GRAMMY VIDEO: Jennifer Hudson Sings "I Will Always Love You" In Tribute To Whitney Houston

Feb 13 | by Natasha

Asked to perform a task that many would feel is impossible, Jennifer Hudson took the stage at Sunday night's GRAMMY Awards to pay tribute to the late Whitney Houston.

Pics and video from her performance inside...

Jennifer looked wonderful in this look she decided to take the stage in. And she tapped into her stage presence to perform a 2 minute rendition of Whitney's "I Will Always Love You."

It was definitely heartfelt and her own spin on a classic. It was more simplistic than Jen's usual but beautiful. No one else was added to the tribute, including Chaka Khan. And afterwards, Jen seemed emotional as she got a Standing O.

Here's the video below:

Your thoughts?

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Comments

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goodbye

by gabriel givens
5:39 pm - Feb 17, '12

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by Anonymous
8:28 am - Feb 14, '12

She sucked, lets be real

She sucked, lets be real here. They should have let Christina Aguilera or Celine Dion do it. Celine Dion sings exactly like Whitney and would have had absolutely no problem hitting those notes. They need someone who has training in Opera or something, the people with the strong clear vocals. J-Hud is just a regular singer with a big mouth. I know yall hate to here me say Celine Dion but Celine and Whitney had the exact same singing style and voice. Very well professionally trained.

by Joy19
2:02 am - Feb 14, '12

She ruined a great song!

by Untchabl
1:09 am - Feb 14, '12

JHud's performance was

JHud's performance was extraordinarily good! Majestic, mesmerising CLASS ACT!

by Angelba
10:50 pm - Feb 13, '12

We all know Whitney owns that

We all know Whitney owns that song, owned it so much she made everyone forget that Dolly Parton sung it first. Maybe we should consider the stress & emotional turmoil Jennifer must have endured while giving tribute to not only a legend but a friend and idol who presented her with her first grammy award as well. We need to show more appreciation instead of being so quick to criticize sometimes. Have a heart people.

by Realist
7:56 pm - Feb 13, '12

Totally agree with Realist.

Totally agree with Realist. If you want to see & hear Jennifer at her best with this song checkout the 2010 BET Honors clip on you tube. Jennifer sang this song directly to Whitney, and Whitney loved it. One must understand the dynamic of their personal relationship. Since 2007, Whitney has acted in the role of mentor and personal advisor to Jennifer... providing her with a road map on how to maneuver around the obstacles of a successful entertainment career. Whitney was much more than Jennifer's idol, they had the pleasure of becoming very close friends. Imagine being told that your mentor, advisor, friend, "big sister" has died suddenly than being asked to within 24 hours to stand before an audience of 100,000,000 worldwide and sing her most beloved and honored ballad. How would you do? I'll answer for you... not nearly as well as Ms. Hudson. Given all that Ms. Hudson has gone through in her life, she probably balled up and cried uncontrollably when hearing of her close friend's death. She could have stayed down and no one would fault her, but instead she rose through her personal pain to honor/tribute someone she has loved and admired her entire life. For some reason, in our community, we have the tendency to quickly criticize our brothers and sisters before stopping to think what it took for them to accomplish a certain fete. Raise up our brothers and sisters, and remember Whitney for her talents and not her demons.

by TheVoiceOfReason101
11:14 pm - Feb 13, '12

Realist and TheVoiceofReason

Realist and TheVoiceofReason 101 said this very well and I totally agree.This wasn't a regular performance done by Jennifer and people should realize that and give her her due for getting up there and honoring her in the best way she knew how, by singing her song. Kudos to Jennifer Hudson!!

by Elaine
3:59 pm - Feb 15, '12

Love this comment. Thank you

Love this comment. Thank you for putting it so eloquently.

by MissE
1:04 am - Feb 14, '12

I applaud Jennifer for having

I applaud Jennifer for having the courage to take the stage and put out this emotional soul stirring performance in the aftermath of a tragedy that surely reminded her of her great loss. She cried throughout rehearsals because she knew Whitney much more intimately that we know her. So, she was basically singing for a national treasure and most imprtantly her good friend. So, belting and hitting notes were not the order of the moment. I am just thankful she loan her beautiful talent to Whitneys tribute.

by Anonymous
6:35 pm - Feb 13, '12

I totally agree with you.

by Nic
9:39 pm - Feb 14, '12

I tried to stomach the

I tried to stomach the grammys (started watching around (9:20pm) and just couldn't watch it anymore-saw this this morning and it was o.k. I have nothing else to say.

by Anonymous
4:51 pm - Feb 13, '12

Michael Jackson, Whitney

Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston are UNIQUE artists that can't be easily emulated. However, the tribute that Chris Brown gave MJ, and J Hud to Whitney Houston is actually good because they did their own thing. J Hud must have had SO MUCH pressure put on her, and I love how she kept it simple. R.I.P whitney Houston, the best vocalist of all time.

by Rj
2:35 pm - Feb 13, '12

I totally agree. I thought it

I totally agree. I thought it was a very humble, appropriate and respectful performance. The nation is still reeling in the shock of Whitney's passing and I'm sure it took every ounce of strength that she could muster, for J. Hud to perform last night. She did a wonderful job paying tribute to Whitney "The Voice" Houston. Proud that she is one of Chi-Town's finest.

by ImSoKewl
4:45 pm - Feb 13, '12

If she would have tried to

If she would have tried to "sang" she would've caught hell for it. It was a respectful and I'm sure she was ever so shocked about the news. I mean wow....this one came outta left field. Whew!

by lockstress
2:24 pm - Feb 13, '12

well done. not the biggest

well done. not the biggest fan of jhudd, but i like that she put her own spin on the song. she sounded great despite the pressure she must have felt. i also like her wig here. the shorter styles flatter her and i like that she kept it classy.

by amber
2:09 pm - Feb 13, '12

JH SOUND GOOD BUT SHE DID NOT

JH SOUND GOOD BUT SHE DID NOT GIVE ME THE WOOO; HER VOICE IS A LITTLE HARSH AND TO DEEP. NOT SOF LIKE WHITNEY HAD. I BEING GOING ON YOU TUBE TO PUT EVERY ONE THAT SINGS MS. HOUSTON SONGS, AND THE ONLY ONE THAT COME CLOSE TO HER IS TAMIA WHEN SHE DID THE DUET WITH WHITNEY AND CHISTINA AGUILERA ADN MAYBE LEONA LEWIS. THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE THAT SWEET AND HIGH RANGE WHITNEY HAD. JH DO NOT CLOSE LIKE WHITNEY. SEE FOR YOURSELF ON YOUTUBE. I PLAY WHITNEY SONGS EVERY WEEK, SLEEP WITH HER MUSIC EVERY NIGHT ON MY I PHONE THAT IS HOW I AM ONE OF MS. HOUSTON BIG FAN. SWEET MUSIC TO PUT YOU TO SLEEP AFTER READING TTHE BIBBLE AND SAID MY PRAYER! BOBBI KRISTINA WILL PROBABLY BE A SECOND WHITNEY LIKE HER MOTHER SHE HAS A BEAUTIFUL VOICE WHEN SHE SINGS FEW NOTES ON HER CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CD. I WILL TRULY MISS MS. HOUSTON WE HAD A SAD DAY THIS PAST SATURDAY. WE LOST THE GREATEST SINGER ON THIS PLANET. I FOR EVER WILL MISS HER. I WILL HAVE MY CLOSES FRIENDS OVER TO MY HOUSE FOR A NIGHT OF WHITNEY HOUSTON DVD'S ANND MUSIC WITH POPCORN AND DRINKS AND A CAKE IN HONOR OF HER. I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU!!!! R.I.P MY WHITNEY!!!! GOD BLESS!!!!

by ritza
1:38 pm - Feb 13, '12

i need to make a correction,

i need to make a correction, about Whitney and Tamia. it's so supposed to be Whitney and Debra cox duet.

by ritza
12:08 am - Feb 14, '12

@ritza You nailed it only

@ritza You nailed it only certain people can hit her type of notes. I also see that Christina Aguilera and Leona Lewis both should be asked to do a real tribute to Whitney. You Tube Christina Aguilera singing" Run To You' she nailed it. Leona Lewis sung "I will always love you" and "I have nothing" and she also nailed it. Mariah Carey's voice I don't trust after she messed up I'll be there at MJ's memorial. Tamia I hear on You Tube also did a Whitney Houston song justice. Enough w/ the sub par vocal renditions. Time to recruit the best of the best. I too have all the Whitney Albums and Dvd's but I really can't listen at this space and time.

by LovelyGirl
3:29 pm - Feb 13, '12

Lovegirl, Thanks!!!

by ritza
6:17 pm - Feb 13, '12

PLEASE FORGIVE SOME OF MY

PLEASE FORGIVE SOME OF MY TYPO. I AM STILL, SO EMOTIONAL ABOUT THE LOST.

by ritza
1:43 pm - Feb 13, '12

Absolutely beautiful and well

Absolutely beautiful and well done. This is such a loss. And I believe Jennifer did justice to Whitney's song, especially given the time frame. May Whitney rest in peace and sing with the angels.

by TELL IT LIKE IT IS...
1:13 pm - Feb 13, '12

This is Jen's idol, OUR

This is Jen's idol, OUR whitney! She was able to remin pitch perfect while fighting back tears!!!!! You people are crazy. So what if it was subdued?! This is eho Clive and her family wanted and she did well! Hopefully in time we will get a full-on tribute with the even more real singers. But for now? hats off to Jenny!

by anon
12:35 pm - Feb 13, '12

I really hope that enough of

I really hope that enough of their families gather around Cissy and Bobbi K. so that they don't have to suffer that much pain. We need to stop taking people for granted while they're here on Earth. Can't say sorry or being loving towards someone when they've passed.

by LA
12:18 pm - Feb 13, '12

All day yesterday I played

All day yesterday I played Whitney's cd's and a dvd. I attempted to sing but I was making just a whole lot of noise! I had the music so loud as to drown out my bad singing. There will never ever be another Ms.Houston!

by karlee
12:18 pm - Feb 13, '12

With respect to those that

With respect to those that have commented before me, someone has lost their life. A daughter has lost her mother. A mother has lost her daughter and Dionne Warrick has lost her family member; and you are all bickering about how well JH did or did not do. Get a grip and show the respect that WH deserves; we all have fallen down at some point in our lifes, she was not without fault, but neither are any of us. The media savaged her at every opportunity including the author of this website. Show some bloody respect!

by Anonymous
12:18 pm - Feb 13, '12

Amen!

by Anonymous
12:45 pm - Feb 13, '12

it was ok.. but i think leona

it was ok.. but i think leona lewis would have done wondeful

by It's 2012, GET YO SHIT TOGETHER BITCH!
12:14 pm - Feb 13, '12

Did*

by YadaYadaYada
12:02 pm - Feb 13, '12

I wish Fantasia got to do the

I wish Fantasia got to do the tribute. Whitney was a great singer and instead of mourning her death we should celebrate her life. For some odd reason I wish Fantasia was able to sing "I wanna dance with somebody". Plus they both grew up in a church so it would have best that someone with a more soulful voice do the tribute... Jennifer it an okay job

by Anonymous
11:59 am - Feb 13, '12

Somebody add Tamia to the

Somebody add Tamia to the tribute as well. Her voice is so clear. I can hear her doing 'Where do Broken Heart Go'

by Anonymous
11:47 am - Feb 13, '12

Christina Agulera would have

Christina Agulera would have been AMAZING!!!!!

by Anonymous
11:45 am - Feb 13, '12

Jen did a great job!!!

by Anonymous
12:10 pm - Feb 13, '12

Yeah well they Wanted

Yeah well they Wanted Jennifer and she was GREAT!

by Anonymous Too
11:52 am - Feb 13, '12

Sorry but Jennifer didn't do

Sorry but Jennifer didn't do the job I thought she would. She could hit the notes and couldn't hold them. Idk if it's her weight loss or what but she sung too low & it was just rushed. Tamia has an amazing voice but too bad ppl don't respect her talent enough. She would've killed it.

by Anonymous
11:31 am - Feb 13, '12

People have the right to

People have the right to think Jennifer's performance was sub par. You do a Whitney Houston tribute...you're going to get criticized. I don't care who you are! This is why I hate when people do a Michael Jackson song...you have to totally remake it or you will be compared. She was the best they could find and yet, I wasn't feeling it. It was too deep. She should've at least picked another song because I Will Always Love You is probably the hardest song to get right. Some may be able to appreciate Jennifer's voice on the song but you can't blame people for comparing because there is a sound and tone people will always attach to that song. Anway, I'm waiting on the real tribute. Not people just singing her songs but an all out tribute and I need everybody there. Ledisi, Brandi, CeCe Winans, Kelly Price, Chaka, Kim Burrell, Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Prince. Somebody go find Stephanie Mills too....

by Anonymous
11:29 am - Feb 13, '12

I know Clive Davis wanted

I know Clive Davis wanted Jennifer H to be the one to do the tribute but wait a minute now! Jennifer H voice is not my fav vocalist and I will never accept her no matter how Clive pushes her to the forefront. J-Hud voice is soooo ugly and harsh and old lady sounding. I hate her voice always have and always will! She does not have that beautiful rare angelic voice like Whitney Houston did. Some people are just loud without a true beauty to their voice. JHud does not have it to me. As a true Whitney H fan we know true musical talent and she down right can't sing. True musical talent has no color to me. Whitney Houston was always my #1 top vocalist #2 Mariah C #3 Christina A . Christina Aguilera did a good tribute to WH yrs ago singing "Run to You" and did a million times better than J-Hud could ever do! I love beautiful voices no matter who you are. They should have did a medley of singers like Kelly Price and Faith Evans, Tamia, Ce Ce Winans or Monica. J-Hud has to first sound good as these ladies before she should be singing any tributes to Whitney Hud. I hate harsh singers like J-Hud and Mary J. Just because they are black does mean they are the best of the best to me. Leona Lewis has a great voice to me she should be allowed to do a tribute. Celine Deon would have been good. Clive Davis need not think J-hud can fill that void that our beloved WH has left. Whitney was talented and beautiful. J-hud is not a little bit attractive to me and worst of all can not sing! I will never accept this chick! I love great vocalist and she does not even come close! To that person that thinks Tina Turner is dead last I checked she is alive and kicking. Ike is dead ok get it straight.

by LovelyGirl
11:29 am - Feb 13, '12

Ok... I hope that you feel

Ok... I hope that you feel better now that you've got all of that off your chest!

by Anonymous
12:00 pm - Feb 13, '12

Jennifer did a great job, she

Jennifer did a great job, she is the whitney houston of today in this lame ass music industry we have today. Whitney will be missed, and my heart goes out to her family.

by Flaca
11:25 am - Feb 13, '12

I disagree....Yes J- Hud can

I disagree....Yes J- Hud can sing...but whitney she is not..... Christina agulira Has a great voice that offers range unlike fantasia and j-hud who can only offer soul or gospel for a lack of a better word.... I just wish some one who could of brought to mind whitney would have performed her songs ... thats all

by miss b
11:54 am - Feb 13, '12

No JHud is not Whitney -

No JHud is not Whitney - nobody is but Christina Aguilera has a shouty/growl to her singing now that is unpleasant. It's funny that you people keep referencing CAggie as a better singer when she shout-sings more than JHud & Fanty combined!

by Anonymous
2:21 pm - Feb 13, '12

nastasha, please post the

nastasha, please post the video of J-Hud singing this same song to honor Whitney at the BET honors 2yrs ago. She nailed it then and did so yesterday as well considering the arrangement was down played a little by the producers of the show. I think the Grammy's did a great job. Lets not forget Whitney passed away only about 24hrs before the show was about to air. Alot of stars probably were asked but considering the hurt and shock they were unable to do so. Jhud did an amazing job while holding back tears and emotion.

by Anonymous
11:20 am - Feb 13, '12

totally agree. Some people do

totally agree. Some people do not understand that this was not supposed to be an over the top performance, , we are just not ready for anything more considering she passed just 1 day ago. Im sure we will hear many more, and even more emotional tributes in the future.

by white chocolate
1:00 pm - Feb 13, '12

Yes, Jennifer did great at

Yes, Jennifer did great at the BET Honors 2010. I was glad BET replayed that yesterday.

by Anonymous
11:48 am - Feb 13, '12

I agree she did a great job

I agree she did a great job and she keep it simple. I love Whitney

by sangel free
11:45 am - Feb 13, '12

I get so SICK of people who

I get so SICK of people who HATE! Jennifer was FANTASTIC! A VISION. Nobody could have done what she did for Whitney. And Whitney was such an inspiration to Jennifer. BOTH Jennifer and Whitney are Clive Davis ARTIST....along with Alicia. It was 100% fitting that Jennifer do this tribute and she KILLED IT! Jennifer is the ONLY person who could have done this and Whitney would be PROUD! WEll done Jennifer. You are a VISION!

by FuriouS StyleS™®
11:15 am - Feb 13, '12

@Furiou$ Styles No disrespect

@Furiou$ Styles No disrespect but nobody is hating. I think you were the one that I agreed w/ on a topic about Tyler Perry but I have to disagree w/ you here. Just like beauty is in the EYE OF THE BEHOLDER. Music is the same it's IN THE EAR OF THE BEHOLDER". We all can't just agree w/ you on J-Hud performance. It's what you hear not what I hear. Some people voices just don't do it for me. It does not move me and give me goose bumps from within. It's just a fact of life we all are different and we hear things differently. I don't mean any disrespect to J-Hud I am still grieving over someone that I loved and buy every album she made. This is no act Whitney was always my all time fav vocalist. After Whitney I also loved Mariah Carey and bought all her albums. There is just something in the voices that moved me. I can not apologize for not feeling those same emotions for J-Hud. I never did or will. Her voice just does not resignate w/ me on any level. After MC I started feeling emotions for Christina Aguilera. I love people who have certain types of voices and can do certain skills and tricks w/ their voices. I like Leona L ,Celine, Kelly C when she's not singing country music. I also like Tamia, Faith E , Blu Cantrell. Some people who are not great vocalist like all the women I named I like as well like Sade. Sade is not a great songtress but I love her music. It moves me and stirs me. Again I don't feel that w/ JHud. You already know how I fell about her voice. She does not have good music and her albums flops. Again like Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder Music is in the Ear of the Beholder and we should learn to agree to disagree. God made us all unique and to see and hear things differently. If we all liked the same things life would be bland and boring. Variety is the spice of life. Last but not least I like Rih we all know she does not have a great voice but her songs help me stay on the treadmill longer. LOL!

by LovelyGirl
12:36 pm - Feb 13, '12

I mean she sounded great.

I mean she sounded great. Obviously no one is going to do the song "justice" No one has whitney's voice. Jhud is very extra, very broadway, just a lot. That's her style... Im not a fan but at least they gave whitney a tribute and I expect that there will be more throughout the year and they will ALL be critisized because no one can sing like her. I'm probably never going to like a cover of her song or a remake or anything like that...

by Anonymous
11:12 am - Feb 13, '12

It must have been so hard for

It must have been so hard for JHud to perform that song and not break down crying. Given the circumstances and Whitney's recent passing, Jennifer did the best that she could and exhibited so much poise and grace while performing.