Whitney Houston returns to the big screen for the first time in 15 years in Sparkle, a remake of the 1976 Motown-era film. In the first official still from the movie (via PEOPLE), the legendary singer plays mother to her co-star, Jordin Sparks.

“Part of the fun of making this movie is definitely the costumes and the hairstyles,” the 48-year-old diva tells PEOPLE. “The movie is set in 1963, and we had a great wardrobe, hair and makeup person and I loved wearing the outfits.”

Sparks makes her film debut alongside Houston. “She was so cool and very motherly toward me,” says the 22-year-old “American Idol” winner, who plays a singer who hits it big. “If I ever looked like I needed something, here she came saying ‘Are you okay?’”

Sparkle, which marks Houston’s first big-screen role since The Preacher’s Wife in 1996, opens in theaters on August 10.

Whitney Houston is making a sparkling comeback to the big screen. The legendary diva is executive producing and starring alongside Jordin Sparks in a remake of the 1976 Motown-era film Sparkle. “ET” went on set with Houston for her first big-screen role since The Preacher’s Wife in 1996.

“I got a call from my partner Debra Martin and she said, ‘You’re not gonna believe this, but Sparkle‘s been picked up and they want to do a film.’ And I was like, you’re kidding,” said the 48-year-old singer-actress.

She explained why the “American Idol” winner was perfect to play the role of her musical daughter. “She speaks for herself—the face, the smile, the innocence, the love for music, the love for singing,” said Whitney of her 21-year-old co-star. “Her personality just being Jordin and transferring that to Sparkle, it was not a hard transition.”

Sparks picked up some pointers from her on-screen mother. “I listened to her and I watched her and for her to be standing here and just telling me different things, I definitely want to take it to heart ’cause she’s been through so much—highs, lows, ups, downs, successes, different things like that—and it’s just so amazing to stand here and she’s still doing it.”

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Keri Hilson paid tribute to Grammy-winning songwriter David Foster at the 2011 BMI Pop Music Awards in Beverly Hills last night. The blonde-haired singer performed a cover of “I Have Nothing,” the 1993 power ballad Foster penned for Whitney Houston off The Bodyguard soundtrack.

“I sang ‘I Have Nothing’ (Whitney Houston) in a tribute to David Foster, 1 of the greatest songwriters EVER!” tweeted Miss Keri. “He came over & said, ‘Your performance was BAD-ASS!!’ Told you he was genius, heh.”

Watch a clip from her performance below.

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Whitney Houston is back in rehab. The Grammy-winning singer has checked into an out-patient program for drug and alcohol treatment, her rep confirms to The Associated Press.

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As though seeing one living legend in concert wasn’t enough, Prince fans got a double diva surprise when Whitney Houston and Chaka Khan took the stage at his show at the L.A. Forum on Thursday (May 5). The vocal powerhouses brought down the house by performing a duet of “Tell Me Something Good,” with Whitney later joining Prince for “Musicology.” Talk about getting your money’s worth.

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When Lady Gaga was writing her latest smash “Born This Way,” she looked to an unexpected source of inspiration. While accepting her award for Best Pop Vocal Album at Sunday’s Grammys, the pop diva revealed that Whitney Houston played an important role in the song’s development.

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Whitney Houston, who is currently globetrotting on her “Nothing But Love” world tour, sat down for an interview while on the road. The 30-year veteran spoke about working with her “sister” Alicia Keys, her dismay with some of today’s pop stars, her costumes from the ’80s, how she keeps in shape and stays healthy, and how her teenage daughter brings her joy.

“There are some extremely gifted and talented young women and young men out there who don’t have to really put on Halloween costumes, just be themselves,” she said. “A little extravagance, a little flair, a little sexiness or a sultriness is cool, but some of them are very dark. … To me, it’s not becoming.”

Whitney Houston surprised her daughter during her “Nothing But Love” world tour stop on Wednesday (March 3) in Adelaide, Australia. Midway through the show, Whitney announced it was Bobbi Kristina’s 17th birthday. She performed “Who Would Imagine a King” from The Preacher’s Wife and the audience joined her while singing “Happy Birthday.”

“Don’t cry,” Bobbi told her mother after a cake was brought out on stage. “I’m reveling in the moment. Can I revel as a mother?” an emotional Whitney asked fans before blowing out the candles with her daughter.

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Whitney Houston launched her first tour in 10 years over the weekend in Seoul, South Korea. 11,000 fans converged on Olympic Park to see the pop diva perform on the first two dates of her “Nothing But Love” world tour.

The 46-year-old singer broke into a sweat as she ran through hits from her 25-year catalog, including classics like “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and “I Will Always Love You” to newer fare such as “If I Told You That” and “Million Dollar Bill.”

She acknowledged her milestone in the music business. “I don’t want to tell you this, but I’ve been in show business for 30 years now. I can’t believe it myself. It seems like it was only yesterday,” she told her adoring fans.

Two of the late Michael Jackson’s dancers are now touring with Whitney, who sang “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” and “The Way You Make Me Feel” in memory of her “dear friend.”

Watch some of the performances below.

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