LAS VEGAS, NV ? SEPTEMBER 15: Singer Whitney Houston is seen performing on stage during the 2004 … [+]
Almost 30 years after it was first released, Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” has been certified diamond in America, making it one of a relatively small number of hits in history to earn that coveted honor. The track is not the first diamond award for the celebrated singer, and with her new plaque, the late superstar joins with two other women in managing a specific and very impressive achievement.
In the U.S., the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) certifies both albums and singles diamond once they have moved 10 million equivalent units in just the one country it monitors. Diamond status is the same thing as 10-times platinum.
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Houston has now collected both a diamond-certified single and album, which is quite the feat. Only the biggest and most beloved musicians have a shot at earning a diamond song or full-length, but to collect one of each is a rarity that only a handful of artists have managed. Looking solely at women, Houston is just the third artist to snag both, matching Mariah Carey and Taylor Swift by doing so.
Leading the charge when looking at all of Houston’s many RIAA certifications is The Bodyguard soundtrack. The album has been certified 18-times platinum, meaning it is almost two-times diamond. The set could hit that level sometime in the future, and it already stands out as one of the most successful launches of all time. Her albums Whitney Houston and Whitney have also been certified 13-times platinum and 10-times platinum (otherwise known as diamond), respectively, while “I Will Always Love You” marks her first diamond single.
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Taylor Swift was the first woman to earn both a diamond single and album, and she claims just one of each (at least for now). Her full-length Fearless collected the honor back in 2017, while her smash hit “Shake It Off” went diamond almost two years ago.
Just a month ago, Mariah Carey joined Taylor Swift in this specific showing with her first diamond-certified song. Her holiday blockbuster “All I Want for Christmas Is You” was named a 10-times platinum win, as it had racked up many new awards in just the past few years as the cut became more popular than ever. Back in the ‘90s, her two albums Music Box and Daydream were named diamond full-lengths. At that time, the RIAA only went off of sales, while now the organization includes streams into its awards.
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