--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The very first time I had Whitney Houston…" description: "\"The very first time I had Whitney Houston on my show, however many years ago, I thought, \"You are 'the voice.'\" You are the voice, that was my name for..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f5/oprah-winfrey-186_first-time_the-very-first-time-i-had-whitney-housto_2083381.jpg" --- # The very first time I had Whitney Houston on my show… ![“The very first time I had Whitney Houston on my show, however many years ago, I thought, "You are 'the voice.'" You are the voice, that was my name for you.” quote by Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f5/oprah-winfrey-186_first-time_the-very-first-time-i-had-whitney-housto_2083381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f5/oprah-winfrey-186_first-time_the-very-first-time-i-had-whitney-housto_2083381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f5/oprah-winfrey-186_first-time_the-very-first-time-i-had-whitney-housto_2083381.jpg) > “The very first time I had Whitney Houston on my show, however many years ago, I thought, "You are 'the voice.'" You are the voice, that was my name for you.” [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A host’s admiration for a performer can elevate the performer’s identity in the public eye. **In simple terms:** Admiration can define a star’s image. Key Takeaway Celebrate talent while honoring their individuality. Themes celebration media identity Mood inspirational reflective Type analytical thoughtful When to use this quote - interviews - award shows - media commentary Key Concepts public perception artist legacy Questions to Reflect On - How does media framing shape an artist’s legacy? - Can admiration become limiting? A Different Perspective Elevating someone may eclipse their own self‑definition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/houston/) [Houston Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/houston-years-4080744/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Voice Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice-voice-424582/) [Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whitney/) [Whitney houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whitney-houston/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [My philosophy was always try to look like Whitney Houston at all times. That did not work out so well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-philosophy-was-always-try-to-look-like-whitney-houston-at-all/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [People have been kind enough to compare me to Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. I think it's amazing that they even put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leona-lewis/people-have-been-kind-enough-to-compare-me-to-celine-dion-mariah/) [Leona Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leona-lewis/) > [Whitney Houston is my idol and my mentor and my dream forever, like she will always be my favorite artist, ever, on the planet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandy-norwood/whitney-houston-is-my-idol-and-my-mentor-and-my-dream-forever-like/) [Brandy Norwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandy-norwood/) > [I have been influenced by the greatest artists in jazz, pop, reggae, traditional, ballards, pop, and all types of music, taking the best from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-pausini/i-have-been-influenced-by-the-greatest-artists-in-jazz-pop-reggae/) [Laura Pausini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-pausini/) > [I tried a couple of pop writers - none of the big, big, big ones - but it didn't work for me. I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-ware/i-tried-a-couple-of-pop-writers-none-of-the-big-big-big-ones-but-it/) [Jessie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-ware/) > [I'm very proud of my love for Whitney Houston. She really changed my life. She made my life a better life. She was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narada-michael-walden/i-m-very-proud-of-my-love-for-whitney-houston-she-really-changed-my/) [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) > [I come from a strong religious background, and I had a very conservative upbringing. So I was nervous, and confused. Here I was wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-scherzinger/i-come-from-a-strong-religious-background-and-i-had-a-very/) [Nicole Scherzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-scherzinger/) > [What Whitney Houston has accomplished will never be accomplished. She's the most famous person on the planet as far as vocaling and her songs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narada-michael-walden/what-whitney-houston-has-accomplished-will-never-be-accomplished-she/) [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) > [I'd rather spend my time looking at the sky than listening to Whitney Houston.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-smith/i-d-rather-spend-my-time-looking-at-the-sky-than-listening-to-whitney/) [Robert Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-smith/) > [Whitney Houston, one of my biggest inspirations, also had that same mindset because her songs vary from R&B, hip hop, pop, and gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-headley/whitney-houston-one-of-my-biggest-inspirations-also-had-that-same/) [Heather Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-headley/) > [I like listening to old soul music. I like Sam Cooke. When I was growing up, the first things I was listening to was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-ferguson/i-like-listening-to-old-soul-music-i-like-sam-cooke-when-i-was/) [Rebecca Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-ferguson/) > [It was sweaty Whitney (Houston) in Central Park. She knew that park pretty well. Every bush!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/it-was-sweaty-whitney-houston-in-central-park-she-knew-that-park/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [R.i.p whitney houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/r-i-p-whitney-houston/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You see the genius that Whitney Houston has as an interpreter of material, and you realize why genius can be applied to only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/you-see-the-genius-that-whitney-houston-has-as-an-interpreter-of/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [There's no concession to the fact that Dylan might be a more sophisticated singer than Whitney Houston, that he's probably the most sophisticated singer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/there-s-no-concession-to-the-fact-that-dylan-might-be-a-more/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) ## More by Oprah Winfrey > [I've seen that many times in rural African villages where people have nothing but a hut and a bowl. The joy in the children's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-ve-seen-that-many-times-in-rural-african-villages-where-people-have/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [These French-style caramels are handmade in California. It's always hard to give them away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/these-french-style-caramels-are-handmade-in-california-it-s-always/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I was in a conversation and someone said: "You know, we were talking about the whole issue of transgender and how it has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-was-in-a-conversation-and-someone-said-you-know-we-were-talking/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“Forgiveness is about letting go of the past and not holding on to it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-about-letting-go-of-the-past-and-not-holding-on-to-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The deepest courage we can exercise is continuing to believe in our dreams until we make them come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-deepest-courage-we-can-exercise-is-continuing-to-believe-in-our/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [If you can see it, and believe it, it is a LOT easier to achieve it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/if-you-can-see-it-and-believe-it-it-is-a-lot-easier-to-achieve-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It's why you were born. And how you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/there-is-no-greater-gift-you-can-give-or-receive-than-to-honor-your/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Gratitude is the single greatest treasure I will take with me from this experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/gratitude-is-the-single-greatest-treasure-i-will-take-with-me-from/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Keep a grateful journal. Every night, list five things that you are grateful for. What it will begin to do is change our perspective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/keep-a-grateful-journal-every-night-list-five-things-that-you-are/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I want every day to be a fresh start on expanding what is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-want-every-day-to-be-a-fresh-start-on-expanding-what-is-possible/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [We often block our own blessings because we don't feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough... You're worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/we-often-block-our-own-blessings-because-we-don-t-feel-inherently/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [One if the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/one-if-the-hardest-things-in-life-to-learn-are-which-bridges-to-cross/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [You must feed your mind with reading material, thoughts, and ideas that open you to new possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-must-feed-your-mind-with-reading-material-thoughts-and-ideas-that/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Your soul tells you when it's time to move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/your-soul-tells-you-when-it-s-time-to-move-on/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) [Explore all 971 Oprah Winfrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## More First time quotes > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“I’m so stressed that a weird Olympic-style commentary starts up in my head. And here we have Zelah Green, the fourteen-year-old champion of rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-curtis/i-m-so-stressed-that-a-weird-olympic-style-commentary-starts-up-in-my/) [Vanessa Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-curtis/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“I’m waiting for you,” he murmured, smiling a slow, familiar grin that seemed to hint at a secret between them. And for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/i-m-waiting-for-you-he-murmured-smiling-a-slow-familiar-grin-that/) [Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/) > [“Treat every natural beauty you met as if you see them for the first and last time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/treat-every-natural-beauty-you-met-as-if-you-see-them-for-the-first/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“I won’t break your heart. For the first time in my life, I’ve found something worth fighting for, someone more important than me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelle-bliss/i-won-t-break-your-heart-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-ve-found/) [Chelle Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelle-bliss/) > [Life is like a parachute jump: you have to get it right the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/life-is-like-a-parachute-jump-you-have-to-get-it-right-the-first-time/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [When my kids were in the school play for the first time, I decided I had to make the costumes from scratch and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alexander/when-my-kids-were-in-the-school-play-for-the-first-time-i-decided-i/) [Sarah Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alexander/) > [“I will run every mile, i will save every line, i will say i reached the top and i will fall back down standing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mennah-al-refaey/i-will-run-every-mile-i-will-save-every-line-i-will-say-i-reached-the/) [Mennah al refaey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mennah-al-refaey/) > [“Or maybe your magic isn't that destructive after all. The rain of Doritos, the bed thing,this...Maybe it's just that you create too big, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/or-maybe-your-magic-isn-t-that-destructive-after-all-the-rain-of/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [There is no pain like the first time you get your heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/there-is-no-pain-like-the-first-time-you-get-your-heart-broken/) [Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [I don't know why, but everybody thinks that I'm short. When they see me for the first time, women are always surprised to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/i-don-t-know-why-but-everybody-thinks-that-i-m-short-when-they-see-me/) [Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/) > [“I met Suffering on a quiet road, just as the sun was setting behind me. Its presence was heavy, like an old coat I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/i-met-suffering-on-a-quiet-road-just-as-the-sun-was-setting-behind-me/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [“You never talk to the pitcher when…” He shook his head. “You just never talk to the pitcher when--” “I just wanted to congratulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/you-never-talk-to-the-pitcher-when-he-shook-his-head-you-just-never/) [Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/) [Browse all 9,309 First time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The very first time I had Whitney Houston on my show, however many years ago, I thought, \"You are 'the voice.'\" You are the voice, that was my name for you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oprah Winfrey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-very-first-time-i-had-whitney-houston-on-my-show-however-many/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "First time" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-very-first-time-i-had-whitney-houston-on-my-show-however-many/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f5/oprah-winfrey-186_first-time_the-very-first-time-i-had-whitney-housto_2083381.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f5/oprah-winfrey-186_first-time_the-very-first-time-i-had-whitney-housto_2083381.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f5/oprah-winfrey-186_first-time_the-very-first-time-i-had-whitney-housto_2083381.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The very first time I had Whitney Houston on my show, however many years ago, I thought, \"You are 'the…” — Oprah Winfrey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Oprah Winfrey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The very first time I had...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-very-first-time-i-had-whitney-houston-on-my-show-however-many/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-very-first-time-i-had-whitney-houston-on-my-show-however-many/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```