With an opening prayer and a moving tribute from Jennifer Hudson, the Grammy Awards played the part of impromptu memorial for Whitney Houston just a day after the six-time Grammy winner was found dead in the bathtub of her Beverly Hills hotel room.
Actress and former “American Idol” finalist, Jennifer Hudson, performed a tribute to the 48-year-old Houston by singing her hit ballad “I Will Always Love You.” It was a tender, simple performance that encapsulated the glamour and vocal power Houston embodied.
She sang the last words of the song as: “Whitney, we love you.”
Bathed in a solemn spotlight, Hudson performed in a sleek black gown, accompanied only by piano. She received a standing ovation while portraits of music luminaries who died in the past year were lit above her.
