Listen Now: Whitney Houston's Final Song, Duet With Jordin Sparks, Is Released

Sparkle star's last recorded track is posthumously released in advance of movie's premiere

By Rebecca Macatee May 21, 2012 3:20 PMTags
Jordin Sparks, Whitney Houston, SparkleAlicia Gbur/Sony

Whitney Houston's final song, a duet with Jordin Sparks, did not disappoint.

"Celebrate," the last ever song Houston recorded before her tragic death, was released this morning, offering fans both a first taste of what's to come from Sparkle, Houston's final movie to be released this summer, as well as a last bittersweet listen of the late icon's legendary singing chops.

The tune, an upbeat track produced by R. Kelly, world premiered on Ryan Seacrest's radio show this morning, on which Sparks was a guest.

"'I celebrate YOU, you celebrate ME!'" Sparks tweeted not long after. "#Celebrate #Sparkle."

"Everybody's been down on love," Sparks, who plays Whitney's daughter in the movie, sings in the catchy song. "Finally things are looking up/The sun has chased all the rain away/No more obstacles in our way."

Then, both Sparks and Houston sing parts of the chorus: "Just gonna celebrate, come on yeah, come on and celebrate/That's what I want, I wanna celebrate."

Fittingly, at the Billboard Music Awards Sunday night, Sparks did just that, celebrating Houston's legacy with an emotional tribute, giving an emotional rendition of Houston's hit, "I Will Always Love You."

Houston was also awarded a Millennium Award posthumously, which was accepted by her daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown. Brown said she felt "blessed to have been in such an incredible woman's life."

Sparkle opens nationwide Aug. 17.