The 4th Annual Whitney E. Houston Legacy of Love Gala | August 9th, 2025
The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation’s
4th Annual Gala Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Her Historic Career in Music and Entertainment with a
Special Performance by Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award Winner Jennifer Hudson and More, Hosted by
Kevin Frazier of Entertainment Tonight
(Atlanta, GA — July 10, 2025) – The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation and Primary Wave Music will present the 4th Annual Whitney E. Houston Legacy of Love Gala, which marks the 40th Anniversary of Whitney Houston’s historic career in music and entertainment (February 14, 1985 – February 14, 2025) on Saturday, August 9th, 2025, on what would have been Houston’s 62nd birthday, at the St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia.
This year’s gala will feature Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT) Award winner Jennifer Hudson, who will be the headlining performer. There will also be a special preview performance with a symphony orchestra for the upcoming North America Fall Tour, The Voice of Whitney: A Symphonic Celebration, conducted by William R. Langley. Also performing is R&B singer-songwriter Meli’sa Morgan, who sang on Whitney Houston’s self-titled debut album, and Jimmy Avance, the recent winner of The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation’s 2nd Annual Cover Song Competition, who will perform one of his favorite Whitney Houston classics. Kevin Frazier of Entertainment Tonight will host the gala event with Pat Houston, president of the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation. The Honorary Chair is Clive Davis, the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Chief Creative Officer of Sony Music Entertainment.
The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation’s grant awardee for 2025 is Kids In the Spotlight. The organization mission is to empower foster youth to heal, grow, and succeed through storytelling, filmmaking, and career training. For its annual fundraiser, the foundation is partnering with Julien’s Auctions to present some of Whitney’s iconic and one-of-a-kind artifacts. The foundation will also continue its partnership with Charity Buzz to feature other curated items and experience packages. Additionally, the foundation will present its annual scholarships which will be presented to students studying the arts at historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
“This year marks Whitney’s fortieth anniversary and our fourth Annual Legacy of Love Gala and we are delighted how the foundation has developed and expanded over the past four years,” says Pat Houston, also the executor of The Estate of Whitney E. Houston. “Though Whitney is known worldwide for her exemplary talent in music and entertainment, one of the things she loved more than anything was supporting children and our youth. She always reached back to various communities globally and truly demonstrated the work of a global servant and lived by the ‘adage,’ ‘I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way, show them all the beauty they possess inside, give them a sense of pride to make it easier…’ from her international anthem, ‘Greatest Love of All.’”
Pat Houston concludes: “We are excited to have Jennifer Hudson as our headlining performer and special guest. We are thrilled that she is able to take the time to spend Whitney’s fortieth anniversary with us and our special guests. And more importantly, she continues to support Whitney’s legacy.”
In 2020, The Estate of Whitney E. Houston formed The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation to continue the mission and important work by the late global superstar. Her lifelong commitment continues to support youth through various program initiatives and services that reflect the values and needs of our young people. The Foundation also serves as a source of empowerment to help rebuild, repair, and restore the self-esteem of our youth and assist them in living productive lives.
Whitney Houston’s global charitable work was initially established in 1989 as the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children. The organization provided much-needed resources to homeless children, built inner city parks and playgrounds, and provided college scholarships. Known for its world-renowned charitable initiatives and partnerships, the foundation partnered with the Children’s Defense Fund, Childhood Diabetes, The Rain Forest Foundation, Hale House, Special Olympics, United Negro College Fund, St. Jude Children’s Research, and Whitney’s historic South Africa concerts, which a portion of the proceeds benefited local South African children’s charities.
In 1997, Houston’s elementary school was renamed The Whitney E. Houston Academy for Performing & Creative Arts. Originally opened in 1873, the Franklin School is now the oldest building in the East Orange, New Jersey school district.
Gwendolyn Quinn