It what would prove to be a mere coincidence, the Valentine’s Day episode of FOX’S hit show GLEE features singer/actress Amber Riley (who plays Mercedes Jones) singing the Whitney Houston song, “I Will Always Love You.” This episode aired on the heels of the tragic death of the music icon this past weekend in Beverly Hills.
We happened to speak to Amber Tuesday night via Twitter, where she had this 
to say about recording the song and being influenced by Whitney Houston.
“I Will Always Love You” was a song I didn’t even want to touch. They ['GLEE' Producers] have been asking me to sing it since Season One. It was vocally challenging of course but that song is just sacred to me. Whitney Houston was one of music’s angels. I admired, loved, and looked up to her. Her music made me feel like I knew her, like we were close. There will never be another Whitney and no one will ever take her place.
Check out the episode clip below..
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AMBER RILEY SINGS “I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU” ON GLEE
nobody can touch that song better than whitney but it was great effort by amber.
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She did a good ass job.
job well done
One word…WOW!!!
Well I was expecting the dark haired white girl to sing it. It’s a good rendition. Probably better than Jennifer’s, but she was crying so I’ll give her that. I wonder why this girl doesn’t have a record album yet! Personally I don’t think this is Whitney’s best song so I kinda wish people would sing something else. I also kinda feel bad for Dolly Parton. Whitney will also be hooked to the song not Dolly. ……Ugh! Why did I look up and see she’s singing to a blonde white boy!!! Oh my Lord! When will it change!!!! We can’t live and love without you guys! Ugh! It couldn’t be a Black, or an Asian or Indian! They are always white. This tribute failed for me just because of that. They wasted that whole performance. I’m not racist by why is it always them!!! I guess no other people desire us or could ever hope to fulfill us. Glee is a joke! Good performance though.
Don’t worry about Dolly. I’m sure she is not mad. As the writer of the song, SHE gets paid every time it’s performed! Not Whitney. Whitney made her VERY rich.
*hands you the bleach* Please take several sips slowly! This whole post was just ignorant!
Ive read an interview with Dolly and she spoke about how everyone thought whitney wrote the song but she did not care what they thought as long as the check was written to her…so dont feel bad for dolly, she knows what she’s doing and shes getting exactly what she wants.
I feel you on this:
“Ugh! Why did I look up and see she’s singing to a blonde white boy!!! Oh my Lord! When will it change!!!! We can’t live and love without you guys! Ugh!”
He’s a cutie pie too so I feel you on what you’re saying about not being prejudiced but I swear I had a life and loved it prior to white folks including us in theirs it gets tired.
the white guy was her love interest to give connectiong to the movie The Body Guard where Whitney’s character was in love with a white guy…
Trust I’m with you on the can we please stop thinking yt are above us rally, but this was made to connect to the movie *shrugs*
and yes Dolly is a capriocorn and as long as they get their checks, chile they are a ok trust…all they want is financial stability in life, lol
stfu if you don’t watch the show. That blonde boy was her previous summer love who had to move away because his dad lost his job. When school started she was dating a BLACK football player who they show here singing too.
So what he’s white, black guys are shown dating other races on TV all the time so there is nothing wrong with Mercedes (Amber) getting it on with Sam. I hated that football dude so I say bring on Sam.
Ignorance is not cute!!
Oh Yes Ma’am Amber!
This is the best rendition of this song I’ve ever heard. Whitney would be SO PROUD. It was heartfelt and effortless.
um nooo. monica does it best. but nobody can do it like whitney
exactly Ms. Amber is no 1 after Whitney with her flawless rendition…point blank period!!!!
sorry to break it to ya, but Amber’s version of this song is THE best rendition that I’ve heard since Whitney…not no damn Monica. Monica doesn’t have the vocal range that Amber does. Quit playing. Amber had me over here with goose bumps..her signing was EFFORTLESS. Very very good, even better than Jennifer’s rendition the other day. Amber kept the tone and pitch of the song, while Jennifer didn’t. Monica ain’t even in the running when we’re talking about these types of powerhouse voices.
She sang the stank out of this song, amazeballs!
She killed it!! She did a better job than Ashanti for sure.
When did Ashanti cover this song? Why are you even bringing her up?
Ashanti did it recently on GMA and it was wack.com
Thank u @ loveconcreteloop…
Ashanti sung “I have nothing” on GMA but she has covered “I will always love you” before
yes she did but Amber did a better job than Ashanti that’s all…
Yeeesssss!!! Amber did a phenomenal job on this song! How ironic yet fitting that Ms. Houston’s song was so elegantly renditioned for this V-Day episode of “Glee”. Whitney will ALWAYS be the greatest contemporary female vocalist in my opinion, but Amber can definitely hold her own. Great job
loved had to listen to it twice it is better than ashanti’s by far abet voice is pure honey, i would say amber version is better than Jhud’s two versions of I will always love you. Jhud has so much power sometimes she over powers her live performances vey often. amber version was sweet and angelic no strain no force.
I concur and I cried twice after listening to Amber only an angelic soul can do this !!!!
THIS!!!!
meant damn!
YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!………………….I cant listen to anyone else sing this song cuz whenever I do I burst out in tears!..I cant listen to any whitney music for a while! :-/ I keep crying! she did a good job
this girl is not cute.
What does that have to do with her voice?
actually, she is.
i can tell you ugly in the mouth
Something wrong with your eyes have seen Amber Riley outside of Glee she’s very attractive!!!!
Wow, great job.
Loved it. There was something about it that I appreciated. It seemed pure and omG the quality of her voice.
Not bad. Whitney is the master, but Amber was good.
No can touch Whitney. But damnit. She worked this.
She doesn’t have the power in her voice of JHud, but I just loved this rendition. Something clean and sweet about her tone that I’m really feeling. Very nice.
If by “power” you mean hooting and hollering, then no Amber doesn’t have all that, which I appreciate. I am tired of overrated J Hudson.
@ NikNak you and I are soooo >eye to eye< people are always mistaken hollering as singing and that's just not true…Whitney, Amber, Mariah, Glady's Knight…singsssss effortlessly, huge difference to hollering or roaring with no emotion behind the voice….
OUTSATNDING JOB ! Still not as good as jennifer Hudson , of the VOICE……….RIP to the greatest .
She was very good.
Dang everytime I here this song I am going to boo hoo.
Dang Whitney, “Why does It Hurts So Bad”
wow she sang it better than Ashanti and Jennifer. I think she is under rated on the show as a vocalist they always give the songs to the white chick.. Word to Glee start using her voice more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stands and claps…that is one of the best renditions I have heard.
I sure hope Whitney’s passing isn’t the beginning of a damn trend. When she was alive, people were dogging the hell out of her and calling her a crackhead. Now, everybody and their momma wanna belt out “I Will Always Love You.” Really, people?
Exactly! Just like with Michael Jackson they tortured the hell outta him and then felt bad when he died. That poor man!
didnt u see it said it was a mere coincidence?
This episode was filmed weeks ago hence the word coincidence.
You know when ppl die they have to bring up all their stuff so expect to hear and see more about Whitney although I don’t think it’s going to be EVERYWHERE like it was for MJ.
She did a really good job.
After Dolly and Whitney, I would say this is my next favorite rendition. Absolutely beautiful.
Love Amber, she did an amazing job. I’m looking forward to hearing Amber’s music outside of Glee. I don’t know what she’s waiting for….
Much better than Jennifer HUD!! Yesssss Amber!!
She did her thing!!!
Honestly, I closed my eyes and TRULY enjoyed Amber’s performance.
Since people are comparing Jennifer’s rendition, I will put my 2 cents in: Hudson did a great job on the Grammy’s. However, there is a distinct difference between Hudson and Whitney. Whitney’s voice, though as powerful as Jennifer, has an “airy-ness” to it. Not airyness in the sense that it lacks substance, because we all know that is NOT true. But an airness that lets her voice just…float. This is why Whitney’s voice sounds so effortless.
Amber captures Whitney’s clarity. Therefore, when she sings the infamous song, it seems to just float naturally. Although I enjoyed Jennifer’s performance, I found it heavy–not burdensome, but not as crystal as Whitney. Amber exemplifies that clarity.
i totally feel you on the airiness….thats the difference between J Hud and Whitney. Amber did a GREAT job singing this. Kudos.
I agree 100% with Wolff313. I do feel Jennifer’s voice was to heavy for the song. I didn’t feel anything when she sang it, but felt goose bumps when Amber did. I’ve heard Jennifer sing the song before and I didn’t like it before either.
Someone mentioned that Monica did a better job at it… I don’t think Monica’s voice would do it justice either. I LOVE Monica but not for that song – Monica would be better suited to sing “Where Do Broken Hearts Go”.
YES WOLFF313 I AGREE 100%
JUSTMYOPINION ur so right Monica would be better suited to sing “Where Do Broken Hearts Go”.
Amennnnnnnnnnnn !!!! well said *clapping hands*
She did a great job. I usually cringe every time somebody tries to sing this song, but I enjoyed this performance.
Amber slayed that song, it was effortless.
Amber did an amazing job, however no one can sing it like Whitney.
hands down best rendition i have heard. simply sung no real extras added to the song . just simply sung . she did that . j-hud ehhhh .monica singing it, ehhhh was nice. but amber did that period! amazing .
Amazing job. She hit every note and riff. It’s not always about over-singing, it’s about being precise and this girl nailed EVERY riff that Whitney did in that song. I’ve NEVER heard anyone get it right like this. J-hud didn’t even come close to that. Her voice was too deep and she did her usual over-singing thing. You have to have technique. Breathe in the right places, give falsetto in the right places, belt in the right places and this girl did exactly that.
i agree
she sounds awsome
I liked Jennifer’s vocal power behind the song. Amber’s rendition was cute but it gave me nothing emotionally.
i agree. she sounds like a little girl.not convincing at all
Standing Ovation!!…Just beautiful soft and lovely redention. I like her version better than Jennifer Hudson, but I know they picked Jen for a reason. Jesse J still would be a good choice for a redention of “I wanna dance with somebody” Hopefully Whitney is singing in the choir in heaven, I hope….fornicating with Ray J and other sins, hope she got right before the last breathe.
Only if this episode would have aired previous to Valentine’s Day she could have done this for the Grammy’s instead of Jennifer!! Nice Job!!!
Don’t know what weed yall smokn…but this girl sounds nothn like Jennifer Hudson….cute rendition tho, but Jennifer is way better
Amber’s rendition was really good, one of the best. But I will say someone who is a little bit better than her, and is close to Whitney is Tamyra Grey from American Idol, she performed it on the show Boston Public a few years ago. Her rendition is right below Whitney’s.
you better say that!! I wish everyone saw that one and i have been a fan of it for a long long time.
i love amber riley and im glad concrete loop are giving her publicity because she is one of the greatest singers i ever heard!
Yeah her rendition is great. I was watching it on YouTube earlier today.
EXCELLENT! BRAVO!
I like her, but Jennifer Hudson wins it for me. Amber’s voice does not tell the story like Jennifer’s version did in my opinion.
Good job!!!
I got chills
WOW…that was beautiful. I got chills for a bit 2. U did Whitney proud.
CANNOT WAIT TO SEE IT!!!! LOVE IT HONEY !!!!
i H8 glee but danm this girl she gave me goosebumps she would of made Whitney sooo proud soo proud she killed it was Absolutely beautiful i almost cried no joke .x
So did I. I shed a tear, she’s wonderful.
ooommmmggggggggg…..this was the best rendition of this song, so effortless and the only one that gave me slight chills (whitney is the only one that can give me goosebumps with this song) great job Amber
I think Jennifer was emotional, which interfered with her singing the song, plus her voice may be a bit too powerful, love Jennifer though……RIP Whitney
EXCELLENT!
Amber, Girl you have such an amazing voice .Whitney would have been proud.
This girl is so underrated! I really think Amber’s rendition is BEST. Ashanti did nice job, for Ashanti it SHOWED that SHE COULD SING, but Ashanti will ALWAYS be a mediocre artist at best cause sometimes she inconsistent with the WAY she chooses to DELIVER her songs, lyric wise Ashanti is Real. JHUD is a Class Act with her voice but people keep giving her WACK ASS songs. Just cause JHUD has a powerful voice DOES NOT mean she always cover a WACK ASS song with that voice of hers. So on basis of realness to record I give my vote to Ashanti cause we can go on all day that you people say Ashanti can’t sing but she DOES write her OWN songs. PERIOD! But Ms. Riley needs a PAY RAISE A.S.A.P.!!! Amber needs to be on show called “Chile Just SANG” cause she went CHURCH on this song!
how old are you
she did a great job
She did a great job on this song. Her vocal skills are very underrated. I enjoyed this because it was nice, harmonized, and settle. She didn’t try to overdo it and I appreciated that about her.
Thank you Amber for sharing your beautiful voice with the world. I felt that song in my body from the inside out. We may not have whitney anymore and no one will ever replace her. But we were given another angel of music to continue to touch our hearts through song, Amber Riley. I expect to hear so much more from you Amber!
I’m not even a fan of Glee but this young lady gave me the shivers. Tlent at it’s purity and youth. Please don’t get caught up in the bright lights to much.
how odd, the timing…since this was a planned episode. She did very well though.
ummm, amber riley, has chops, she can SANG. she did an excellent job singing this song. does she have a recording contract?
omg best cover ever! so smooth and effortless. true talent.
I just Heard Amber Sing “I WIll Always Love You”. She is so beautiful and gifted! This is the best version of the song I heard. Whitney would be proud. Keep up the good work…
BTW what is wrong with her being n luv with a white guy? A great majority of Black men seem to worship the ground white women walk on. Do your thing Amber!