Why was Through The Fire a huge hit ballad for Chaka Khan?

[Hawkee]

I found Chaka Khan's 1984 album I Feel For You and found the power ballad Through The Fire and it was one of Chaka Khan's best power ballads of the 80's and I never knew why Through The Fire was a smash hit ballad of the 80's. Was Chaka Khan trying to compete with Laura Branigan when the song came out or was she hoping to become a big ballad singer like Minnie Riperton was? What I also learned about this song was that it was written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil who were superstar songwriters of the 80's. It is shocking that in music today you don't see many power ballads like this song and this is one song that I can see gave Chaka Khan a lot of high praise for doing R&B ballads well done
Bestie