<P> The single was certified 4 × platinum by the RIAA, making Houston the first woman with a single to reach that level in the RIAA history and becoming the best - selling single by a woman in the US . The song also became a global success, hitting number - one in almost all countries, and the best - selling single of all time by a female solo artist with 20 million copies sold . The soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 chart and remained there for 20 non-consecutive weeks, the longest tenure by any Arista album on the chart in the Nielsen SoundScan era (tied for 10th overall by any label), and became one of the fastest selling albums ever . During Christmas week of 1992, the soundtrack sold over a million copies within a week, becoming the first album to achieve that feat under Nielsen SoundScan system . With the follow - up singles "I'm Every Woman", a Chaka Khan cover, and "I Have Nothing" both reaching the top five, Houston became the first woman to ever have three singles in the Top 11 simultaneously . The album was certified 18 × platinum in the US alone, with worldwide sales of 45 million, making it the biggest - selling album by a female act on the list of the world's Top 10 best - selling albums . </P> <P> Houston won three Grammys for the album in 1994, including two of the Academy's highest honors, Album of the Year and Record of the Year . In addition, she won a record 8 American Music Awards at that year's ceremony including the Award of Merit, 11 Billboard Music Awards, 3 Soul Train Music Awards in 1993--94 including Sammy Davis, Jr . Award as Entertainer of the Year, 5 NAACP Image Awards including Entertainer of the Year, a record 5 World Music Awards, and a BRIT award . Following the success of the project, Houston embarked on another expansive global tour, The Bodyguard World Tour, in 1993--94 . Her concerts, movie, and recording grosses made her the third highest - earning female entertainer of 1993--94, just behind Oprah Winfrey and Barbra Streisand according to Forbes magazine . Houston placed in the top five of Entertainment Weekly's annual "Entertainer of the Year" ranking and was labeled by Premiere magazine as one of the 100 most powerful people in Hollywood . </P> <P> In October 1994, Houston attended and performed at a state dinner in the White House honoring newly elected South African president Nelson Mandela . At the end of her world tour, Houston performed three concerts in South Africa to honor President Mandela, playing to over 200,000 people . This would make the singer the first major musician to visit the newly unified and apartheid free nation following Mandela's winning election . The concert was broadcast live on HBO with funds of the concerts being donated to various charities in South Africa . The event was considered the nation's "biggest media event since the inauguration of Nelson Mandela". </P> <P> In 1995, Houston starred alongside Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon in her second film, Waiting to Exhale, a motion picture about four African - American women struggling with relationships . Houston played the lead character Savannah Jackson, a TV producer in love with a married man . She chose the role because she saw the film as "a breakthrough for the image of black women because it presents them both as professionals and as caring mothers". After opening at number one and grossing $67 million in the US at the box office and $81 million worldwide, it proved that a movie primarily targeting a black audience can cross over to success, while paving the way for other all - black movies such as How Stella Got Her Groove Back and the Tyler Perry movies that became popular in the 2000s . The film is also notable for its portrayal of black women as strong middle class citizens rather than as stereotypes . The reviews were mainly positive for the ensemble cast . The New York Times said: "Ms. Houston has shed the defensive hauteur that made her portrayal of a pop star in' The Bodyguard' seem so distant ." Houston was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for "Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture", but lost to her co-star Bassett . </P>

Who sings love will be waiting at home