Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston was one of the best-selling music artists, with 200 million records sold worldwide, and the only artist to chart seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 songs. Houston's crossover appeal on the popular music charts, as well as her prominence on MTV, influenced several African American women artists who followed in her footsteps. "I Will Always Love You," which received the Grammy Award for Record of the Year, also became the best-selling single by a woman in music history. With a history of drug addiction and tumultuous relationships, Houston tragically died in her room at The Beverly Hilton on February 11, 2012. The official coroner's report showed that she had accidentally drowned in the bathtub, with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors.