Celebrity News

Jennifer Hudson calls Whitney Houston tribute ‘the greatest honor of my life’

Hudson's emotional performance came after the in memoriam video montage.

Hudson’s emotional performance came after the in memoriam video montage. (John Shearer/WireImage)

Jennifer Hudson stole the 54th annual Grammy Awards with her rendition of the Whitney Houston classic “I Will Always Love You.” Now the “American Idol” alum opens up about what it was like to sing the song just a day after Houston was pronounced dead after being found unconscious in her hotel bathtub.

“‘It was the greatest honor of my life to be able to be the one to pay tribute to Whitney’s memory,” says Hudson, who gave an emotional performance of the song at the end of the Grammys in memoriam video montage. Hudson appeared on the edge of tears as she sang under a single spotlight.

HOUSTON COMES HOME

“It was from my heart,” Hudson told Us Weekly. “I haven’t stopped crying since she passed. Her family is in my prayers.”

“I Will Always Love You” was written by Dolly Parton and made famous by Houston in the soundtrack to her movie, “The Bodyguard,” in which she starred alongside Kevin Costner.

Hudson’s performance of the song was intended to be a nod to Houston singing the song herself during the 34th annual Grammy Awards, though for that performance, Houston had worn a white dress and stood on a podium in front of a band.

Before the Grammys, sources told the Hollywood Reporter that Hudson was “having a hard time” in rehearsals and “had to keep pausing” because she was crying so hard. “She was having a hard time getting through the song,” the source said.

However, Hudson pulled it off during the show, becoming one of the most talked about moments of the night.