An emotional Kelly Price opened the For the Love of R&B: A Tribute to Whitney Houston pre-Grammy party in Hollywood on Wednesday, Feb. 4, with a heartfelt plea for everyone to keep Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina in her prayers as she "fights for her life."
As previously reported, Houston and Bobby Brown's 21-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina was found unresponsive in a bathtub on Saturday, Jan. 31, and remains in critical condition at Atlanta's Emory University Hospital.
Price, who was a long-time pal of Houston, performed what would become the multi-award winning musician’s final duet with her good friend at the same pre-Grammy party in 2012. And last night, as she prepared to honor her late friend, Price’s thoughts were, of course, with Bobbi Kristina.
Being careful to respect Bobby Brown's requests that his daughter’s condition remain private, Price made use of her platform to garner as many prayers as she could for her late friend's daughter.
“Bobbi Kristina is in the hospital and her condition is very serious," she said as she opened the show. "I will say this one thing and this one thing only: Please continue to pray for her as she fights for her life. She is a young woman who deserves a chance to live and to thrive and experience the greatness that is inside of her and come into her own," she continued. "I will ask you all to say a prayer. If prayer is not your thing, send love. Send your love and well wishes to the entire family.”
After a string of tribute performances, Price teamed up with Faith Evans for an emotional rendition of their song "Heartbreak Hotel," which they originally sang with Houston. "Speak well of Whitney Houston," she urged the crowd. "She deserves that from us. Keep her family in your prayers. Keep Bobbi Kristina in your prayers, if anyone can do it god can.”
Talking on the red carpet, Price told Us Weekly she's staying in regular contact with Bobbi Kristina's family.
"As much as I can say, absolutely by their request, is that we want everybody to continue to pray," she told Us. "Bobbi Kris is fighting for her life. I dare not say much more than that but I do ask for people to pray, to respect their privacy and to remember that this is a young woman who lost her mother at 18 years old and was never given the opportunity to properly mourn her because there was always a camera in her face," she explained.
Adding that was over a year ago since she last saw Bobbi Kristina, Price said it was important for her to go ahead with the tribute evening despite the sad circumstances.
"The concern for Bobbi Kristina is wonderful to express and we all feel that concern. I am speaking with the family," she added.
