Whitney Houston's Last Recording Surfaces

'Celebrate' is a duet with former 'Idol' winner Jordin Sparks

May 21, 2012 11:35 AM ET

Jordin Sparks performs at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Whitney Houston's last recording, a duet with former American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, has surfaced on RyanSeacrest.com. "Celebrate" was reportedly Houston's last recorded song before she passed away. The R. Kelly-produced tune was made for the film Sparkle, a remake of the 1976 movie that stars both Sparks and Houston and hits theaters on August 17th.

Just last night, Sparks paid tribute to Houston at the Billboard Music Awards with her rendition of "I Will Always Love You."

Houston died on February 11th in Beverly Hills, California, at 48 years old.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Song Premiere: Alberta Cross, 'Magnolia'

Music Main

Kyuss Lives! Respond to Josh Homme, Scott Reeder's Lawsuit

Picks From Around the Web

blog comments powered by Disqus

Daily Newsletter

We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

Most Popular

Photos & Videos

Go To Content

Random Notes: Hottest Rock Pictures

Go To Content Play Video

Video: Dave Grohl Sits in With the Rolling Stones

Go To Content

Gallery: 'Born Sinner' Series by J. Cole

Best Ever Lists

Other Lists

Song Stories

“1999”

Prince | 1982

“I don’t consider myself a great poet,” Prince told Rolling Stone. “I just know I’m here to say what’s on my mind.” In the case of the apocalyptic party anthem “1999,” he was worried about then-president Ronald Reagan’s foreign policies. The song’s melody is based on a riff borrowed from the Mamas and Papas’ “Monday, Monday,” and Prince originally envisioned the first verse with three-part harmony but later split the vocals between himself and members of the Revolution. Because Warner Bros., with whom Prince was locked in a contractual battle, owned the original’s masters, Prince rerecorded the song and appropriately released that version in 1999.

More Song Stories entries »

Whitney Houston's Last Recording Surfaces