<P> But after 1986, whenever the controversy involving Grammy Award for Best New Artist arose, Houston's ineligibility for that category was often mentioned . Those were the cases with the past winners such as 1988's Jody Watley and 1999's Lauryn Hill, established their "public identities" through their work with Shalamar and the Fugees respectively . When Shelby Lynne received the trophy in 2001, more than a decade after charting several singles on the country charts, so did it . Richard Marx, ruled ineligible for nomination as Best New Artist in 1988, stuck it to the NARAS about their inconsistency, on the feature article about him of Orange Coast magazine, stating as follows: "(...) But so did Whitney Houston for the same reason . And frankly, I don't have a lot of respect for N.A.R.A.S., the Grammy people's ruling system, because it's so inconsistent . They deemed me and Whitney Houston ineligible, and yet they nominated Jody Watley, who made records with Shalamar ." </P> <P> In 2000, Geoff Mayfield of Billboard magazine, on his column, criticized the NARAS for their vague application of criteria, commenting that "the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences need again to rewrite its definition of (new artists)." (The official guidelines read, "for a new artist who releases, during the eligibility year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist .") He added that "the category has already had its twists and turns . In 1986 Whitney Houston was not considered because, prior to the release of 1985's Whitney Houston album, she had appeared on a Teddy Pendergrass single in 1984 . But in' 88 Jody Watley, who had been a lead vocalist in Shalamar which first charted in 1977, won the best new artist Grammy ." </P> <P> The label, wanting Houston to have a solid urban fanbase first, released "You Give Good Love" as the first single . The soulful ballad would top the R&B chart and surprise the label by crossing over and reaching number three on the pop chart while the singer was playing at nightclubs in the United States . The jazzy - pop "Saving All My Love for You" was released next and really put her on the map . The single was an even bigger success hitting number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart . It would reach number one in the United Kingdom and was successful around the world . With her first number one, Houston began appearing on high - profile talk shows and became the opening act for Jeffrey Osborne and Luther Vandross . Thinking About You was released as the single only to R&B - oriented radio stations . It peaked at number 10 on the Hot Black Singles chart and at number 24 on the Hot Dance / Disco Club Play chart . </P> <P> In 1985, "How Will I Know" was released as the third single officially . With its colorful and energetic video, the song brought the singer to the teens and MTV, which black artists have traditionally found tough to crack . It became another number one single for Houston, topping the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart and Hot Black Singles chart respectively . The final single, "Greatest Love of All", is a cover of "The Greatest Love of All", originally recorded in 1977 by George Benson and would become the biggest hit off the album with a three - week stay atop the Hot 100 . As a result, it became the first debut album--and the first album by a female artist--ever to generate three number one singles . With "Greatest Love of All" and Houston's debut album both at #1 on the singles and albums chart, respectively, she became the first female artist to have the number one pop single and album simultaneously since Kim Carnes in 1981 with "Bette Davis Eyes" and Mistaken Identity . "All at Once" was released only to Adult Contemporary and Urban AC stations as a radio airplay - only single later in 1986 . It received heavy airplay and can still be heard on AC stations . However the single received an official release in Japan and many European countries . </P>

What was whitney houston's first number one song