LISTEN: Whitney Houston Final Recording, 'Celebrate,' Released

by UInterviewMay 22, 2012, 12:00 amNews >

Whitney Houston, who was 48 when she died in February 2012, left behind a rich musical legacy, and now it appears that she has a never-before-heard recording out there, entitled "Celebrate," from her upcoming movie, Sparkle, costarring Jordin Sparks, 22, the winner of American Idol, season six.

"Celebrate," which was produced by R. Kelly, will be available on iTunes beginning June 5. Ryan Seacrest debuted the single on his show on Monday, the day after Sparks and John Legend paid tribute to Houston at the Billboard Music Awards 2012.

Sparks sang Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You," on stage at the Billboard Awards show. "I've actually never performed this song before ever," Sparks told MTV News at the time. "It's one of the songs I've always been like, 'Leave that alone,' so it's nearve-racking for me. It's a lot of pressure I'm putting on myself, because I want to do it amazingly, but at the same time, whatever happens, I just want to speak through the music."

Sparks had a great experience with costar Houston, who played her mother in the film. "She was so cool and very motherly toward me," Sparks told People a month before Houston died. "If I ever looked like I needed something, here she came saying, 'Are you okay?'"

Sparkle, based on a 1976 musical by the same name and also starring Cee Lo Green, Mike Epps, and Derek Luke, hits theaters on August 17.

Listen to Houston and Sparks' duet, "Celebrate," here: