TD Jakes Praises Whitney Houston's Performance in 'Sparkle'
Bishop T.D. Jakes, founder and senior pastor of the Potter's House in Texas and a producer of the movie remake, "Sparkle," praised Whitney Houston Thursday for her performance in her final film role.
"When she walked out there and began to perform, we were all just stunned at how well she did. Not only with the singing, but also with the acting," The Pottter's House pastor told CNN.
The popular pastor praised the movie's "great story" and "great script." The film has been accumulating increased excitement because of Houston's recent passing.
The remake of "Sparkle" featuring Houston, speaks to "hope and the resilience of the human spirit in the midst of the decadence of life," Jakes said, similar to the 1976 original.
The minister also said that the writer of the movie remake, Mara Brock Akil, "took it to another level."
Jakes has previously expressed his spiritual link to Houston when he shared his grief over her death with his congregation during last Sunday's service. The minister said he was "deeply stunned" and "shocked" at the news of Houston's death. He praised God for the opportunity to have worked with the performer on the film.
"Sometimes when you are a celebrity people forget that you are a person. But she is somebody's daughter. She's somebody's momma," Jakes said in a very personal speech. "Hearts are broken this morning and they are grieving."
He also praised her gift at the time, emphasizing Houston's "tremendous talent beyond human expression."
"I don't think that we'll hear again in this generation a voice quite like Whitney Houston," the pastor said.
The 48-year-old singer was found dead on Feb. 11 in a suite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., submerged in the bathtub. The cause of her death is not immediately known, although press reports have suggested that abuse of prescription drugs mixed with alcohol might have contributed to the legendary singer's demise.
"Sparkle," scheduled to be released in U.S. theaters Aug. 17, also features Cee-Lo, Mike Epps, and Jordin Sparks in the leading role as Sparkle
