Jennifer Hudson
belted a powerful and emotional rendition of Whitney Houston's staple
"I'll Always Love You" during a Grammy tribute to music industry
professionals who died last year.
Following a clip
of Houston singing "Saving All My Love For You," the stage lights
cast a silhouette of the former "American Idol" that looked
strikingly similar to Houston. In a sleeveless, form-fitting black dress,
Hudson wore her hair in a poufy, curly 1980s style reminiscent of the late icon
Hudson began the
song a capella and quickly received applause for her vocal pacing and ability
to capture the mood of Houston's version that appeared on the soundtrack for
the 1992 film "The Bodyguard."
Hudson fought
back tears as she sang the lyrics that pledge unconditional love. Hudson
breathed new life into the song that references "bittersweet
memories" and promises to "think of you every step of the way."
Though Hudson is
clearly capable of mimicking Houston's climatic high note at the end of the
song's chorus, she tastefully opted not to do so. She sweetly closed the song
with a sincere, soft-spoken, "We love you."
Alicia Keys,
Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, Rihanna and LL Cool J also acknowledged Houston
during their moments on stage.
LL immediately
addressed the Houston's death during his opening speech. "There is no way
around this," he said. "We've had a death in our family."
Instead of suggesting a moment of silence, LL felt compelled to pay his
respects more personally.
"For me,
the only thing that feels right begins with a prayer - for a woman who we
loved, for our fallen sister, Whitney Houston," he said.
Members of the
celebrity-filled audience bowed their heads as LL prayed for Houston's mother,
daughter, and loved ones.
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