Clive Davis Talks New Whitney Houston Album And Duet With R. Kelly

Whitney Houston, who drowned in her hotel bathtub on February 11 at the age of 48, leaving ex husband Bobby Brown and teenage daughter Bobbi Kristina to survive her, suffered a lot of tabloid abuse in her day for her history with substance abuse, but she was also revered in the industry and by fans for her exceptional voice, which is now being featured with R. Kelly in a rendition of "I Look to You" that will appear on an 18-track upcoming retrospective album, I Will Always Love You: The Best of Whitney Houston, that will look back on Houston's career and biggest hits.

Houston's lifelong mentor and Sony Music chief creative officer Clive Davis spoke about recording this version of the song with Houston a few years before her death, after she had given up smoking for two weeks, reports USA Today. "She did two verses and a chorus, and it's just terribly sad that this incredible, unique treasure is not here anymore," Davis lamented.

"I really wanted the public to hear Whitney with her voice intact," he said. "Tragically, it shows what her voice could have sounded like if, as she had promised me that week she passed away, that she was going to give up cigarettes entirely."

At Houston's funeral in New Jersey in February, R. Kelly also sang a spirited rendItion of "I Look to You," which Davis called so inspirational that he asked R. Kelly to perform the new duet with the Houston recording. It will appear on the retrospective / greatest hits album, along with the original versions of her 16 most popular chart-toppers like "I"m Every Woman, "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "Saving All My Love For You."

The title track and the previously unreleased "Never Give Up" will also be featured on the album, which will be released on November 13.

Get Uinterview's FREE iPhone App For Daily News Updates here.

For more on Whitney Houston:

EXCLUSIVE: Penny Marshall Talks Cancer, Working With Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston Death Was Accidental, Source Says

REVIEW: 'I Look To You' by Whitney Houston

VIDEO: Jennifer Hudson Sings Tribute To Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston, Dead At 48

Whitney Houston's Doctors To Be Questioned About Drugs

LISTEN: Whitney Houston Final Recording, 'Celebrate' Released

Whitney Houston A Judge On 'The X Factor'? Yes, Please.

Kevin Costner Scheduled To Speak At Whitney Houston's Funeral