"Greatest Love of All" is an inspirational song written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed and performed by Whitney Houston. Creed wrote the lyrics in the midst of her struggle with breast cancer. The words describe her feelings about coping with a terminal illness and being a young mother. Creed eventually succumbed to the disease in April 1986 (at the age of 37).

The song was the seventh single released from Houston's self-titled multi-platinum debut studio album, Whitney Houston. The single, released in April 1986, spent three weeks at #1 on the Hot 100 chart in May of that year. Clive Davis, founder of Houston's label Arista Records, was initially against Houston recording the song, but he eventually gave in after persuasion from Houston and Masser. The song was first included as the B-side to the single "You Give Good Love", another Top 5 hit by Houston.

Houston's original album version features a piano intro, while the single version begins with a keyboard intro. After the single became a success, it replaced the album version on subsequent copies of the album. The original album version was restored for the 2010 Deluxe Anniversary Edition reissue of the album.

The song had originally been recorded by George Benson for the 1977 Muhammad Ali film The Greatest. Benson's version was a great hit, reaching #2 on the R&B chart and making the top 40 on the BillboardHot 100.

Houston's single reached number one on the Hot 100 chart for three weeks in 1986. The single was the fourth hit (and third #1) from her debut album. To date, this song was her second longest stay atop this chart, behind 1992's I Will Always Love You. The song also reached number one on both component charts, the Hot 100 Singles Sales and the Hot 100 Airplay, her second consecutive release to do so, and stayed for fourteen weeks in the top forty. On other Billboardcharts, Houston also performed well, reaching number three on the R&B chart. The song topped the adult contemporary chart for five weeks, Houston's longest stay at the top of the chart at the time. The song ranked #11 on Billboard's year end pop singles chart. Houston's single fared well internationally as well, reaching #8 in the United Kingdom and the top ten or #1 in several other European countries. It became her first #1 single in Australia. Houston won the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Video, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Record of the Year and a Soul Train Music Award for Single of the Year.

Many critics called the single the centerpiece of Houston's debut album. Stephen Holden of The New York Timeswrote that "Houston sings it with a forceful directness that gives its message of self-worth an astounding resonance and conviction" and called the song a compelling assertion of spiritual devotion, black pride, and family loyalty, all at once. Don Shewey of Rolling Stonewrote that as the song builds, Houston "slowly pours on the soul, slips in some churchy phrasing, holds notes a little longer and shows off her glorious voice."

Houston's music video was filmed at Harlem's Apollo Theater in New York City. In the video, she is a successful singer about to perform in from of an audience at the Apollo Theater. She reminisces about the time when she was a child performing in a talent competition at the very same theater. The video features Houston's mother Cissy Houston playing herself, encouraging and supporting a young Whitney.

US Vinyl, 7", Single

An alternate version of the song, featuring just the piano and the vocal, appeared on 200,000 limited copies of the album Whitney Houston.

Among the many such references in the popular culture are: