"Greatest Love of All" is the fourth and final single released from Whitney Houston's self-titled first studio album, Whitney Houston, released in April 1986. It was written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed, and originally recorded (as "The Greatest Love of All") by George Benson for the 1977 Muhammad Ali film The Greatest. The original record was a minor hit for Benson, though it did not become a Top Twenty hit.
In Houston's case, her label head Clive Davis was originally against her recording the song, but eventually gave in after persuasion from Masser. The song was included as a B-side to the single "You Give Good Love", which reached number three in the U.S.
The original album version features a piano intro, while the single version begins with a keyboard intro. After the single became a success, the keyboard version replaced the version with the piano on future copies of the album.
When Linda Creed wrote the lyrics, she was 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. She eventually succumbed to the disease and died at the age of 37.
