Entertainment News: jordin sparks

Jordin Sparks appears as a lead in "Sparkle" and not only is it the former "American Idol" winner's first time on the silver screen, but it is also the last role Whitney Houston ever performed.

Sparks, along with her "Sparkle" co-stars Carmen Ejogo and Tika Sumpter, spoke to OnTheRedCarpet.com earlier this week about Houston's performance in the film and what they want audiences to take away from the movie.

Whitney Houston's final film, "Sparkle," was released on Friday and sees her playing Emma, a no-nonsense mother of three daughters who tries to use her own tragic past to prevent her daughters for following in her mistakes.

Houston, who died in February at the age of 48, spoke in an interview shot during the movie's production about her role and her co-stars.

Jordin Sparks appears in the upcoming remake of "Sparkle" with the late Whitney Houston and the "American Idol" singer recently talked about what it was like working with the music legend and how she felt when Houston died.

Houston died on February 11 at the age of 48 inside a hotel room at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, a day before the 2012 Grammy Awards. She was found in a bathtub and her death was ruled an accidental drowning, spurred by cocaine use and a pre-existing heart condition.

Jordin Sparks performed a tribute to her "Sparkle" co-star Whitney Houston alongside John Legend at the 2012 Billboard Awards on May 20 and on May 21, a new single featuring Houston and Sparks hit the web.

During her tribute, Legend and Sparks sang a medley of Houston's hit songs "The Greatest Love of All" and "I Will Always Love You." Houston was posthumously awarded the Millennium Award and her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, accepted it on her behalf.

The trailer for Whitney Houston's final movie, "Sparkle," has been released, less than two months after the famed singer's death.

The film marks "American Idol" season 6 winner Jordin Sparks' big-screen acting debut and is a remake of a 1976 flick. Sparks, a 22-year-old pop star, plays Sparkle Williams, one of three sisters who form a successful singing group amid the rise of Motown music and are subsequently forced to deal with the fallout of fame and drugs. Houston plays their mother.

Jordin Sparks, a former "American Idol" winner, got to experience the results of Whitney Houston's famous sense of humor firsthand as they filmed "Sparkle," saying the late singer tried to get her to "crack" up while shooting serious scenes.

The movie is set to hit theaters on August 17 and marks Sparks' major on-screen acting debut and Houston's finale film. Sparks, 22, plays a singer, while Houston portrays her mother. Sparks talked about her experience working with Houston, who she called an "amazing woman," while addressing high school students at the Disney Dreamers Academy's recent commencement ceremony.

Jordin Sparks, who was the sixth season winner of "American Idol," paid tribute to Whitney Houston at the 5th Annual Essence luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Thursday.

The singer, who will appear opposite Houston in the upcoming film "Sparkle," talked about meeting the music legend on the first day of filming.

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2007 "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks hit the red carpet at at Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night XVII on Saturday March. 19, 2011, in a sleek black dress. The singer's slimmer looks stirred the web but Sparks has kept mum on any weight loss.

Jordin Sparks will be celebrating her 21st birthday with a huge bash in her home state of Arizona on Wednesday.

The event is open to the public. Tickets cost $20 each and proceeds will benefit Spark's non-profit organization, "I'm M.A.D Are you?"