Whitney Houston: The 5 Best Tribute Performances, A Year After Her Death

Caila Ball-Dionne | February 11, 2013 9:43 am

Cissy Houston at the 2012 BET Awards

June 2012’s BET awards featured a powerful and unexpected performance from Cissy Houston, Whitney’s mother. The Grammy Award-winning gospel singer — and former back up to the likes of Elvis and Aretha Franklin — closed out a medley of tribute performances by Chaka Khan, Monica and Brandy. Her take on the gospel classic “Bridge Over Troubled Water” was an exhibit of strength from a grieving mother, who clutched a tissue the entire time. Cissy’s performance earned tears from attendees, including Beyonce, and — even more shocking —almost-tears from the typically stone-faced Kanye West.