A waxwork commemorating the life of Whitney Houston was unveiled at Madame Tussauds London today (21.10.13) with the help of a full gospel choir.
The famous visitor attraction enlisted the help of a full gospel choir to unveil the wax figure earlier today (21.10.13), which was created in the iconic singer's honour following her death in February 2012.
The figure - one of four embodying the 'I Will Always Love You' hitmaker at various stages of her career - is inspired by Whitney's appearance in the promotional art for her 2009 comeback album 'I Look to You' and sees her adorned in a stunning floor-length gown with her arms outstretched.
The commemorative likeness was originally unveiled at Madame Tussauds' New York museum earlier this year by members of Whitney's family - including her mother Cissy Houston - but it is now being exhibited outside of the US for the first time.
Madame Tussauds' Nicole Fenner said: ''We are very excited to be welcoming Whitney Houston on to our London music stage for the next eight weeks.
''This is a very special figure as it was created after Whitney's very sad and untimely death with the close co-operation of her family, who were delighted by the results.''
The wax figure's debut was backed by a rousing performance from the London Gospel Factory Choir, and the group's artistic director Colin Vassell was honoured to be part of the special moment.
He added: ''Whitney Houston is one of the most talented singers of her - or any - generation and we were delighted to welcome her wax figure to London.
''She is a personal hero of mine so to get to stand alongside her and sing was a slightly surreal but awesome experience. ''We chose a song she performed in the film 'The Preacher's Wife' because it is so uplifting and great fun to perform. We hope we did her justice.''
Whitney Houston waxwork launches in London
A waxwork commemorating the life of Whitney Houston was unveiled at Madame Tussauds London today (21.10.13) with the help of a full gospel choir.
The famous visitor attraction enlisted the help of a full gospel choir to unveil the wax figure earlier today (21.10.13), which was created in the iconic singer's honour following her death in February 2012.
The figure - one of four embodying the 'I Will Always Love You' hitmaker at various stages of her career - is inspired by Whitney's appearance in the promotional art for her 2009 comeback album 'I Look to You' and sees her adorned in a stunning floor-length gown with her arms outstretched.
The commemorative likeness was originally unveiled at Madame Tussauds' New York museum earlier this year by members of Whitney's family - including her mother Cissy Houston - but it is now being exhibited outside of the US for the first time.
Madame Tussauds' Nicole Fenner said: ''We are very excited to be welcoming Whitney Houston on to our London music stage for the next eight weeks.
''This is a very special figure as it was created after Whitney's very sad and untimely death with the close co-operation of her family, who were delighted by the results.''
The wax figure's debut was backed by a rousing performance from the London Gospel Factory Choir, and the group's artistic director Colin Vassell was honoured to be part of the special moment.
He added: ''Whitney Houston is one of the most talented singers of her - or any - generation and we were delighted to welcome her wax figure to London.
''She is a personal hero of mine so to get to stand alongside her and sing was a slightly surreal but awesome experience. ''We chose a song she performed in the film 'The Preacher's Wife' because it is so uplifting and great fun to perform. We hope we did her justice.''