Ask Billboard: The Whitney Houston, Madonna Edition
Whitney Houston
Artists in this Article
Related Articles
Whitney Houston returns to the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 this week as her signature hit from 1992 -- it reigned for 14 weeks -- "I Will Always Love You" re-enters at No. 7, fueled by an enormous resurgence in digital sales (195,000, up 6723%, according to Nielsen SoundScan) and radio airplay (18 million audience impressions, up 915%, according to Nielsen BDS).
The singer is feeling the "Luv" from fans with new single.
Just as they did during the '80s and '90s, Whitney Houston and Madonna again share space in the Billboard Hot 100's top 10.
Next week's Billboard Digital Songs and Hot 100 charts will be brimming with massive debuts, surging sales and some intriguing newcomers. A host of songs -- new and old -- will be vying for a position within both charts' top 10s.
Clapping hands and swaying to gospel hymns in the church where Whitney Houston's powerful voice once wowed her congregation, the biggest names in entertainment sang along with the choir to remember the pop superstar at her hometown funeral Saturday.
Ask Billboard is updated every week. As always, submit your questions about Billboard charts, sales and airplay, as well as general music musings, to askbb@billboard.com. Please include your first and last name, as well as your city, state and country, if outside the U.S.
HER LOVE WAS OUR LOVE
Dear Gary,
What a tragic loss we have suffered this week with the passing of one of the great singers of our time, Whitney Houston. It is a fitting tribute that Billboard adjusted its policy to allow Houston's classic songs to re-chart posthumously on the Billboard Hot 100 (and all songs registering resurgence in popularity that propels them into the top 50).
Fittingly, Houston joins another legendary female singer, Madonna, in making chart history this week.
In the very same week, Houston and Madonna become the first two artists to reach the Hot 100's top 10 in the 1980s, '90s, 2000s and '10s. Four other artists have had top 10s in four decades: Barbra Streisand and Cher (each from the '60s through the '90s) and Michael Jackson and Aerosmith ('70s-'00s).
Madonna achieves another milestone this week: she becomes the fourth female singer to notch a Hot 100 top 10 after turning 50, along with Tina Turner ("I Don't Wanna Fight," 1993), Streisand ("I Finally Found Someone," 1996) and Cher ("Believe," 1999).
Whitney Houston will be missed but never forgotten. Whitney, your fans will always love you!
Jeff Lerner
Long Island, New York
Hi Jeff,
Great chart insights, along with sentiments shared by millions worldwide.
Please read on for more takes on Houston's notable chart moves this week.
NEXT
Up for Discussion