Following the shock news that Whitney Houston had been found dead in her hotel room on Saturday February 11, tributes have been pouring in for the music legend.
Jennifer Hudson broke down in tears as she delivered a moving version of Whitney’s Bodyguard hit I Will Always Love You at last night’s Grammy Awards.
Now Ryan Seacrest has revealed that American Idol bosses are keen to pay their own tribute during a forthcoming episode of the series.
Speaking on E! Entertainment’s red carpet Grammy show last night, Ryan said: “I can tell you now that I was on the phone with American Idol producers.
“We are trying to figure out how we can go in and obviously pay tribute in some way and acknowledge the impact that she had on popular singers, popular music and young singers that are trying to make it. So we’ll see.”
Simon Cowell, who said he had been considering offering Whitney a place on the US X Factor judging panel, also spoke of the star’s influence on rising stars, telling Piers Morgan on CNN: “Given the choice, I would have liked to have taken her under my wing as well, because she would have been the ultimate, ultimate mentor to any contestant coming on the show.”
He added: “Ever since doing this job, particularly doing talent shows over the last 10 years, the number one singer anyone ever wanted to emulate, if they really wanted to be a superstar, was always Whitney.
“We would hear Whitney songs over and over again. She was the benchmark, she truly was.”
Glee’s Valentine’s episode will feature Amber Reilly performing I Will Always Love You and the actress revealed she had the honour of meeting Whitney last Thursday at Kelly Price’s pre-Grammy party. She said the 48-year-old was very “sweet”.
R.I.P WHITNEY
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