Jennifer Hudson honored the late Whitney Houston at the 2012 Grammy Awards Sunday with a rendition of Houston’s famous “I Will Always Love You.”
Hudson sang the touching song, wearing a subtle black gown as photos of late musicians were lit above her.
Houston died Saturday, one day shy of the famous awards show. The Grammy Awards crew scrambled to get a impromptu tribute together to honor one of the most famous names in music during the most famous nights in music.
Houston took home six Grammy awards throughout her career.
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Hudson seemed like the perfect fit for the tribute. The “American Idol” star like Houston, has a notably strong voice, though Hudson didn’t use it to outdo the late singer’s famous song. Instead, Hudson sang a softer version of the “The Bodyguard” song.
The song was introduced to the world thanks to Dolly Parton but in 1992, Houston recorded the song for “The Bodyguard” soundtrack and the song became famous. Houston’s version was a massive success, appearing at 68 on Billboard’s “Greatest Songs of All Time” and spent 14 weeks at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
“Whitney, we love you,” said Hudson to a standing ovation.
Saturday, Houston was found submerged in her bathtub while preparing for a pre-Grammy party at the Beverly Hilton. Attempts to revive her were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead around 3:55 p.m.
Her official cause of death won’t be released until toxicology reports come back. The results should be back in around six to eight weeks.
Houston’s 18-year-old daughter with ex-husband Bobby Brown, Bobbi took the news the hardest. She was denied access to see her her mother in the hotel room by police and the following day, was hospitalized with reported anxiety.
Ex-husband Bobby Brown, who was married to Houston for 15 years until they divorced in 2007, was performing in Southaven, Miss. Saturday night when Houston died. He appeared visibly shaken and told the crowd “I would like to say, I love you, Whitney. The hardesnt thing for me to do is come on this stage.”
“I am deeply saddened at the passing of my ex-wife, Whitney Houston,” and “At this time, we ask for privacy, especially for my daughter, Bobbi- Kristina. I appreciate all of the condolences that have been directed towards my family and I at this most difficult time,” He said in a statement, according to Billboard.
Check out Jennifer Hudson’s performance.
