Jennifer Hudson honours Whitney Houston’s AMAs medley in anniversary special
Jennifer Hudson delivered an emotional tribute to her "hero," Whitney Houston, paying homage to her famous medley from the 1994 American Music Awards (AMAs).
In honor of the AMAs reaching their 50th year, the special broadcast showcased memorable moments from past ceremonies and included performances by Mariah Carey, Nile Rodgers, Gladys Knight, and Green Day.
In 1994, American singer and actress Whitney Houston took the stage at the 21st awards ceremony held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, where she delivered a powerful medley that included "I Loves You, Porgy," "And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going," and "I Have Nothing."
In 1994, Whitney Houston took home eight awards at the 21st Annual American Music Awards, held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles (Barry King/Alamy).
At the ceremony, Houston received eight accolades for The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album.
During the anniversary special celebrating fifty years of the awards show, Hudson paid tribute to the medley by performing "I Loves You, Porgy" and "I Will Always Love You" from The Bodyguard. She wore a black velvet dress that closely resembled the one Hudson wore.
Presenting Hudson, Hollywood icon Samuel L. Jackson remarked: "Three decades ago, Whitney Houston took home eight out of her 22 American Music Awards, which included a special merit award."
That same evening, Whitney delivered what might be considered the most unforgettable performance in the show's history. She captivated the audience with a remarkable medley that began with melodies from Porgy and Bess and concluded with a chart-topping track from the hugely popular soundtrack of The Bodyguard.
"What a significant moment in the history of the American Music Awards and in the life of the late Whitney Houston."
He went on to say, “Among the countless fans tuning in to the AMAs that night in 1994 was a 12-year-old girl named Jennifer from Chicago. She was so moved by Whitney's performance that she began to believe she could eventually find her own voice too.”
"Presenting a tribute to her hero, Jennifer Hudson."
Mariah Carey delivered a stunning rendition of "We Belong Together" (Clarke/Invision/AP).
One of the standout acts was Carey, who took the stage by strolling through a pink letter M to launch the celebration for the anniversary of her 2005 album, The Emancipation of Mimi.
She performed "We Belong Together" and wrapped up her act by telling the audience, "I love you."
This comes a little over a month after she shared the heartbreaking news of her mother and sister passing away on the same day in what she described as a “tragic turn of events.”
In other acts, Rodgers and Chic played their classic "Le Freak," followed by a version of Daft Punk’s "Get Lucky." Meanwhile, Green Day took the stage to showcase their 2024 release "Dilemma," paying tribute to the legacy of rock music at the AMAs.
Knight, who graced the stage at the inaugural AMAs in 1974, made a comeback to perform "Midnight Train to Georgia," dazzling everyone in a shimmering black jumpsuit.
Notable presenters featured actress Kate Hudson, comedian Cedric the Entertainer, and soul music legend Smokey Robinson, who served as the host for the inaugural American Music Awards.
The two-hour special aired on CBS in the United States and was packed with significant musical highlights.
The awards event was established by seasoned producer Dick Clark as a fan-driven counterpart to the Grammys.
The most recent American Music Awards took place in 2022, where Taylor Swift took home six awards, including the title of Artist of the Year.
The yearly AMAs event is set to take place again in May 2025.
