( CNN ) -- One more time , Whitney Houston brought a crowd to its feet . `` I Will Always Love You '' had earned record of the year at the 1994 Grammy festivities , with the accompanying `` The Bodyguard '' soundtrack taking home best album . But for all the awards that Houston earned that night , it was her voice that resonated most -- as it did throughout her career . The iconic songstress ' range and power were on display once again Sunday night , echoing through the packed Staples Center moments after the music world 's luminaries bowed their heads in prayer in honor of her death . By the time a replay of her 1994 performance was complete , the audience 's applause gave way to an emotional standing ovation . A day earlier , Houston was pronounced dead in her fourth floor room at a Beverly Hills , California , hotel . The world may wait as many as eight weeks -- when results from toxicology and other tests should be in -- to learn what happened , with Assistant Chief Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County Coroner 's office saying little Sunday besides `` foul play is not suspected . '' Headlines in recent years about Houston have tended to focus more on her battles with drug addiction and her relationship with her ex-husband , `` New Edition '' performer Bobby Brown , than her musical accomplishments . Yet recollections of her enormous talent took center stage Sunday night in Los Angeles , as did the six-time Grammy winner 's membership in the music world 's `` family . '' LL Cool J , host of the 54th annual Grammy Awards , spoke right away to Houston 's personal and professional legacy , soon after taking the stage following an opening performance by Bruce Springsteen . `` Tonight , we ask ourselves : How do we speak to this time ? To this day ? There is no way around this . We 've had a death in our family , '' he said . The rapper and actor then offered his prayer , thanking God `` for sharing our sister Whitney with us . '' `` And although she 's gone too soon , we remain truly blessed to have been touched by her beautiful spirit and to have her lasting legacy of music to cherish and share forever , '' he said . During the show , stars of past and present -- from Bruno Mars to Stevie Wonder -- celebrated the late singer . The sentiments voiced Sunday night echoed those that have been offered ever since news broke of Houston 's death from close friends , musical icons and everyday fans who never met the iconic performer but were moved by her music . Then , after a memorial honoring other stars from Amy Winehouse to Clarence Clemons who also died this past year -- and nearly three hours after LL Cool J promised the Grammys `` will remember you the best way we know how : with a song '' -- Jennifer Hudson appeared under a bright , solitary spotlight . Wearing a black sleeveless dress and anchored firmly in the middle of the stage , the Oscar and two-time Grammy winner offered her own rendition of `` I Will Always Love You . '' Twice during the song , the crowd burst into applause . Hudson offered one small embellishment , changing a lyric to sing : `` Whitney , we will always love you . ''
NEW : Jennifer Hudson sings ` Whitney . A clip of Houston 's 1994 Grammy performance of the song is replayed 1994 . Music luminaries in the audience respond with a standing ovation . Stars from Bruno Mars to LL Cool J offer their own personal tributes .