Whitney Houston’s final film was Sparkle, released in 2012. She played Emma Anderson, the deeply religious mother of the title character, in this musical drama directed by Salim Akil. Jordin Sparks starred as Sparkle, a young singer trying to build a career with her sisters.
Sparkle was a remake of the 1976 film of the same name, which starred Irene Cara. Houston had wanted to bring the story back to the screen for more than a decade, and she served as one of the project’s producers. The film’s music also connected directly to her legacy: Houston performed “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” and she recorded “Celebrate” with Sparks for the soundtrack.
The movie was released several months after Houston died on February 11, 2012, making it her final completed feature-film appearance. It is often confused with The Bodyguard, her most famous film, or The Preacher’s Wife, another major acting and soundtrack success.