American Music Award nominations for Whitney Houston

Following is a list of American Music Award wins and nominations for pop/R&B icon Whitney Houston. Whitney Houston was nominated in a total of 38 categories and won 22 of them during her career AMA including two special awards ― Award of Merit and International Artist Award. At its 21st ceremonies in 1994, Houston tied Michael Jackson on the record for the most AMA ever won in a single year with 8 awards. Also, she is the female artist with the most wins at AMA, and overall the third behind Michael Jackson (26) and Alabama (23).

1986

Ceremony	Subcategory	Nominations	Results	Note(s)
13th [1][2]	Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist	Whitney Houston Madonna Tina Turner ★	Nominated	Houston got six nominations, the most of any debut artist. Houston's first AMA was Favorite Soul/R&B Single award. Performed "How Will I Know," due to a sound problem at the beginning of her performance, she missed the first lyrics, "There's a boy I know." The nominees of Favorite Soul/R&B Single award were called by Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas in London via satellite, and the winner was announced by Sheena Easton at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Similarly, A-ha's Morton Harket in London teamed up with Apollonia Kotero in Los Angeles to present Favorite Soul/R&B Video award.
	Favorite Soul/R&B Single	The Commodores - "Nightshift" Whitney Houston - "You Give Good Love" ★ Freddie Jackson - "You Are My Lady"	Won
	Favorite Soul/R&B Album	Kool & The Gang - Emergency ★ Luther Vandross - The Night I Fell in Love Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston	Nominated
	Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist	Aretha Franklin ★ Whitney Houston Diana Ross	Nominated
	Favorite Soul/R&B Video	Aretha Franklin - "Freeway of Love" Ready For The World - "Oh Sheila" Whitney Houston - "Saving All My Love For You" ★	Won
	Favorite Soul/R&B Female Video Artist	Aretha Franklin ★ Whitney Houston Sade	Nominated

1987

Ceremony	Subcategory	Nominations	Results	Note(s)
14th [3]	Favorite Pop/Rock Album	Janet Jackson - Control Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston ★ Top Gun Original Soundtrack Album Van Halen - 5150	Won	With that year's seven nominations, Houston received a total of 13 nominations from one album, more than any other artist. Winning five awards, Houston set the record for the most AMAs won by a female artist in one year during the 1980s. Whitney Houston became the first album by a female artist to earn "Favorite Album" in both the Pop/Rock and Soul/R&B categories. Also, she was the second female artist to win "Favorite Female Artist" in both categories behind Donna Summer in 1980. Performed "All at Once," introduced by the show host Diana Ross, called the album Whitney Houston "the biggest debut album by a solo performer ever."
	Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist	Janet Jackson Madonna Whitney Houston ★ Tina Turner	Won
	Favorite Pop/Rock Female Video Artist	Belinda Carlisle Madonna ★ Whitney Houston Janet Jackson	Nominated
	Favorite Soul/R&B Album	Anita Baker - Rapture Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston ★ Janet Jackson - Control Run-D.M.C. - Raising Hell	Won
	Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist	Anita Baker Whitney Houston ★ Janet Jackson Patti LaBelle	Won
	Favorite Soul/R&B Video	Janet Jackson - "When I Think of You" Whitney Houston - "Greatest Love of All" ★ Billy Ocean - "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" Run-D.M.C. - "Walk This Way"	Won
	Favorite Soul/R&B Female Video Artist	Janet Jackson ★ Aretha Franklin Whitney Houston Tina Turner	Nominated

1988

Ceremony	Subcategory	Nominations	Results	Note(s)
15th [4]	Favorite Pop/Rock Single	Whitney Houston - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" ★ Bon Jovi - "Livin' on a Prayer" Bob Seger - "Shakedown"	Won	Houston was one of the co-hosts during the ceremonies with Smokey Robinson, Mick Fleetwood, Barbara Mandrell and the Bee Gees. Performed two songs: then the latest single from the album Whitney, "Where Do Broken Hearts Go," and the gospel "Wonderful Counselor" with her mother Cissy Houston and a brother Gary Houston.
	Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist	Janet Jackson Madonna Whitney Houston ★	Won
	Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist	Whitney Houston Anita Baker ★ Janet Jackson	Nominated

1989

Ceremony	Subcategory	Nominations	Results	Note(s)
16th	Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist	Tracy Chapman Whitney Houston ★ Debbie Gibson	Won	Adding two awards in that year, Houston won a total of 11 AMAs at the time, becoming the most winning female artist during the 1980s.
	Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist	Whitney Houston ★ Natalie Cole Sade	Won

1992

Ceremony	Subcategory	Nominations	Results	Note(s)
19th [5][6]	Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist	Paula Abdul ★ Mariah Carey Whitney Houston	Nominated	Houston got five nominations, the second most number behind C+C Music Factory and Color Me Badd with each six nods. Performed a remix medley of three song from I'm Your Baby Tonight: "I'm Your Baby Tonight," "My Name Is Not Susan," and "Who Do You Love." Natalie Cole said "I don't know how many times Whitney and I have been in the same category. But I'm gonna enjoy this one," during the acceptance speech of Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist award.
	Favorite Soul/R&B Album	Boyz II Men - Cooleyhighharmony Whitney Houston - I'm Your Baby Tonight Luther Vandross - Power of Love ★ New Jack City Soundtrack Album	Nominated
	Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist	Mariah Carey ★ Natalie Cole Whitney Houston	Nominated
	Favorite Adult Contemporary Album	Paula Abdul - Spellbound Natalie Cole - Unforgettable...With Love ★ Whitney Houston - I'm Your Baby Tonight	Nominated
	Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist	Paula Abdul Natalie Cole ★ Whitney Houston	Nominated

1994

Ceremony	Subcategory	Nominations	Results	Note(s)
21st [7][8][9]	Favorite Pop/Rock Single	Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You" ★ UB40 - "Can't Help Falling In Love" Tag Team - "Whoomp! (There It Is)"	Won	Houston won seven of the eight categories in which she was nominated and was presented with the prestigious "Award of Merit" by Stevie Wonder, the award is given for outstanding contributions to the musical entertainment of the American public. In addition, "She is blessed with one of the finest vocal instruments in contemporary music," reads the inscription on the award. With 8 wins, she shared with Michael Jackson the record for the most AMAs ever won in a single year. Also tied Kenny Rogers on the all-time list with 19 total awards up to that time. Houston became the first and only artist to win Favorite Album simultaneously in the Pop/Rock, Soul/R&B and Adult Contemporary categories. Houston's fourth winning in the Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist category, which made her the most winning artist in the category (tied with Olivia Newton-John). Brought the house down with her soulful, stirring 10-minute-medley renditions of "I Loves You, Porgy" from Porgy and Bess, the show-stealing "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going from the broadway musical Dreamgirls, and "I Have Nothing" from The Bodyguard, while receiving a standing ovation.
	Favorite Pop/Rock Album	Janet Jackson - janet. Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album ★ Spin Doctors - Pocket Full Of Kryptonite	Won
	Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist	Mariah Carey Gloria Estefan Whitney Houston ★ Janet Jackson	Won
	Favorite Soul/R&B Single	Mariah Carey - "Dreamlover" Janet Jackson - "That's the Way Love Goes" Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You" ★	Won
	Favorite Soul/R&B Album	Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album ★ Janet Jackson - janet. SWV - It's About Time Silk - Lose Control	Won
	Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist	Toni Braxton Whitney Houston ★ Mariah Carey Janet Jackson	Won
	Favorite Adult Contemporary Album	Kenny G - Breathless Billy Joel - River of Dreams Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album ★ Rod Stewart - Unplugged...and Seated	Won
	Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist	Kenny G ★ Whitney Houston Michael Bolton	Nominated
	Special Award: Award of Merit

1997

Ceremony	Subcategory	Nominations	Results	Note(s)
24th [10]	Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist	Mariah Carey Celine Dion Whitney Houston ★	Won	Houston didn't attend the show. Favorite Adult Contemporary award was accepted by the presenters Brooks & Dunn, and Favorite Soundtrack award was taken by Chaka Khan and Toni Braxton. Added two more awards, which made her to break Kenny Rogers' then all-time record (19) for the most AMAs won by any artist with 21. Houston also was honored as an important figure in the "Year of the Woman" in the American Music Awards. Garth Brooks chronicled the "Year of the Woman" and said that the year began with a bang with Houston, the movie Waiting To Exhale and its successful soundtrack, and ended with and The Preacher's Wife film and its soundtrack.
	Favorite Soundtrack	Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album ★ The Nutty Professor Soundtrack The Crow: City of Angels Soundtrack	Won

1998

Ceremony	Subcategory	Nominations	Results	Note(s)
25th [11]	Favorite Soundtrack	Evita: The Motion Picture Music Soundtrack Men in Black: The Album ★ Whitney Houston - The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album	Nominated	The awards show commemorated its 25th anniversary by looking back at significant moments, clips, performances and bloopers. Its 25th anniversary greatest moments montage included Houston's 1986 and 1987 AMA wins, and 1994 performance clips.

2000

Ceremony	Subcategory	Nominations	Results	Note(s)
27th [12][13]	Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist	Whitney Houston Britney Spears Shania Twain ★	Nominated	Houston tied Britney Spears and Shania Twain for the most nominations in that year, with each receiving three nods apiece.
	Favorite Soul/R&B Album	Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill ★ Whitney Houston - My Love Is Your Love TLC - FanMail	Nominated
	Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist	Brandy Lauryn Hill ★ Whitney Houston	Nominated

2001

Ceremony	Subcategory	Nominations	Results	Note(s)
28th [14]	Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist	Toni Braxton ★ Whitney Houston Kelly Price	Nominated	As of now, it's Houston's final nomination in the competitive categories.

2009

Ceremony	Category
37th [15][16][17]	Special Award: International Artist Award
	Note(s)	After the presenter Samuel L. Jackson introduced Whitney Houston as the 7th name in a prestige list of "International Artist Award" recipients with the video presentation for her achievements, she performed her powerhouse ballad "I Didn’t Know My Own Strength," receiving a standing ovation. Houston’s performance marked the first time she's performed on the show in ten years―a medley of then new songs from My Love Is Your Love: "Until You Come Back" and "My Love Is Your Love" medley, with Babyface and Wyclef Jean in 1999, and was her first primetime U.S. network performance in five years, since 2004 World Music Awards. Following her touching performance, the show honored Whitney Houston with the award, according to an inscription read by Jackson, which is given "in recognition of her worldwide success exemplified by her international record sales, radio airplay in countries all over the world, live performances that span the globe, and popularity that knows no borders or boundaries." With the award, Houston holds the record for the most American Music Awards by any female artist ever with a total of 22, and overall the third behind Michael Jackson (26) and Alabama (23).

Performances and appearances on the American Music Awards

Date	City	Venue	Performance/Note(s)
January 27, 1986 (13th)	Los Angeles	Shrine Auditorium	"How Will I Know"
January 26, 1987 (14th)			"All at Once"
January 25, 1988 (15th)			"Where Do Broken Hearts Go" "Wonderful Counselor" (along with Cissy Houston and Gary Houston)
January 30, 1989 (16th)			Houston attended the show, accepting two AMAs, but not performed
January 27, 1992 (19th)			She performed a remix medley of songs from I'm Your Baby Tonight: "I'm Your Baby Tonight," "My Name Is Not Susan," and "Who Do You Love"
February 7, 1994 (21st)			"I Loves You, Porgy" from Porgy and Bess, "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls and "I Have Nothing" from The Bodyguard.
January 11, 1999 (26th)			Houston sang a medley of songs from then-new-album My Love Is Your Love: "Until You Come Back" and "My Love Is Your Love." Babyface played the piano on both songs and Wyclef Jean was featured as a rapper on the performance of "My Love Is Your Love."
November 22, 2009 (37th)		The Nokia Theatre	"I Didn't Know My Own Strength"

References

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2. "Whitney, Aretha, Stevie Snare Honors at Recent American Music Awards". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 69 (22): 56. February 17, 1986. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
3. "Janet Jackson Leading American Music Nominations". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 71 (17): 57. January 19, 1987. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
4. "Anita Baker, Whitney Houston Top Black Winners at Recent American Music Awards Show". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 73 (20): 60–61. ISSN 0021-5996.
5. "Nominees get nod for music awards". The Press-Courier, Oxnard. The Thomson Corporation. December 18, 1991. p. 17. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
6. John Antezak (January 28, 1992). "C+C Music Factory and Brooks top awards". The Pittsburgh Press. E. W. Scripps Company. p. B6. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
7. "Whitney Houston Eight American Music Awards Make Her Top Female Winner". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 85 (17): 56–59. February 28, 1994. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
8. "Whitney Houston Walks Away with Eight Music Awards". New Straits Times. New Straits Times Press. February 9, 1994. p. 22. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
9. "Houston wins award". The Herald Journal. Pioneer Newspapers. January 4, 1994. p. A2. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
10. Craig Rosen (February 8, 1997). "AMA Exposure Lifts Artists". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 109 (6): 1 and 13. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
11. "Puff Daddy, Spice Girls, Wallflowers Pick Up AMA Nominations". MTV.com. December 12, 1997. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
12. David Basham (December 7, 1999). "Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Shania Twain Lead American Music Awards Nominations". MTV.com. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
13. David Basham (January 18, 2000). "Lauryn Hill, Backstreet Boys, DMX Honored With American Music Awards". MTV.com. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
14. Teri van Horn (November 13, 2000). "Creed, Marc Anthony, Faith Hill Lead AMA Nominees". MTV.com. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
15. "Whitney Houston to Perform Live at the 37th annual American Music Awards November 22 on ABC". J!-ENT. November 10, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
16. "Pop & Hiss, 2009 Aamerican Music Awards: Grading The Performances". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. November 22, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
17. Alan Duke (November 23, 2009). "Rihanna, happy to be back, hits AMA stage". CNN. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Retrieved November 3, 2011.