Jordin Sparks and John Legend to Honor Whitney Houston at Billboard Music Awards Tribute

Whitney Houston will be honored with the Billboard Millennium Award in a tribute performed by Jordin Sparks and John Legend at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday (May 20), it was announced Tuesday.

Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, and sister-in-law, Pat Houston, will make a special appearance to accept the award in her honor.

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The tribute is a fitting role for singer-actress Sparks, who plays Houston’s daughter in the upcoming remake of the film Sparkle, which hits theaters in August.

Houston, who died Feb. 11 at age 48, holds the distinction of being the first artist ever to have seven consecutive No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100 and her biggest hit, “I Will Always Love You,” spent 14 weeks atop the chart in 1993. She earned 16 Billboard Music Awards, six Grammys, 23 American Music Awards and two Emmys, and has sold 170 million combined albums, single and videos worldwide.

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This year’s Billboard Music Awards airs live May 20 on ABC at 8 p.m. ET from the MGM Grand Arena. Hosting will be Modern Family co-stars Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell.

Previously announced performers include Katy Perry, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Carrie Underwood, LMFAO, CeeLo Green, Kelly Clarkson, Usher, The Wanted, Linkin Park and Nelly Furtado.

Tickets for the 2012 Billboard Music Awards are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com and MGMGrand.com. The 2012 Billboard Music Awards will be co-executive produced by Richard D. Beckman, CEO of Prometheus Global Media and Don Mischer Productions.

Twitter: @Billboardbiz