CeCe had her BeBe, but Whitney was mostly as a solo act. However, these two powerhouses decided to join forces in 1995 to drop one of the ultimate ballads on friendship. Listen to today’s song, “Count on Me,” by Whitney Houston featuring CeCe Winans.

• Whitney Houston hails from Newark, New Jersey to a gospel singer mother and a city worker father. She had many musical connections growing up, including her first cousin, Dionne Warwick.
• CeCe Winans was born as Priscilla Winans and was one of 10 children. She and her brother BeBe began singing gospel with their family at a young age, before breaking out as a duo in the 80s.
• “Count on Me” was written and produced by Babyface in 1995. The song was included on the soundtrack to the film “Waiting to Exhale.”
• The song was a success, particularly for CeCe. It became her highest charting single on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Clips from the film “Waiting to Exhale” are interspersed throughout the music video that features Whitney and CeCe.
• “Count on Me” has been featured in other media in the years since its release, including in an episode of “Sister, Sister” where the song was performed by real-life twin sisters Tia and Tamera Lowry.
• “Count on Me” was certified gold in the U.S.
• Although Whitney and CeCe didn’t collaborate on another studio release, the two best friends performed “Count on Me” and other songs live many times.
• CeCe attended Whitney’s funeral in 2012 and sang “Don’t Cry for Me” and “Jesus Loves Me” in honor of her late friend.

Lyrics 

Count on me through thick and thin

A friendship that will never end

When you are weak I will be strong

Helping you to carry on

Call on me, I will be there

Don’t be afraid

Please believe me when I say

Count on me

I can see it’s hurting you

I can feel your pain

It’s hard to see the sunshine through the rain

I know sometimes it seems as if

It’s never gonna end

But you’ll get through it

Just don’t give in ’cause you can

Count on me through thick and thin

A friendship that will never end

When you are weak I will be strong

Helping you to carry on

Call on me, I will be there

Don’t be afraid

Please believe me when I say

Count on me

I know sometimes it seems as if

We’re standing all alone

But we’ll get through it

‘Cause love won’t let us fall

Count on me through thick and thin

A friendship that will never end

When you are weak I will be strong

Helping you to carry on

Call on me, I will be there

Don’t be afraid

Please believe me when I say

Count on me

There’s a place inside all of us

Where our faith in love begins

You should reach to find the truth in love

The answers’ there within, oh

I know that life can make you feel

It’s much harder than it really is

But we’ll get through it

Just don’t give in

Count on me through thick and thin

A friendship that will never end

When you are weak I will be strong

Helping you to carry on

Call on me, I will be there

Don’t be afraid

Please believe me when I say

Count on me

Count on me

Count on me

Count on me

Count on me

Count on me

Oh yes you can

Oh I can

Sure you can

So glad I can count on me

Count on you girl