Cissy Houston honored her daughter Whitney Houston with a rousing rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water at the BET Awards across town at the Shrine Auditorium.
The tribute was the emotional highlight of Sunday evening, and started with some heartfelt words from Mariah Carey.
“I miss my friend. I miss hearing her voice and laughter, but we’ll always have the music,” Mariah Carey said.
“We’ll always have that voice we all fell in love with. She inspired us all.”
Cissy Houston honored her daughter Whitney Houston with a rousing rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water at the BET Awards
Monica, Brandy and Whitney Houston’s brother Gary then all sang for the crowd, followed by Cissy Houston, whose performance of the Simon & Garfunkel song brought tears to the eyes of those assembled – a group that included Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.
The tribute wrapped with Chaka Khan singing her 1978 song I’m Every Woman, which Whitney Houston covered with great success in 1993.
Kanye West, Jay-Z and Beyoncé took home the night’s biggest awards. Kanye West and Jay-Z were named best group for their collaboration as The Throne, and also won video of the year for Otis.
Beyoncé was named best female R&B artist. Chris Brown was named best male R&B artist.
Drake and Nicki Minaj were honored as the best hip-hop artists.
Cissy Houston will perform a tribute to her late daughter Whitney Houston alongside other female singers at the upcoming BET Awards.
A source familiar with BET’s plans said Tuesday that Cissy Houston will take the stage at the July 1 awards show to honor her daughter.
Cissy Houston, 78, will be joined by “a few top divas,” the source said, though the source could not give their names.
The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the tribute has not been officially announced.
Cissy Houston will perform a tribute to her late daughter Whitney Houston alongside other female singers at the upcoming BET Awards
Whitney Houston died at age 48 in February in her hotel room in Beverly Hills. Authorities called her death an accidental drowning, complicated by heart disease and cocaine use.
The BET Awards airs live from The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Kanye West, Beyonce and Jay-Z are the top nominees.
Kanye West leads the field at BET Awards 2012 with seven nominations.
Musical partner and collaborator Jay-Z also has five while the rapper’s wife Beyonce is up for six.
Jay-Z and Kanye West collaborator last year on Watch the Throne and are on tour in the UK together at the moment.
Their songs In Paris and Otis are up for video of the year with Beyonce up for two awards in that category for Love on Top and Countdown.
Kanye West leads BET Awards 2012 nominations with Beyonce and Jay-Z
The fifth nominee is Usher’s Climax.
The BET nominations were announced in New York.
Samuel L. Jackson will host the award show on 1 July, which will be held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj are due to perform.
Other nominees include Lil Wayne, Drake and J. Cole.
Last year’s big winner, Chris Brown, is up for three awards this year after picking up four trophies in 2011.
The group Maze featuring Frankie Beverly will receive a lifetime achievement award.
