After returning to the states from the London listening party of I Look to You, R&B diva Whitney Houston and music legend Clive Davis gave a NYC audience a preview of what’s to come from Houston’s release. The event took place at the Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center last night. It’s been 8 years since we had an album from Whitney so the anticipation is high.

In a room filled with everyone from Alicia Keys to Martha Stewart, Whitney’s new album was followed by many standing ovations. It appears this truly is Houston’s time to shine again. We previously had the opinion that this would be a warm-up album for her but this seems to be what The Emancipation of Mimi was for Mariah. Also a 30 sec. snippet of the title track from the listening party has appeared online.

CLASSIC, TIMELESS, A DAMN BEAUTY! Whitney Houston has returned. The R. Kelly demo is just as great and Whitney executes this song with such ease. This does not disappoint, we’ll be listening to this twenty years from now. Also, Whitney’s official first single is “Million Dollar Bill” (written and produced by Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats). It is described as:

An up-tempo, joyful track about love and probably one of the funkiest songs Whitney has ever done. “Million Dollar Bill” has an amazing bass line and almost recalls early Michael Jackson in Off The Wall. The catchy hook, “You make me feel like a million dollar bill.” Her vocal is strong with some power notes toward the end. The song has an Alicia Keys sound but fits for Whit — it’s current without making her seem like she is trying to compete with teenagers. The song received a standing ovation. [SOURCE]

I LOOK TO YOU in stores September 1, 2009