Whitney Houston Honored with 2012 Billboard Millennium 

Being recognized with an emotionally charged salute for her life achievements, the late Whitney Houston was selected as the recipient of the Billboard Millennium Award at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night (May 20).

The "I Will Always Love You" singer - who tragically passed away on February 11th - was honored with a tribute led off by comedian Whoopi Goldberg, who said, "I adored Whitney Houston. What all performers want and need and should get is love, and many of us here loved Whitney, and even if you're one of those who didn't show the love to Whitney, now is your chance, because tonight, that's what we're doing: We're going to be giving Whitney the greatest love of all."

With John Legend performing "Greatest Love of All" followed by Jordin Sparks belting out "I Will Always Love You", the stage efforts were followed by speeches - as Whitney's sister-in-law, Pat Houston, said, "This is truly an honor. We thank you, Billboard; we thank you, Whoopi, Jordin; we love you, John. But tonight, the one person that should be accepting this award is the one person that Whitney loved most."

Pat then passed the spotlight over to Whitney's daughter, Bobbi Kristina,who kept her message short and sweet while saying, "I just really want to say thank you to everyone who supported us through it all. Thank you so much for showing that much love, 'cause she deserved it. There will never be another one, ever. I thank you so much."

pictures from the Whitney Houston tribute at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards (May 20).