BET and NBC have scrambled to add special programming marking the passing of entertainment icon Whitney Houston. The Grammy-winning singer and actress, 48, was found dead on Saturday at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, where she was planning to attend the annual pre-Grammy party held by her mentor Clive Davis.
BET (Black Entertainment Television) will honor her memory today and tomorrow with a special lineup of programming.
At 3:30 p.m., the network will air Houston’s last televised performance in an encore presentation of “Celebration Of Gospel 2011.” Viewers can also tune in to CENTRIC throughout the day to watch music videos featuring the songstress.
On Monday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m., “106 & PARK” will pay tribute to the singer’s life and legacy with a special three-hour episode, followed by the previously-scheduled 9 p.m. premiere of “BET Honors 2012.”
“We are all simply heartbroken by the sudden passing of Whitney Houston, said Debra L. Lee, Chairman and CEO of BET Networks. “She was among the greatest artists of our time. She was an icon, trailblazer, international phenomenon—an incomparable talent that will forever be missed. Our prayers and condolences go out to her daughter, mother and her entire family. We will always love her.”
Past BET tributes and performances of Whitney Houston can be viewed below:
• Whitney Houston Tribute (Jennifer Hudson) BET Honors 2010
• Whitney Houston Tribute (Kim Burrell) BET Honors 2010
• Whitney Houston Tribute - BET Honors 2010
• Whitney Houston Tribute Video - BET Honors 2010
• Whitney Houston, Mike Epps News Brief (Sparkle)
• Whitney Houston (Celebration of Gospel 2011)
Meanwhile, NBC’s “Dateline” will devote an hour tonight to the passing of Houston, beginning at 7 p.m. Anchored by Lester Holt, the special episode will report on Houston’s life and career and the reaction from those who knew her.
The 54th Grammy Awards, beginning at 8 on CBS, will feature a musical tribute to Houston by one of her biggest fans, Jennifer Hudson.
"We are all pretty devastated. It hit us pretty hard," Grammy executive producer Ken Ehrlich said in an interview for CBS affiliates late Saturday. "A lot of us who worked on the show worked with her a number of times, so it's a very sad day for us and it's going to be tough to recover from."
Ehrlich said news of Houston’s reached them during Saturday afternoon rehearsals. He said the show will go on as planned, with Hudson as the perfect choice for the tribute.
"She's a good friend of the Grammys," Ehrlich said. "She's had some very significant appearances on the show. It felt right to ask to her to come and help us honor Whitney, which she will do musically."
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