(Atlanta, GA – June 11, 2026) – The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation and Primary Wave Music will present its Fifth Annual Whitney E. Houston Legacy of Love Gala, celebrating this year’s gala theme, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” and what would have been Whitney’s upcoming 63rd birthday. The gala will be held at The Whitley Hotel Atlanta on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
Kevin Frazier of Entertainment Tonight and Pat Houston, president of the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation will host the gala. Clive Davis, Chief Creative Officer of Sony Music Entertainment, will serve as Honorary Chair.
This year’s gala will feature 13-time Grammy Award winner, recording artist, songwriter and producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds as the headlining performer (with 83 Grammy nominations to his credit). Babyface was recently named one of The New York Times “30 Greatest Living American Songwriters.”
He has collaborated with Whitney as a songwriter and producer on many of her classic hit songs including “Exhale (Shoop Shoop),” “Count On Me,” a duet with CeCe Winans, and “Why Does It Hurt So Bad” from the 1995 Waiting To Exhale: Original Soundtrack album; “I’m Your Baby Tonight” and “Miracle” from Whitney’s 1990 album, I’m Your Baby Tonight; “Queen of the Night” from the 1992 The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack album; and the collaboration with Whitney and Mariah Carey on the iconic ballad, “When You Believe,” the end-credits theme song for the 1998 animated film, The Prince of Egypt, and more.
Babyface is the only producer to win a Grammy Award for the “Producer of the Year” category four times and three times were consecutive wins from 1995-1997 — a Grammy record he holds to this day. He has contributed to songs that sold more than 800 million records and were streamed over a billion times. He has produced and written 125 Top 10 hits, 45 No. 1 R&B hits, and 16 No. 1 pop hits.
“We are excited about this year’s gala and thrilled to have Babyface as our headlining performer,” says Pat Houston, also the executor of The Estate of Whitney E. Houston. Babyface was not just one of Whitney’s favorite songwriters and producers, he was also a dear and close friend. He has single-handedly been responsible for many of Whitney’s hits and career-defining songs.”
Pat Houston concludes: “We also have a few other wonderful surprises for our guests. I know that Whitney would be particularly happy about this year’s celebration, along with the Foundation’s continued work and efforts made on behalf of the various organizations and young adults we have partnered with globally. From the beginning of Whitney’s career, her dedication and commitment to the foundation has always been one of her top personal and professional priorities.”
Additionally, the Foundation will present its 3rd Annual Cover Song Vocal Competition. From May 1st through May 31, 2026, participants had an opportunity to submit a two-minute video singing one of their favorite Whitney songs. During this year’s gala, the lucky winner will perform their song at the gala and spend time with members of Whitney’s family and special guests.
The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation’s grant awardee recipient for 2026 is Atlanta GLOW (Growing Leadership Of Women). Founded in 2014, Atlanta GLOW is a faith-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage, educate and equip young, low-income women to be thriving, self-sustaining leaders and effective agents of economic growth within their communities. For the Foundation annual fundraiser, Julien’s Auctions will return for its second year as the auction partner and will present some of Whitney’s iconic and one-of-a-kind artifacts. Additionally, the Foundation will present its annual scholarships which will be presented to students studying the arts at historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
In 2020, The Estate of Whitney E. Houston formed The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation to continue the mission and important work by the late global superstar. Her lifelong commitment continues to support youth through various program initiatives and services that reflect the values and needs of our young people. The Foundation also serves as a source of empowerment to help rebuild, repair, and restore the self-esteem of our youth and assist them in living productive lives.
Whitney Houston’s global charitable work was initially established in 1989 as the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children. The organization provided much-needed resources to homeless children, built inner city parks and playgrounds, and provided college scholarships. Known for its world-renowned charitable initiatives and partnerships, the Foundation partnered with the Children’s Defense Fund, Childhood Diabetes, The Rain Forest Foundation, Hale House, Special Olympics, United Negro College Fund, St. Jude Children’s Research, and Whitney’s historic South Africa concerts, which a portion of the proceeds benefitting local South African children’s charities.
In 1997, Houston’s elementary school was renamed The Whitney E. Houston Academy for Performing & Creative Arts. Originally opened in 1873, the Franklin School is now the oldest building in the East Orange, New Jersey school district.
