-ROY REUTERS WHITNEY Houston was a final sendoff given by the Grammys on Thursday as Halle Berry, Britney Spears, Jennifer Hudson, Usher and other stars shared their memories and performed in tribute to the late singer.
Academy award winner Berry made a tearful introduction on the We will always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston special, and praised the "unforgettable" performer.
"They inspired a generation of little girls and women in their own dream to believe and to know that they had within itself the greatest gift of all. I was one of those little girls, which was then a woman who never, ever, loving Whitney Houston stopped, "Berry said.
The event was attended by Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown, who was joined by boyfriend Nick Gordon and sister-in-law Pat Houston.
Striking was absent Houston's mother, Cissy, and her brother Gary. Record company executive Clive Davis, who discovered the recent singer, sat next to the family in the front row.
The tribute comes at the end of a year when the music world was rocked by Houston's sudden death at age 48 in February. She was found dead in a bathtub Beverly Hills hotel on the night before the Grammy awards, from what the authorities said was accidental drowning caused by cocaine use and heart disease.
A tribute to Houston was quick to put together during the Grammy awards in February with Jennifer Hudson a heart-felt rendition of I Will always Love You singing on a stage lit by a single spot. Later in may, sang R & B star Jordin Sparks, who co-starred with Houston in the recent singer final movie Sparkle, the same song in the Billboard Music Awards in tribute.
There was no mention of Houston's turbulent personal life and the history of drug abuse on Thursday if the Grammy organizers decided to focus on the recent singer career achievements and best-known performances, including her rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner on the Super bowl 1991.
Hudson on Thursday channeled Houston's style from the 1980s with big hair and a glittering blazer, performing more uptempo songs with a medley of I'm Every Woman, how will I know and I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
R & B star Usher sang I believe In you and me and Gospel singers Cece Winans and Yolanda Adams delivered a rousing performance of Count On Me, which had Houston's family in tears.
Canadian singer Celine Dion was on the Bill to perform on the night but was unable to make, her rendition of the greatest love of all in Canada in the air during the televised special taping.
The event organizers decided to let Houston's best-known song, "I Will always Love You, display the recent singer, with a tape of her singing at the 1994 Grammy awards.
Presenters shared their memories during the event. Pop Star and X Factor judge that Spears said her version of Houston's I have nothing scored her a deal with a record label and began her career.
The audience were also treated to exclusive interviews from the early days of Houston's career, talk to her about fame, philosophy and religion.
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