NEWSJordin Sparks: "Whitney Houston Was Like a Mother to Me" While Filming 'Sparkle'
Aug. 8 2012, Published 8:31 a.m. ET
Jordin Sparks has come a long way since winning season 6 of American Idol and now has an acting credit opposite none other than the late Whitney Houston in this month's Sparkle.
OK! VIDEOS: JORDIN SPARKS RELEASES CELEBRATE VIDEO WITH LATE WHITNEY HOUSTON
In the flick, she plays one of three girls in a singing group intent on making it big in 60s era Motown. Whitney plays her mother, which Jordin told the September issue of Redbook, wasn't too much of a stretch.
“For me, she took on the mother role because my parents weren’t there during filming," she told the magazine. "She was always asking: Did I feel comfortable? Did I need anything?”
This was the young performer's acting debut, which was understandably daunting considering she was working with a legend.
OK! VIDEO: WHITNEY HOUSTON STARS IN NEW SPARKLE MOVIE TRAILER WITH JORDIN SPARKS
“I get so overwhelmed because its my first film, and for my first film to be so deep and heavy…I got to work with one of my idols and sing with her, and she even played my mother. I don’t know if anything will ever be as good as this," she gushed. "Sometimes I ask myself, Why did I deserve to have a part in a film like this? I don’t want this to come off crazy, but somebody said to me, ‘It’s like Whitney essentially passed the torch.’ And to hear that, it’s just nuts.”
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
Jordin also shows off her new slender figure, which she attributes the 50-pound weight loss to "the natural way."
"There’s no quick or magical way to lose weight...diet and exercise and stick to it, and be able to do it at your own pace. Everyone has their own thing.”
