On behalf of Houston who had given birth to a daughter the three weeks before the ceremony , Natalie Cole crooned Houston 's two nominated songs including " I Have Nothing " at the 65th Annual Academy Awards on March 29 , 1993 . Patti LaBelle performed the song as a tribute to Whitney Houston , the first ever recipient of the Triumphant Spirit Award at the 10th annual Essence Awards , taped on April 4 , 1997 and broadcast later on Fox TV , May 22 , 1997 . Ariana Grande performed " I Have Nothing " in The White House , along with some select dates such as Manila on her Honeymoon Tour . Edyta Gorniak performed this song with David Foster on the stage of Indonesia 's 71st Independence Day Celebration
65th Annual Academy Awards
65th Academy Awards
I Have Nothing