MARIAH CAREY PAYS TRIBUTE TO WHITNEY HOUSTON AT 2012 BET AWARDS

Mariah Carey at the 2012 BET Awards

The BET Awards were held earlier tonight in Los Angeles and the late Whitney Houston was honoured by her fellow Diva Mariah Carey who took to the stage late the Show in a gold dress. Carey reflected upon her dear Friend Houston, telling the Audience "We really got to know each other as people. Not Divas. Okay, maybe occasionally it did get a little Diva-ish, that was just for laughs!". "If you really knew Whitney, you couldn't help but love her", she said.

Fighting back her tears, Carey continued with her Tribute with Audience encouragement, revealing that the last time she saw Houston was exactly one year ago in London. Carey took to her Facebook Page, posting the above Photo of herself Backstage following the Tribute.

Brandy, Monica, Cissy Houston, Gary Houston and Chaka Khan  also appeared on-stage shortly after performing their respective Tributes.  Brandy performed a Medley of Houston's I'm Your Baby Tonight and I Wanna Dance with Somebody.

Watch the Tribute in full below:

DISNEY ANNOUNCES "NEW TO BLU" 2012 SUMMER LINE-UP

Official Artwork for Romy and Michele's High School Reunion - 15th Anniversary Edition

Disney has just announced a whole whack of Blu-ray releases to surface this Summer and there's actually a few exciting ones in the mix, including my personal Faves - Romy and Michele's High School Reunion and Toronto-shot Adventures in Babysitting!  John Cusack Fans also will be thrilled that High Fidelity and Grosse Point Blank finally will see a Blu-ray release too.  Epic.

Check out the list below to see what might interest you:

HOME ON THE RANGE - July 3

THE HORSE WHISPERER - July 3

PHENOMENON - July 3

STEP UP - July 3

TREASURE PLANET - July 3

UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN - July 3

ROMY AND MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION 15th Anniversary Edition - August 7

ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING 25th Anniversary Edition - August 7

GROSSE POINT BLANK 15th Anniversary Edition - August 7

HIGH FIDELITY - August 7

THE PREACHER'S WIFE - August 7

ARACHNOPHOBIA - September 4

COLD CREEK MANOR - September 4

THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE 20th Anniversary Edition - September 4

HOCUS POCUS - September 4

GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS - September 11

(Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)

WHITNEY HOUSTON, ADELE & KATY PERRY ACHIEVE CHART FEATS THIS WEEK

Whitney Houston - The Greatest Hits Artwork

Not to detract from both Adele and Katy Perry's current significant chart accomplishments - because they are major - but Whitney Houston post-humously has been resurrected ...from a commercial standpoint at least.  

Houston's The Greatest Hits released originally in 2000, sold 175k units this past sales week ending February 19, 2012, placing it in second on the current U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Albums Chart. Combined with a significant sales spike for both 2009's I Look to You and also 1996's The Preacher's Wife, Houston sold a total 247k albums last week according to Nielsen SoundScan.  And if this weren't intriguing enough, her 1992 Smash, I Will Always Love You rises to number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart too!

Meanwhile, Adele continues to raise the bar for herself even higher with her 21 Disc selling an eye-popping 730k copies following her GRAMMY win, now making it her 21st non-consecutive week atop the Hot 200.  Industry Experts are predicting a 22nd week on-top ahead, forecasting up to 300k more copies of the Album of the Year expecting to be sold.

Katy Perry meanwhile continues to solidify herself as the new Queen of Pop with her seventh Hot 100 number one hit in Divorce-inspired Single, Part of Me debuting at the summit position.  The Track will appear on her Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection, hitting stores March 27, 2012.  According to Billboard Magazine, Perry now is behind only Mariah Carey, Madonna, Rihanna, Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson in number ones on that Chart. History.

(Photo credit: Sony Music)

MAYA RUDOLPH HOSTS "SNL"

Maya Rudolph on SNL

The hilarious Maya Rudolph returned back to the same show in which she first gained popularity last night, Saturday Night Live between 1999 and 2007. The Funnywoman played Host, appearing first doing a Disco number joking about all the Men behind-the-scenes at SNL she's slept with over the years.  She promises not to name names, but then gives an overt wink every time she walks by one of her Co-stars.  Justin Timberlake, Paul Simon and Amy Poehler even dropped by to make quick appearances!

Rudolph brought the house down with a pre-taped Sketch titled The Maya Angelou Prank Show, which has her playing the famous Writer, going about pranking her peers a la Punk'd and Betty White's Off their Rockers - all were forgiving of her and more honoured than anything.  Outright hilarity!  

Watch it all below:

WHITNEY HOUSTON FUNERAL TO BE BROADCAST ONLINE 12 PM EST

A Hearse arrives at Whitney Houston's Funeral

Fans have adorned the exterior of New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey with their own personal tributes to their beloved Diva, just one week after she was found dead at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.  

Said to attend the Funeral today are the likes of Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Elton John, Alicia Keys, David Bowie and more. Mentor Clive Davis and her The Bodyguard Co-star Kevin Costner are to speak at the Service.  Ex-Husband Bobby Brown has been invited by Houston's Family to attend.

CNN will be broadcasting live from the site of the Funeral, which begins at 12:00 PM EST. 

Click here to watch.

(Photo credit: CNN)

NEW MUSIC: "GLEE" CAST - "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU" (WHITNEY HOUSTON COVER)

Official Artwork for "Glee" Cast - I Will Always Love You

In what could only be labelled a coincidence, a version of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You was unveiled on tonight's Valentine's Day-themed Episode, just three days after the Pop Diva's tragic passing. After breaking the heart of her former Flame Shane (Lamarcus Tinker) and professing her intentions to be with Sam (Chord Overstreet), Riley's Mercedes let-out her take on the Classic, faithful to Houston.

Listen to Riley's Version of I Will Always Love You:

(Photo/video credit: Sony Music)

ADELE SWEEPS THE 54TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS

Adele at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards

Making a triumphant return to the stage after recovering from her Throat Surgery last fall, fave Brit Siren Adele had the audience cheering and clapping at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards performing an eagerly-awaited rendition of Song of the Year/Record of the Year Winner, Rolling in the Deep. Tears were visible in her eyes following her performance as she stood and took-in a standing ovation.

Prior to this evening, Adele had collected two GRAMMY Awards in 2009 including the coveted Best New Artist.  Although many see that Award as somewhat of a career curse, she clearly is an exception garnering six more GRAMMYs to her name tonight, including top honours with her Disc 21 in the category Album of the Year.  Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Diana Ross handed the Award to the tearful 23-year-old, who thanked her Mother first and foremost even though she wasn't in attendance.

Foo Fighters also fared exceptionally well, winning six Awards tonight for their work on latest Disc, Wasting Light.  Since forming in 1994, the Band led by David Grohl have earned a whopping an impressive eleven GRAMMYs.

85-year-old Jazz Legend Tony Bennett was presented tonight with two additional GRAMMY Awards for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Body and Soul (ft. Amy Winehouse) and also his U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart-topping Duets II for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.   Although not televised, Bennett had Winehouse's Parents join him on-stage to accept the Award on-stage.  Bennett now has now won a total 16 GRAMMYs in his celebrated Career.  Both he and Carrie Underwood presented Best New Artist to Wisconsin's own Bon Iver.  Lead Singer Justin Vernon currently is seeing Canadian Singer/Songwriter Kathleen Edwards.

WHITNEY HOUSTON REPORTED DEAD

Whitney Houston

After several hoaxes over the years, we are saddened to learn that Whitney Houston passed away earlier today at age 48. Publicist Kristen Foster confirmed the Singer/Actress' death earlier today to the Associated Press, which soon after was reported also by other outlets including TMZ, CTV, Courier Mail and CBC.

The six-time GRAMMY Winner who has sold over 170 million Albums and Singles worldwide, only recently completed work in Detroit on her next Film Sparkle, in which she stars alongside American Idol Winner Jordin Sparks.  The Musical is scheduled to hit theatres this August and Houston also served as Executive Producer.

No cause of death has been listed but we do know now that she was pronounced dead at 3:55 PM PAC at the Beverly Hilton Hotel as confirmed by TMZ. Houston's fight with Drug Addiction  is well-documented and many are saying this is a contributing factor.  She leaves behind her Daughter Bobbi Kristina, now 18. Tragic.

Houston's Music has provided much of the Soundtrack of my Life growing-up and I regret deeply never getting the opportunity to hear her beautiful voice in-person.  This is deeply saddening and her Legacy will last forever.  She came from an era when Artists could sell Albums by the millions because truly her Music was worth buying.  I hope that others going through struggles with their own personal demons will learn from Houston's example.

(Photo credit: Sony Music)

NEW STILL FROM "SPARKLE": MUSICAL OUT AUGUST 2012

Still from Sparkle

After several delays, it looks like Sparkle finally will see a release August 10, 2012 via Sony Pictures. Fans of 2006's Dreamgirls will be excited as the Musical also is based loosely on the story of The Supremes and also a 1976 Film of the same name.

Directed by Sam Akil and scored by Curtis Mayfield with new Music by R. Kelly, Sparkle centers around three sisters and the trials and tribulations of Fame. Houston not only stars in this her first role in 15 years, but also serves as Executive Producer in the Detroit-filmed production. Aaliyah originally was to play the role of Sparkle, now played by American Idol Winner, Jordin Sparks.  "We had our Sparkle, but God wanted her more. We just put it down.", says Houston. "Jordin Sparks just came up and we were like, okay.  And everything just started to come into play.".  Houston credits her Daughter Bobbi Kristina for preparing her well for the role of the Mother (Emma) in the Film.

See Houston's Interview with EXTRA back in November:

WHITNEY HOUSTON BACK IN REHAB

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston has voluntarily returned to Rehab according to her Spokeswoman Kristen Foster. Foster said in a statement to ABC News, "I can confirm that Whitney Houston is currently in an outpatient rehab program for drug and alcohol treatment. Whitney voluntarily entered the program to support her long-standing recovery process.".

We're all rooting for you Whitney! You can do this!

Meanwhile, Oscar-nominated Angela Bassett appeared on CBS' The Talk last week and confirmed that there will indeed be a Waiting to Exhale Sequel coming in the near future.  Perhaps we'll see Whitney reprise her 1995 role too?  Health first.

(Photo credit: Sony Music)

ALICIA KEYS, JENNIFER HUDSON AND WHITNEY HOUSTON AT 2010 BLACK BALL

Best photo ever. Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City hosted the Keep a Child Alive's annual Black Ball this past weekend, raising money for children affected by HIV/AIDS. The event raised a stellar $2.4 million and in attendance were many amazing artists like Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Whitney Houston. One lucky photographer got this amazing shot of a v. slim Hudson, Keys and Houston together. So much strength and glamour all in one glance. I cannot handle it!

Check out more pictures on Houston's official site.

(Photo credit: WireImage/WhitneyHouston.com)

WHITNEY HOUSTON: THE NOTHIN' BUT HATE TOUR

After having postponed three tour dates in the UK leg of her Nothin' But Love Tour, Whitney Houston issued this statement today: "I'm feeling great.  I'm just ready to move on and continue my world tour."

This statement however, was necessary after much speculation that she has experienced a relapse, turning back to drugs.  To this, Houston revealed to People Magazine, "At this point, I just don't respond. I don't even read it."  It turns out that she had suffered from a Respiratory Infection due to persistent allergies.  Highly plausible when it's springtime in most of the world and you're traveling from country to country.

What does it take for a girl to get some love though?  It upsets me honestly to read that certain gossip blogs would post stories defaming her character without a credible source to back it all up.  Do you honestly believe that Houston with her busy touring schedule and flying from Asia to Australia and now to Europe, has the time to be reuniting with abusive ex-husband Bobby Brown, taking a break to snort some Cocaine at a bar with him?  At the same time having enough left to pull herself together and look as amazingly as she does as shown above?  We should be showing our support, not enabling maliciousness. 

And above this, the big question is when the North American dates going to be announced for this tour!  I don't care if she's still off-the-mark, I'd still pay top dollar to see her even if it were a Hot Mess as evinced by Pop Trash Addict's review of her Sydney show... and at a Casino.

WHITNEY HOUSTON - NOTHING BUT LOVE WORLD TOUR PHOTO

This gorgeous photo of Whitney Houston from photographer Randee St. Nicholas surfaced on the net today.  The picture will be one of many in the program booklet for her Nothing But Love World Tour, which kicks off in Seoul on February 6, 2010.  Although no North American dates have been announced yet, I have a strong feeling a big announcement will be made in the near future.  It would be a sin not to tour these parts considering we helped her latest effort I Look to You, reach number one on the Billboard Hot 200.  To date, the album has sold over two million copies worldwide.  Don't call it a comeback.  (Thanks Arjan!). Order I Look to You on Amazon.