Whitney Houston remembered in star-studded TV tribute

Whitney Houston attends the 37th annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Nov. 22, 2009. / AP

Whitney Houston will be remembered Friday in a CBS TV special featuring Britney Spears, Jennifer Hudson and Halle Berry, among other stars.

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Whitney Houston tribute concert

Taped last month at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, the one-hour program will feature artists paying homage to the six-time Grammy winner with performances and speeches.

Actress Taraji P Henson, Usher, Celine Dion, LL Cool J, CeCe Winans and Yolanda Adams are among the others honoring the late singer.

"We Will Always Love You" will showcase highlights of Houston's career, including her Grammy wins, her classic performance of the national anthem at Super Bowl XXV in 1991 and her first-ever television appearance on "The Merv Griffin Show" in the early '80s.

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Stars honor Whitney Houston at gala

To coincide with the special, a new best-of collection came out this week, featuring a never-before-released track.

"We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston," will air Friday at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.

Houston died in February at age 48 of accidental drowning in connection with drug use and heart disease.

[Euthyphro68]

MSGBARTLETT, I feel very very sad for you. Upon reading the first few words of your post you immediately struck me as a very embittered, hateful, mean spirited, intolerant, and resentful person. I dont know you personally, but I would wager that you are lacking in the long term friendships category. That being said,what value do you find in putting down one persons life in order to validate another. Yes, their acts were noble to fight for this country and their deaths, although untimely, were senseless and unjust (arguably war in and of itself tends to be). But, Sadly, you know what [some] levels pertaining to Whitney Houston that the the media desired for you to know. Probably media haters who had the same mindset and hate filled heart that you apparently do. Read up on the wonderful things that Whitney did for countless people with not only her money, but also with her song. Although I am certain you have probably already convinced yourself otherwise, I am sure as a little girl her dream was not to grow up to be an addict, to love someone who may not have known how to love her back, etc. but how dare you be so ingorant and egotistical to categorize one part of her life as her meaning of existence? I am praying for you to have the epiphanal moment, that spiritual awakening where you realize that as unique as we all are, there are multiple, complex levels to each and every one of us. Yes, Whitney Houston included. And yes, you also included. I know of a peson who was addicted to crack cocaine, lived in and off the streets and received what was then a death sentence by the time he was 30 years of age. He was not wealthy, didnt live a privileged life and and the ONLY reason my friend is still gracing this earth is through the grace of God. It was nothing he did, or nothing she didnt do. It is a daily reprieve. But, in saying that, after being nearly killed and literally left for dead at the age of 40 by people who had no value for life, he went on to college, was elected the first HONORS President at his institution of learning, earned an Honors Certificate with completion of nearly half of his 60 courses in honors coursework(despite enduring no less than four to five different surgeries). Equally, he earned a transfer scholarship to one of the most prestigious colleges in the southeast, Rollins College. But, he will tell you that no achievement is greater than the charitable organization he founded here in Orlando which assists in meeting childrens unmet needs, he oftentimes shares his experience, strength, and hope with incoming college students in hopes that they will make far wiser decisions than he did, avoiding them of such senseless and unnecessary pain. So, the next time you write off someone's life, realize that the prizm that you observe their life through is very limited, and oftentimes embellised or in this case even trivialized. As a rule, in society we are in fact known for building people up simply to tear them down. *(Well, at least some of us)*For you, I pray that you speak a bit more gentler about your fellow man and realize that each and every one of us have a story. We only tell it a bit differently

[ivsmith0809]

Thank you so much. I couldn't have stated that any better. God bless you for being a voice.

[pbragg51]

WELL SAID.. THANS!

[Jemellmoore]

Newest Whitney Houston Remix! A Tribute To Whitney Houston! By Jemell Moore (Google My Name) http://youtu.be/Y5QDBN0Bv0k

We that loved Whitney Houston have a GREAT opportunity to share in the Tribute being aired tonight. Those that are not interested, please do yourself a favor and change the channel to that which interest you.

There is a time for everything in the earth and this is our time to Celebrate Whitney Houston.

We that loved Whitney Houston have a GREAT opportunity to share in the Tribute being aired tonight. Those that are not interested, please do yourself a favor and change the channel to that which interest you.

There is a time for everything in the earth and this is our time to Celebrate Whitney Houston.

[focv497]

I love Whitney!!!! I wish some of these tributes could have been done before February 11th. She needed to feel this love.

[mimi294]

how do you die of an "accidental drowning" in connection with drug use and heart disease? it seems an "accidental drowning" would have nothing to do with either one....

[ShannieO]

They actually do relate. Smoking causes occlusion(or clogging) of your arteries and it also weakens the muscle of the heart. Cocaine use cause arteries to constrict (or get smaller) both of these affect the way the heart works. It is possible to have electrical abnormalities of the heart that can cause sudden cardiac death, if this happens while your are in water, you can loose consciousness and drown. So it's cause and affect. The drug use indirectly can lead to drowning given the environment is present (i.e. laying in a tub of water).

[cccbrooks]

MSGBARTLETT
PEOPLE WORSHIP ELVIS PRESLEY ALL THE TIME!!!!! IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT DON'T READ ABOUT IT

[ivsmith0809]

"Whatever" person of just existence. I guess once you start actually living you might matter to someone other than yourself.

[DCBRO26]

MSGBARTLETT:

You are such an idiot, It amaze me how people will try to diminish Whitney's legacy. Whitney was talented and have touched the lives of people throughout the world. This tribute is appropriate, she was a our princess and we will celebrate her life tonight and for many years to come like it or not. One thing you must remember is her spirit is so strong it feels like she is still with us and in spirit she is with us and that is why we celebrate the life of Whitney Elizabeth Houston .

[liraco]

DAN5470 MSGBARTLETT is perfect. Every decision she has ever made in her life was right. That's how she is able to pass judgement! People like me,you, and Whitney Houston, our lives are meaningless because we've made mistakes or bad decisions and because of that our lives shouldn't be celebrated. What a shame that some people really feel that way.

[msgbartlett]

By all means lets celebrate an over priveleged crack head, that lived to excess, partied, did drugs, drank, married poorly, was rich beyond belief and had all the chances in the world that her god given talent could produce. Yes, by all means lets fawn over another dead celebrity as if our own existence was tied to her waking, breathing and exsisting. This makes me sick. What about a celebration of the 4 people who gave their lives to their country in Benghazi? They did more for this country than Whitney Houston ever thought about doing between her lines of coke.

[dan5470]

MSGBARTLETT - you're a fool. Everyone has problems in life, big and small. And she is not the first high profile person or the last to have such problems. However, that doesn't diminish the level of talent they possess (take Hendrix, Joplin, Elvis, Garland as examples). And what you probably don't realize is the amount of time, energy and money she expended helping others, through her children's foundation and through her music. This tribute is to recognize the music legacy she leaves for us, which will carry on despite her personal battles.

[JOQIWASH]

To DAN5470 - Well said.