WHITNEY HOUSTON - HOUSTON PAYS TRIBUTE TO DAVIS AT GRAMMYS

HOUSTON PAYS TRIBUTE TO DAVIS AT GRAMMYS

WHITNEY HOUSTON interrupted her prizegiving speech at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards to pay tribute to her "industry father," music mogul CLIVE DAVIS.The singer wowed the Grammy audience and millions of American TV viewers on Sunday (08Feb09), when she took the stage to present the honour for Best R&B Album to Jennifer Hudson.
But, before announcing the nominees, Houston urged Davis to stand and take a bow as he watched from the audience, crediting him with her comeback - just one day after performing a medley of her hits at his pre-Grammy Awards party.
Addressing Davis, Houston said, "I want to honour the man who was honoured last night with the Recording Academy's Industry Icon Award. (He's) a man I consider to be my industry father, a visionary, (an) executive, a great man of music. Please, Mr. Clive Davis. Congrats, Clive, I love you so dearly."
The singer is preparing for the release of her new album next month (Mar09) - her first since 2002 - after an alleged battle with drug addiction.