Singer Jennifer Hudson was asked at the last minute to perform a “respectful musical tribute” to the late Whitney Houston after news of her death in Beverly Hills shocked the world late Saturday.
Sources say, Hudson dutifully showed up for rehearsals in L.A. on Sunday morning to sing Whitney’s trademark ballad “I Will Always Love You.” But because she “kept crying hysterically,” she had to restart [the song] several times before making it through.
Reportedly, Grammy Awards production workers were also teary-eyed during the performance.
“All stars have been accommodating,” the source said. “No one has batted an eye or been a diva…People are trying to be upbeat.”
Ken Erhlich, Grammy Executive Producer, explained why they decided to go with a small tribute. “It’s too fresh in everyone’s memory to do more at this time, but we would be remiss if we didn’t recognize Whitney’s remarkable contribution to music fans in general, and, in particular, her close ties with the Grammy telecast and her Grammy wins and nominations over the years.”
Whitney Houston won her first Grammy Award in 1985 for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for “Saving All My Love For You.” She won the same award in 1987 for “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me).” In 1993 Houston won three Grammys: Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female and Record Of The Year for “I Will Always Love You”; and Album Of The Year for The Bodyguard — Original Soundtrack.
Whitney’s most recent Grammy win came in 1999 for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay.”
Jennifer Hudson won her first Grammy in 2008 for Best R&B Album for Jennifer Hudson.
JENNIFER HUDSON PERFORMS “I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU” TRIBUTE AT 2012 GRAMMY AWARDS
IN 2010, JENNIFER HUDSON PERFORMED “i WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU” AT THE BET AWARDS TO THE APPLAUSE & ADMIRATION OF WHITNEY
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