Just days after Fox's "American Idol" made headlines for their tribute to the late Whitney Houston, the torch is being handed over to another series on the network. "Glee" is at work on a special tribute episode devoted to Houston. According to E! Online, the Fox hit is filming an episode of Season 3 that will include eight songs from Houston's discography.
"Glee" has become known for its tribute episodes. The singing comedy has aired tribute episodes for Madonna, Britney Spears, Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga. However, E! Online reports the Houston tribute will be a bit different. The graduating seniors will be having a hard time saying goodbye and Houston's songs will be used to help drive the character drama. "Glee's" Lea Michele tweeted vaguely about an upcoming tribute.
And this isn't the first tribute "Glee" has given Houston. Amber Riley's character, Mercedes, sang Houston's iconic version of "I Will Always Love You" in the Valentine's Day episode of "Glee" Season 3. The episode aired days after Houston's sudden death and producers added a memorial card to the end of the episode.
"Whitney's music meant so very much to me. I was very very choked up when I heard about her passing. I just met her this past Thursday," an emotional Riley said at the Grammys, the day after Houston died. "I've grown up listening to her voice ringing throughout our household. I'm so speechless. I can't believe that she passed."
Following Houston's shocking death, "Glee" music supervisor P.J. Bloom told The Hollywood Reporter he messaged "Glee" co-creator Ryan Murphy about doing a tribute. "As soon as the news hit, I texted Ryan and said, 'We should do something,'" Bloom said in February. "If we don't celebrate her in one complete episode, I'm sure we'll continue to acknowledge her music in the show."
The Houston tribute isn't the only themed episode in the works for "Glee." The show is also working on a disco episode, which TV Guide reports, will air in April and will feature Bee Gees classics. "We've never done disco on the show, but I'm interested in the genius of The Bee Gees," Murphy told TV Guide.