Today the world stopped to say goodbye to Grammy-winning pop icon Whitney Houston.  Laid to rest at Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church, the very church where she got her start, tearful mourners watched the emotional service with hopes of saying farewell to the fallen icon.  With an unparalleled career that moved over 170 million albums and landed 11 number 1 singles (7 of them consecutively) with just 6 LPs and 2 soundtracks, Miss Houston has left behind a legacy that will know no rival.

Even with such a well loved catalogue, there are a number of tunes oft-overlooked of the ‘So Emotional’ singer’s discography.  In such, That Grape Juice looks to honor ‘The Voice’ by sharing our favorites from her illustrious collection.  Get into them below:

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Due greatly in part to the passing of pop icon Whitney Houston, this week’s 54th Annual Grammy Awards drew in its second largest audience ever.  In such, stars slated to perform, namely Adele, Katy Perry, Chris Brown, and Nicki Minaj, have seen the showing give them considerable boosts in their own individual endeavors.  Adele, the long running Billboard champion, saw her triumphant stage return encourage album sales of 500k in the week following the show and now reports indicate her songs ‘Rolling In the Deep’, ‘Set Fire To the Rain’, and ‘Someone Like You’ are on track to sell 250k, 220k, and 170k downloads respectively.

Also, following reports of Houston’s untimely passing, the pop starlet moved over 1 million singles and albums in less than 5 days and landed her signature hit ‘I Will Always Love You’ back in the top 10. Next week will see the full download sales realized and are expected to land in the 250,000 to 300,000 range of this song alone.

Unlike Adele and Houston, Minaj, Perry, and Brown all unveiled new music this week to spearhead promotions of their forthcoming ventures.  Perry, who has already clocked 5 #1s from her ‘Teenage Dream’ album, is readying its follow-up, ‘Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection” (March 26th), and may be on the road to notching her 6th!  While fans were disheartened with news, due to new Billboard ruling, that number 1s from the re-released set won’t be included in her ‘Dream’ tally, it certainly hasn’t stopped their support…

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An outpour of grief and mourn continues to grip the industry as friends and fans of late Pop icon Whitney Houston share their condolences.  And, much like many-a-young R&B songstress, Fantasia regularly cited Miss Houston as an influence for her own offerings.

Also like Houston, Barrino found her base in the church.  Such base undoubtedly helped shape Houston’s sound, style, and influence across multiple genres – unmistakably found (and referenced) in many of both singers’ recordings and live showings.

Now, at a recent stop in Chicago, Fantasia was found giving a tearful testimony in honor of the fallen singer.  Hear her thoughts below:

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As an award-winning songwriter, Emeli Sande has crafted hits for many a chart-topper. However, it’s the Scottish star’s own material which has her poised for major success this year.

Soulful and flavoursome, the 24 year old’s unique sound has earned her both critical and commercial acclaim.

 The BRIT Award Critics Choice winner is gearing up for the release of her debut album ‘Our Version of Events’ and was keen to talk to That Grape Juice about the project.

Also discussed during our candid chat were her thoughts on the Urban music scene, working with the newly reformed Sugababes (original line-up), collaborating Leona Lewis, her recent engagement, and much more.

Enjoy.

Emeli Sande Shouts Out That Grape Juice

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She’s your favorite’s favorite and arguably the most sought after female songwriter of all time. Lending her pen to hits such as ‘Unbreak My Heart’, ‘I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing’, and more, Diane Warren has seen her name inked in history books almost as many times as she’s inked hits for the likes of Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige, and countless others – most recently Beyonce for ‘A Star is Born’.

Recognized four times Billboard’s Songwriter of the Year and six times ASCAP Songwriter of the Year, Warren tells That Grape Juice there are still unconquered territories in her already decorated career.  Giving us the scoop on her latest sessions with Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, and more, she dishes on her feelings on Rihanna and Nicki Minaj while addressing rumors that she is currently working with Pop icon Whitney Houston!

All this and more after the jump…

Diane Warren Shouts Out That Grape Juice

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Following on her show-stopping set at the Super Bowl, Pop Queen Madonna looks poised to rock many a stage globally as she embarks on her first tour in three years.

Announced by Live Nation this morning, the singer’s worldwide trek is to set sail in May.

Is the Material Girl heading to your town? Find out after the jump!

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Armed with moves that would make any Bengay sponsor proud, Icy Hot hitmaker ‘Vogue’ veteran Madonna has certainly been the center of entertainment chatter since her show-stopping performance at last night’s Superbowl Halftime.  As updated reports have surfaced indicating that the singer set Superbowl and TV records by helping draw in the the largest audience ever for a television program (111 million for actual game, 114 million viewers for Halftime show), any contests to the Pop queen’s status may need to be withdrawn.

Always one to capitalize on hype, fans who have become familiar with the deluxe cover of ‘MDNA’ – her 12th LP – have now been invited to view it’s standard alternate (source):

The view comes shortly after news surfaced that her Superbowl showing was not the only touchdown the ‘Take A Bow’ beauty landed.  Not set to hit shelves until March 26th,  Itunes has reported that ‘MDNA’ (after three days of availability) has already moved 50,000 units in pre-sale with its lead single, ‘Give Me All Your Luvin’, also enjoying handsome sales and set to make to make a splash on next week’s chart.

The Nicki Minaj/M.I.A.-assisted venture joins other items from Madge’s back catalogue (Greatest Hits, LPs, etc.) that have collectively enjoyed a 1,700% sales increase (full impact expected to be revealed next week).

Your thoughts?

7-time Grammy winner Madonna gave new meaning to the title ‘Queen of Pop’ as she popped, locked, and dropped it on the Lucas Oil Stadium Superbowl stage at tonight’s long-anticipated set.  Giving her first live rendition of soon-to-be-hit ‘Give Me All Your Luvin’ (with Hip Hop eccentrics M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj), the Bridgestone-sponsored showing brought the ‘Borderline’ beauty to the Indianapolis halftime-stage where she also lent electric performances of past hits ‘Vogue’, ‘Music’, and more.

Also accompanied by party rockers LMFAO and ‘Crazy’ singer Cee Lo Green, see Madonna and co. get into the groove after the jump:

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Lana Del Rey‘s major label debut may have only just hit stores, yet that hasn’t stopped the set – christened ‘Born To Die‘ – from cementing her status as Pop’s biggest breakout star.

Not only has the buzz surrounding the 25 year old seen the LP sit atop of iTunes charts in 14 countries, it has landed Lana on the cover of Vogue UK’s March issue. More power to her!

Your thoughts?

Media puppeteer Madonna had made many a headline since announcing the release of her new album ‘M.D.N.A’.

Indeed, a potent potion of collaborations with Nicki Minaj and comments on Lady GaGa and Janet Jackson have seen the Pop royal a fixture on the lips of many.

Yet, it’s Jackson who continues to find herself at the receiving end of ol’ Maggie’s disfavour. Find out what the ‘Hung Up’ singer had to say about her foe, and the response of Janet’s choreographer after the jump…

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Pop powerhouse JoJo continues her comeback campaign, most recently stopping by Jordan Common for a Mix 107.9 showcase.

Check out the 21 year old rock out to current single ‘Diaster’ and show Rihanna up (again) with a “better than the record” take on ‘What’s My Name’ after the jump…

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Her own reality may be a little tough to swallow, but that hasn’t stopped Katy Perry from making the fantasies of ‘The Sims’ fans just that bit better this week.

Because, after declaring her love for the role play based series, she has been unveiled as the new face of the game’s latest installment.

Full story below…

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