. Madonna is great at what she does but she will never be a great singer. Madonna is respected by millions including whitney but never because of her voice. Madonna found away to become one of the biggest artist in the world using her crazy behavior and showing off her body but again it was not her voice. So Madonna diserves he respect but she will never be respect like whitney was because all whitney used wAs her god given talent her voice.
john c
January 7, 2014 @ 12:51 am
I lovveeeeee madonna but srry even she said whitney was the best voice.of our time boo googleit I did.n I heard cyndi lauper say it toni bennette barry manilow and madge they all.said whitney was the best singer of our generation n she was!!
Blunt Talk
January 1, 2014 @ 5:21 am
Whitney number 1? Hardly. Honestly her death earned her the spot sorry to say. This was a list of no concern. Considering that Dolly Patton wrote and first recorded the song that everyone acclaims as Whitney’s greatest seems to be passed over. Where was Ella, Barbara, and Janis? Guess you have to had your promoters behind you.
Randall
January 1, 2014 @ 5:28 am
Watch Whitney Houston’s 1994 AMA performance no one can touch that performance still to this day. Even watch her concerts from the Bodygaurd era no one could compete with her during that time. Dolly’s version can’t even compete with Whitney Houston’s version of the song to be honest! Whitney was one of those rare singers that refused to lip sing and would always sing her song better live compared to the album versions. Plus she has sold over 200 million albums so it’s no surprise she is #1.
Blunt Talk
January 1, 2014 @ 5:52 am
I have watched it. Greatest ever? No. Can you tell who Joan Sutherland is without looking it up? Greatest voice ever. If you talk about lip syncing then you wipe out at least half the list. Whitney does even crack the top five in sales.
Randall
January 1, 2014 @ 6:09 am
LMFAO did you really just say Joan Sutherland? That’s too funny! I’m not going to argue with you because that’s your opinion. She is far from the greatest that’s why she has NEVER made any of the top list. I’m sure people don’t even know who she is. Oh and don’t forget that whitney is the most awarded female singer in history. That says enough right there!
Blunt Talk
January 1, 2014 @ 6:30 am
And who arranged that? One argument is for purity of voice. Now the argument is for awards. How about sales? Whitney is not number 1 or 2 or….. Again. Opinion is exactly worth what you pay for it, nothing. Yours or mine. But it is fun to hear people squirm.
Randall
January 1, 2014 @ 11:52 am
Who cares if she isn’t 1 or 2 she is in the top 5….Whitney Houston had the best voice! You probably don’t think that because your into that opera BS! You ask most REAL singers who inspired them I guarantee most will say Whitney Houston!
Dr. Roz
January 1, 2014 @ 5:20 pm
Actually she is and was the #1 in sales boo, first and only to have 7 consecutive #1 songs, do u know what makes nunber ones? Sales!!!!! Boom! She even beat the beatles fool. Even Beyonce cant top that, whitney has a sound that cant be repeayed nor imitated. Shes not jyst a great performer like michael, beyonce, etc she is THE VOICE, a national treasure, she is the standard, the bar. She was the first female artist to highten the agreed record deal pay to an artist with her 100 million dollar deal behind the highest paid which was Michael jackson and his 250 million dollar pay. Sorry boo record companys dont do that unless your revenue has brought 3x that to them. Learn the knowledge of the busoness b4 speaking. Her voice, her sales, her live performance, and non lip syncing proves that. She was lengendary b4 her death, even in her darkest hours she was still holding the spot. A spot no matter how hard theze new artist work will never hit. #Truth! We will never see a gift like that ever again in tjis life time boo sorry. Learn your music, learn the business, snd know your facts b4 speaking!!!!
Blunt Talk
January 3, 2014 @ 1:44 am
Facts. Check them your self. Start with Guinness World Records. Beatles top all sales. EMI label alone over one billion. They call Bob Uecker Mr. Baseball, doesn’t mean he is the best. Don’t hold much stock in nicknames. As for the ‘business’ better do your research as well. As for lip syncing, Sorry to burst your bubble. Whitney Houston’s 1991 rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” was lip-synced. “The music was pre-recorded, and so was the vocal,” confirmed Houston’s former musical director Rickey Minor to ABC News.
Andres
January 3, 2014 @ 6:18 pm
You found one performance that was lip sync and we are not even sure about that because she did do it again on welcome home concert and killed it. Look around sir and you will see that many artist put her at the top of the list. She is powerhouse that can’t be touched. You can try and minimize her impact on the music world but it does not make it true. She was amazing and a gift from god. She could touch your soul with her voice and send chills up your body. She is truly miss by millions!!!!
Allen
January 8, 2014 @ 4:37 pm
She is the greatest singer of all time, and before Whitney there was Aretha, but before Aretha there was Sarah Vaughan. Since Whitney there hasn’t been a greatest of all time, so it still to this day is Whitney Houston. We will wait for the future. Maybe someone will come along, but it still will never take the title away from her, just as she never took the acclaim away from the other two.
Young Tan
January 6, 2014 @ 11:07 pm
In terms of sales, the fact that Whitney released far fewer records than Madonna, Celine and Mariah who take the top 3 spots yet is still not far behind them in sales, proves a point about how successful she really was, so you might not agree she’s the greatest ever, but certainly deserved to be hailed as one of pop music’s greatest vocalists and greatest successes. It’s a bit unfair to compare pop singers to opera voices like those of Joan Sutherland because they are far better vocalists, yet their genres and approaches to singning are totally different.
john c
January 7, 2014 @ 12:45 am
But u have to be ignorant and bring up crack do u even realize how many artists did coke crack heroine etx how many metal.bands got high.day in n day out so whitney one of the biggest pop.stars in history does it n u judge her? Who gives a flyn FU<# what drugs she did all I caredd about was her voice!!
john c
January 7, 2014 @ 12:41 am
Such a hater! Even family members of mine who hate rnb n pop n love country have told me she was the greatest singer of all.time….ur delerious youtube her live performances of 1994 amas and 1988s one moment in time etc even dolly said it on tv SHE sang it better than me!!! Every songwriter has said shes the best singer of our generation after she passed tony bennet barry manilow cyndi lauper madonna all who.i love said we lost the greayest singer of our generation wether u liked her or not im sorry u need to admit ur delerious
David.
January 1, 2014 @ 5:16 am
Whitney is the greatest, Well deserved spot for the voice.
Whitney Fan
January 1, 2014 @ 4:56 am
Whitney is the best female singer. No one to this day has been able to top her vocal skills. Well deserved!!!
john c
January 7, 2014 @ 12:36 am
No 1 u said it givez me chills.sayn it……she has influenced a generation n while I loveeeee patti n chaka n tina n gladys noooooo 1 sings like.or as great as whitney!!!!
RobFromLoveland
January 1, 2014 @ 4:45 am
Might have been more meaningful if the selections hadn’t been made by some producer’s 8 year old daughter. Most of the choices aren’t even laughable, just sad.
Dirlene Rangel Moura
January 1, 2014 @ 4:41 am
Whitney will always be the best of all time! I Will Always Love You, Nippy!!! <3 <3 NBL <3 <3
Bogart Lee
January 1, 2014 @ 3:44 am
Was Mariah Carey included? I was expecting her to be at least in the top 5 if not #1. I’m OK with Whitney and Madonna because they made waves for at least a decade. But Beyonce? Probably in the top 20 but too early to be in the top 5.
Celestial
January 2, 2014 @ 10:58 pm
Mariah was like #8. She certainly deserved to be above Beyonce.
Maria
January 1, 2014 @ 3:38 am
i think the network has a different definition for “greatest.” I disagreed with many of the ones listed. Can’t believe they didn’t mention the likes of Carole King, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Patti LaBelle. So many others… I’m comfortable with Whitney being up there, and since ABC got it all wrong IMHO, Whitney can be #1
AJnyc
January 1, 2014 @ 3:24 am
Didn’t agree with most of the picks on the list but definitely agreed with Whitney being #1 (Or top 3 at least). Almost every female artist young and old (Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce, Patti LaBelle, Aretha) praises Whitney for her inspiration. That is a huge influence not many artists can accomplish. And if you disagree with Whitney being #1, youtube her performance at the 1994 AMA’s when she sings 10 minutes of pure greatness with a melody of Porgy and Bess, Dreamgirls, and her smash hit I have Nothing.
Randall
January 1, 2014 @ 4:55 am
Exactly no one to this day can top that performance!
john c
January 7, 2014 @ 12:33 am
Omg you.said It. She is def.#1! That performance u r talking about to.this day gives me.chills n she.does it effortlessly!! U r right artists young n old have called her the greatest singer even those wayyyy b4 her! Tony bennet said it barry manilow said it Celine said it Cymdi lauper said it!! NO.other artists has been put in this light like this RIP.NIPPY u r missed u were the.voice!!
BlueAlert
January 1, 2014 @ 3:24 am
What a joke. Not the 30 greatest women in music, just a run down of 30 females who have appeared on ABC on New Year’s Eve. Truth in advertising is dead.
Chanel Williams
January 1, 2014 @ 3:20 am
While I was watching the show, I was deciphering who would be number one. After Beyonce was given the number four spot, Aretha the third, and Tina the second, I had a hunch that Whitney would be number one . She is still the most exquisite singer to grace the world with her voice. Well done ABC!!!
Trshunter
January 1, 2014 @ 3:11 am
Whitney Houston..gimme a break, what about Judy garland, Barbra Streisand or Ella fitzgerald
prsolinger
January 1, 2014 @ 4:33 am
Yawn.
Andres
January 1, 2014 @ 6:23 pm
I am curious…. Who do you think should be at the top and why?
Randall
January 1, 2014 @ 4:54 am
You really need to watch whitney houston 1994 AMA performance no one can compare to that performance still to this day…
Whitney Fan
January 1, 2014 @ 4:54 am
Really? Whitney voice is better than both of them and on top of that she has sold over 200 million albums so I am not surprised by her being number 1. She was the best female singer of our generation and probably the best that we will ever see in this lifetime”
Dr.Roz
January 1, 2014 @ 5:35 pm
In there own time Whitney came and ruled the scene for decades. Although those women were great, whitney was the hype from 1984 until death and still going, their timing didnt last as long as that but they are sll great, yet Whitney was different and special. When you have a vouce like that, crystal clear, and unable to imitate you are the vouce. The woman u named were absolutely greats of their times yet so many can imitate them to a T just like ppl do michael jackson. Yet their is not a youtube video, artist, amature, or soul on tjis earth who has, or tried, or can imitate Whitney like that and sound like her. That is why she is THE VOICE! If im wrong please show me yet i doubt it, im very knowledgable in mysic and the business.
Michele
January 1, 2014 @ 3:11 am
Beyoncé should have been in the top 2
Randy Moe
January 1, 2014 @ 4:06 am
Ugh, not
kp
January 1, 2014 @ 5:47 am
what about ANITA BAKER
prsolinger
January 1, 2014 @ 4:33 am
Are you insane? Barely top 10.
Randall
January 1, 2014 @ 4:57 am
God no!
Dr.Roz
January 1, 2014 @ 5:37 pm
Not never u must be born in the times of late 90’s and after lol smh, u kids of that time have no knowledge of music lol