Whitney Houston's final recordings will appear on the soundtrack to a forthcoming film. Houston recorded two songs for Sparkle, a remake of a 1976 movie intended to mark her return to acting.
The first of Houston's unreleased songs is Celebrate, written by R Kelly for the film's end credits. Houston also performed an onscreen duet with American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, who plays her character's daughter. According to Billboard, they sing a version of the gospel standard His Eyes on the Sparrow.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic and untimely passing of Whitney Houston," said Bishop TD Jakes, one of the film's producers. "We ask the world to join us in lifting up Whitney's family in prayer." Sparkle is scheduled to arrive in US cinemas this August, and RCA will release the soundtrack.
Houston had been trying to make the film for more than a decade. She acquired the rights almost 12 years ago and originally hoped Aaliyah would take the lead role. After the singer died in 2001, it took years for the movie to get back on track. Houston became executive producer, and her onscreen return was highly anticipated: the singer's last role was in 1996's The Preacher's Wife.
