Next Week's 'American Idol' Pays Whitney Houston Tribute
by Sean Comer
'Twas a given that it would probably happen. Now, it can be confirmed: next week, "American Idol" honors the late Whitney Houston.
Well, the competing fairer sex will, anyway. The ladies that survived this week and made it into the Top 13 - for those who haven't yet read the recap here, that would be Jessica Sanchez, Hollie Cavanagh, Shannon Magrane, Elise Testone, Skylar Laine and Erika Van Pelt - will be showcasing their talents by interpreting some hits from Houston's catalogue. They'll be mentored along the way by guest Mary J. Blige and Season 10 runner-up Lauren Alaina will be performing on the land mark 400th "American Idol."
"We are trying to figure out how we can go in and obviously pay tribute [to Houston] in some way and acknowledge the impact that she had on popular singers, popular music and young singers that are trying to make it," said host Ryan Seacrest, according to Broadway World.
Not necessarily to be outdone, the surviving seven gentlemen - Phillip Phillips, Joshua Ledet, Heejun Han, Colton Dixon, Jermaine Jones, and wild cards Jeremy Rosada and Deandre Brackensick - will performing hits by Motown legend Stevie Wonder, while also being mentored by Blige.
Six-time Grammy honoree Houston was found unconscious in her Beverly Hills Hilton hotel room Feb. 11 - the night before the 2012 Grammy Awards - and pronounced dead at the scene.