Los Angeles , CALIFORNIA ( CNN ) -- Whitney Houston swept into the room in full diva mode -- hair , makeup and entourage . She looked the part . Whitney Houston has credited mentor Clive Davis , right , for her comeback after a seven-year absence . She smiled and cooed over mentor Clive Davis , calling him `` Big Papa '' and `` Daddy '' while the music mogul patted her arm like a proud parent . The pair was in a side room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel just before the Los Angeles , California , listening session for `` I Look to You , '' Houston 's first album in seven years , scheduled to be released Sept. 1 . `` I just took a break , which sometimes you have to , '' said Houston , 45 , looking elegant in diamonds and a black Prada dress . `` You have to know when to slow that train down and kind of just sit back and relax for a minute . '' Watch an interview with Whitney Houston » . This was definitely the old Whitney -- pre-troubled marriage to Bobby Brown and pre-comment to Diane Sawyer that `` crack is wack . '' Next door , several hundred industry folks , journalists and friends gathered in a ballroom surrounded by large screens emblazoned with the words , `` The Wait is Over . '' Jane Fonda , Halle Berry , Magic Johnson , Penny Marshall and Jackie Collins sat in the front while Barry Manilow , Brian McKnight and producer David Foster found seats in the back of the room . Davis , who has steered Houston 's career for more than 25 years , introduced each of the album tracks , mostly slick , upbeat , radio-friendly tunes penned by proven hit makers such as R. Kelly , Alicia Keys , Akon and Johnta Austin . Heads bobbed while the songs thumped over the loudspeakers , with applause and cheers erupting after each cut . To the amusement of those seated in the audience , even Davis shook his shoulders behind his podium and pumped his fist to the beat from time-to-time . A ballad on the new disc , `` I Did n't Know My Own Strength , '' alludes to Houston 's personal troubles in recent years . The song , written especially for Houston by Diane Warren , includes the lyrics : . I did n't know my own strength . And I crashed down and I tumbled . But I did not crumble . Houston deftly steered the focus away from herself , saying she identified with the lyrics because everyone has been through ups and downs in life . At the end of the session , Houston stepped from the wings to a standing ovation . `` I 'm humbled , '' she said , her hand on her heart . `` There 's so much love in the room . '' Then she joked , `` Jane Fonda 's at my listening party ? How cool am I ? '' AEG chairman and CEO Randy Phillips also was hanging around , no doubt ready to pounce on a chance to promote her next tour . `` I think it 's the biggest hit she 's had , '' Barry Manilow said . `` It was really , really good , '' Stevie Wonder said . `` God takes care of his children . ''
Whitney Houston held L.A. listening party for first album in 20 years . Jane Lynch , Barry Manilow and Halle Berry were among the stars in attendance . The nine - track album contains songs written by Claude Kelly , Alicia Keys and Akon . Stevie Wonder said the album was ` ` really , really good . ''