Whitney Elizabeth Houston was an American singer, actress, film producer, and model. Commonly referred to as "the Voice", she is one of the most awarded performers of all time. A cultural icon, she influenced the breaking down of gender and racial barriers through her artistic achievements and music videos. Her emergence in the mid-1980s as a vocalist in popular music had a significant impact on the era of powerhouse vocals, power ballads, and contemporary R&B, spanning roughly from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s. Known for her vocal delivery, gospel singing style, genre-crossing appeal, and live performances, Houston was ranked second on Rolling Stone's list of the greatest singers of all time in 2023.