Houston performed " I Have Nothing " at the 4th Billboard Music Awards on December 9 , 1993 , receiving a standing ovation . Chris Willman of '' Los Angeles Times '' commented on the performance , saying " Houston 's physically stationary , vocally mobile approach to the ballad ― backlit behind the mike in a she-got-back-her-figure-flattering gown ― effectively heightened the tune 's diva dramaturgy , making it an easy highlight in a night otherwise short on compelling performances . " She also performed a rousing 10-minute-medley of show tunes that ended with the song ― " I Loves You , Porgy " from '' Porgy and Bess '' , " And I Am Telling You I 'm Not Going " from '' Dreamgirls '' , and " I Have Nothing " ― at the 21st Annual American Music Awards , where she won the record eight awards , on February 7 , 1994 . This performance was included in the 2014 CD/DVD release , '' Whitney Houston Live : Her Greatest Performances '' . '' Jet '' magazine wrote about the AMA performance that " she Houston brought the house down with her soulful , stirring medley renditions . " On November 12 , 1994 , Houston sang the song during the concert in Johannesburg , South Africa , entitled '' Whitney : The Concert for a New South Africa '' , telecast live via satellite on HBO . The performance is found in VHS and DVD with the same title of the concert , originally released in December 1994 , and later re-released on June 24 , 2010 . The song was also performed on the concert to celebrate the wedding of Brunei royalty , at the Jerudong Park Garden on August 24 , 1996 . Houston sang the short-edited version of the song along with " I Will Always Love You , " which were followed by a standing ovation , at the 1st BET Awards on June 19 , 2001 , becoming the first artist ever to be given the Lifetime Achievement Award
21st Annual American Music Awards
American Music Awards of 1994
I Have Nothing