Jordin Sparks' grief at Whitney Houston's death hits her in "waves".

The two stars appear alongside each other in the upcoming movie Sparkle, which Whitney shot shortly before her death.

Jordin performed a song in Whitney's honour at the 5th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon yesterday and spoke about how she is coming to terms with her loss.

"It comes in waves," she said. "I'm definitely trying to process it a little bit.

"I'm really glad I got to work with her. It was a gift that I got to know her."

Sparkle is a remake of a 1976 movie of the same name. It's about three teenage sisters who form their own group.

The original movie included the song Look into Your Heart, which is what Jordin sang yesterday. She was terrified before taking to the stage as she felt so emotional.

"I don't know how I'm gonna do in there. We'll see," she told Access Hollywood. "We'll see what happens. If I choke up? I'll get it together. [I] have to try and keep it in."

Jordin also discussed why she made the specific song choice. She had been slated to perform at the annual event for some time and when Whitney died she decided to choose something meaningful.

"I was already going to do it and sing a song from the movie and everything like that and then all recent events happened, and now I'm going to be singing a song that she actually sang, but is also in the movie, from the original, it's called Look Into Your Heart," she explained. "She was a part of the Curtis Mayfield tribute album. She actually sang [an] amazing version, so I'm going to do my own little version too."

Jordin is trying to remember the good times with Whitney. She still can't believe she got to work with one of her heroes and has vowed to ensure Sparkle is a success in tribute to the late star.

"It gives me a lot of excitement to be able to put this movie out because it was her baby, and she was so, so into it and so happy to be doing it," she said. "I'm excited that I get to be a part of it."

Whitney passed away in a Los Angeles hotel earlier this month. Her cause of death won't be known until toxicology tests are completed.

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