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:

MARIAH CAREY & JERMAINE DUPRI WORKING ON NEW MUSIC

Mariah Carey & Jermaine Dupri - January 2012

After several winning collaborations together including One Sweet Day (ft. Boyz II Men), Always Be My Baby, It's Like That, We Belong Together, Don't Forget About Us and Shake it Off, Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri are teaming-up again in the Studio together down in Atlanta!  These new collaborations will be appearing on her 14th Studio Album.

Although I had my doubts about Mariah's Jenny Craig Diet, I am in awe at how amaze she looks already after delivering Twins Moroccan & Monroe. I'd swear this Photo was taken in 1997... but it's not!

Just earlier this month, Mariah was recognized at BET Honors '12. It's so refreshing to see her speak candidly without the self-awareness, the angles, the sippy straws.  Love her.  Patti LaBelle and Kelly Rowland paid tribute to her on-stage, which we'll soon be seeing on TV.

See her talk about it below:

BET Honors '12 airs on February 13, 2012 at 9:00 PM PAC/12:00 AM EST.

(Photo credit: Jermaine Dupri | Video credit: BET)