I'm Every Woman

Chart performance

In the United States, "I'm Every Woman" reached number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot 100, number one on the Hot Soul Singles, and number thirty on the disco chart. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number eleven.

Music video

A music video was produced for Khan's version of "I'm Every Woman" at a time when the value of promotional films was increasing. The video, which features five dancing Chakas dressed in various outfits to represent "every woman", was made a few years before the onset of mainstream coverage of "music promos" through such outlets as MTV, VH1, and BET.

Impact and legacy

In 2020, Slant Magazine ranked "I'm Every Woman" number 11 in their list of "The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time". In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked it number 27 in their list of "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time". In 2025, Billboard magazine ranked it number 12 in their list of "The 100 Greatest LGBTQ+ Anthems of All Time".

Credits and personnel

• Lead and background vocals by Chaka Khan
• Background vocals by Will Lee and Hamish Stuart
• Produced by Arif Mardin
• Drums by Steve Ferrone
• Bass by Will Lee
• Guitars by Hamish Stuart and Phil Upchurch
• Piano by Richard Tee
• Engineer by James Douglass

Charts

Certifications

Whitney Houston version

Main article: I'm Every Woman (Whitney Houston recording)

| B-side = Who Do You Love

• Dance-pop
• house

American singer and actress Whitney Houston recorded "I'm Every Woman" for The Bodyguard soundtrack. Houston's version was produced by Narada Michael Walden, with additional production by David Cole and Robert Clivillés from C+C Music Factory. Recorded during Houston's pregnancy with Bobbi Kristina Brown, it was released as Houston's second single from the soundtrack on January 2, 1993, by Arista Records. Her version adds the introduction "Whatever you want, whatever you need..." where Houston contributed to the song to differentiate it from the original. Houston's then-assistant and friend Robyn Crawford later claimed that Houston had long wanted to record one of Khan's songs and was convinced by Crawford to record it for the soundtrack. Contrary to popular belief, Houston did not perform backing vocals on Khan's original 1978 version. Chaka Khan confirmed this in an interview with Lester Holt in 2012. Her mother Cissy had contributed background vocals on Khan's original. Houston, however, did contribute background vocals to two Khan songs off her album, Naughty, during her early career as a session vocalist. As a tribute to Khan, Houston proclaims Khan's name towards the end of the song. A live performance of "I'm Every Woman" was included in the 1999 release Divas Live '99 as a duet with Chaka Khan. A 1994 performance was included on the 2014 CD and DVD release, Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances.

Release

When "I'm Every Woman" was released, Houston's preceding single, "I Will Always Love You," was still at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 (it remained there for eight more weeks). In its sixth week on the chart, the song entered the top ten at number ten on February 13, 1993. In its seventh, the song climbed to its peak position of number four. In accomplishing this feat, Houston became the first female artist since Madonna in 1985 to land multiple songs inside the top five of the Billboard Hot 100. Houston was also the fifth overall artist after Elvis Presley, the Beatles and Bee Gees preceded her. On March 13, Houston became the first artist of the Nielsen Soundscan era to chart three songs simultaneously inside the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 after "I'm Every Woman" and "I Will Always Love You" were joined by the third Bodyguard single, "I Have Nothing". It would remain inside the top ten for eight weeks and inside the top 40 for 19 weeks, eventually spending a total of 23 weeks altogether.

On the Hot R&B Singles chart, the song joined "I Will Always Love You" inside the top ten at number 10 on February 20. The song reached its peak position of number five on February 27. Like inside the Hot 100, the track would stay inside the top ten for eight weeks.

The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, marking Houston's fourth number-one single on the dance chart and her first chart-topper there since "Love Will Save the Day" topped the chart in 1988. It also reached the top 30 of the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks at number 26. In Canada, the song reached number two.

Outside North America, the song was a huge global hit. It reached number 6 on the Eurochart Hot 100. The dance song reached the top ten in 12 individual European countries, reaching number 2 in Belgium, number 3 in Spain and the Netherlands' Dutch Top 40, number 4 in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands' Single Top 100 and Portugal, number 5 in Denmark, number 6 in Italy, number 7 in Sweden and Greece, number 8 in Iceland and number 10 in Finland. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, it reached the top 20. In Oceania, the song reached higher positions than in Khan's version, peaking at number 5 in New Zealand and number 11 in Australia.

Contrary to popular belief, Houston did not perform backing vocals on Khan's original 1978 version. Chaka Khan confirmed this in an interview with Lester Holt in 2012. As a tribute to her, however, Houston proclaims Khan's name towards the end of the song.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised Houston's cover version of "I'm Every Woman", stating that it's a "first-rate" urban pop song "that skillfully capture[s] Houston at her best." Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Utilizing the original version's instantly recognizable vocal arrangement, Houston belts with unbridled confidence and power." Randy Clark from Cash Box named it a "dance-inspired tune", noting its "discotheque feel and obvious dance floor appeal. Although Whitney is the strongest aspect of this song, the combination of her voice and the house jam should launch this track high onto various charts and playlists alike." Entertainment Weeklys Amy Linden praised the cover as "triumphant". She explained, "To take on another diva's material requires the female equivalent of cojones, and Houston (wisely) doesn't muck around with the original's overall tone or arrangement. But she sure does it justice, even adding a sly Chaka shout-out as the cut fades."

Alan Jones from Music Week felt the singer "does her best to xerox the performance of Chaka Khan." Nancy Culp from NME said her "Whitney-ed version" is "well over the top and she carries it decently, but lacks the real soul to give it punch." Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote, "Though not as exuberantly sexy as the original, her version [...] is a respectable imitation." A writer from Rolling Stone called it an overwrought remake and added that Whitney undermined her soul roots. USA Today complimented the song, "She adds surprises: Chaka Khan's 'I'm Every Woman' becomes sweaty house music."

Music video

The accompanying music video for "I'm Every Woman" was directed by Randee St. Nicholas, and features a very pregnant Houston performing the song, while scenes from The Bodyguard are intercut into the clip. In addition to Houston's mother Cissy Houston, the video also features cameo appearances by Chaka Khan, Valerie Simpson, Martha Wash and labelmate TLC. The video was later made available on Houston's official YouTube channel in 2009 and had generated more than 101 million views as of September 2025.

Accolades

The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards in 1994, losing out to Toni Braxton's "Another Sad Love Song" while the video won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video that same year. In its list of the "250 Best Songs of the 1990s", Pitchfork ranked Houston's version at number 211.

Track listings and formats

• CD single

1. "I'm Every Woman" – 4:45
2. "Who Do You Love" – 3:55

• European CD maxi-single

1. "I'm Every Woman" (7" single) – 4:44
2. "I'm Every Woman" (Clivillés & Cole House Mix I) – 10:37
3. "I'm Every Woman" (a cappella) – 4:27

• UK CD maxi-single

1. "I'm Every Woman" (7" single) – 4:44
2. "I'm Every Woman" (Every Woman's House/Club Mix Radio Edit) – 4:40
3. "I'm Every Woman" (Clivillés & Cole House Mix I) – 10:37
4. "I'm Every Woman" (Every Woman's House/Club Mix) – 10:14
5. "I'm Every Woman" (Every Woman's Beat) – 4:11
6. "I'm Every Woman" (a cappella) – 4:27

• US CD maxi-single

1. "I'm Every Woman" (Every Woman's House/Club Mix Radio Edit) – 4:40
2. "I'm Every Woman" (album version) – 4:45
3. "I'm Every Woman" (Every Woman's House/Club Mix) – 10:14
4. "I'm Every Woman" (Clivillés & Cole House Mix I) – 10:37
5. "I'm Every Woman" (Clivillés & Cole House Mix II) – 10:54
6. "Who Do You Love" – 3:55

• US 12" maxi-single

1. "I'm Every Woman" (Every Woman's House/Club Mix) – 10:14
2. "I'm Every Woman" (Every Woman's Beat) – 4:11
3. "I'm Every Woman" (Clivillés & Cole House Mix I) – 10:37
4. "I'm Every Woman" (Clivillés & Cole House Mix II) – 10:54
5. "I'm Every Woman" (The C & C Dub) – 10:03
6. "I'm Every Woman" (a cappella) – 4:27

Credits and personnel

• Performed by Whitney Houston
• Produced by Narada Michael Walden
• Additional production and remix by Robert Clivilles and David Cole
• Vocal arrangement inspired by Chaka Khan
• Additional vocal arrangement and production by Robert Clivilles and David Cole
• Percussion by Bashiri Johnson
• Roland TR-909 Programming by Louis Biancaniello, James Alfano and Chauncey Mahan
• Recording engineers – Matt Rohr, Marc Reyburn
• Additional production recording engineers – Acar S. Key, Richard Joseph
• Mixing engineer – Bob Rosa
• Executive producers – Clive Davis, Whitney Houston

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications and sales

Release history

Other versions

After the popularity of the Whitney Houston version, The Oprah Winfrey Show unveiled its "I'm Every Woman" campaign in the 1993–94 season, using a cover version with remade lyrics in promos and an instrumental rendition used as the theme song. Girls Aloud covered "I'm Every Woman" on the UK Discomania album released in 2004. In 2006, it was recorded in the fifth season of American Idol by Mandisa, and put on the album American Idol Season 5: Encores. Country pop singer and songwriter Taylor Swift also recorded the song when she was trying to get a record label.

References

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