Babyface Announced as Headline Performer at Fifth Annual Legacy of Love Gala to Celebrate Whitney Houston
Babyface Announced as Headline Performer at Fifth Annual Legacy of Love Gala to Celebrate Whitney Houston
Adam EnglandThu, June 11, 2026 at 11:50 PM UTC
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Kenneth 'Babyface' EdmondsCredit: The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation -
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds has been announced as the headline performer at the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation's fifth annual Legacy of Love Gala
The singer-songwriter and producer, a close friend and collaborator of the late star, will perform at the event in Atlanta on Aug. 8
Babyface worked with Houston on hits including "I'm Your Baby Tonight," "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" and "When You Believe"
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds is set to honor his frequent collaborator Whitney Houston by performing at a gala in memory of the late singer later this summer.
The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation's fifth annual Legacy of Love Gala will be held at The Whitley Hotel in Atlanta on Aug. 8 to celebrate what would have been her 63rd birthday and this year's gala theme, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody," according to a press release.
Thirteen-time Grammy Award winner Babyface, 67, has been announced as the headline performer at this year's gala. The singer-songwriter and producer worked with Houston on several of her biggest hits, including "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)," "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "When You Believe," with Mariah Carey.
He looked back on "I'm Your Baby Tonight" with PEOPLE in 2025, explaining that it was "such a different song" to Houston's usual style, but that it "felt good" and became his "first No. 1 pop hit."
"It was such a different song. There was nothing typical about that. I don't even know how I came up with that one to be honest. It was just really unlike anything else on radio. And it wasn't typical with Whitney Houston whatsoever, but it felt good. And fortunately, Clive [Davis] felt the same way and Whitney felt the same way. That became my first No. 1 pop hit."
Babyface and Whitney Houston in Los Angeles in January 1999Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Elsewhere, Babyface, who's also playing a series of shows from July through November, has worked with the likes of Beyoncé, Boyz II Men, Madonna, Toni Braxton and TLC across more than four decades in the music industry.
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"We are excited about this year's gala and thrilled to have Babyface as our headlining performer," said Pat Houston, co-presenter of the gala and Houston's manager and sister-in-law, in the press release.
"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."
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Babyface performs in Las Vegas in November 2015Credit: Ethan Miller/BET/Getty
Pat also teased more "wonderful surprises" for attendees, and continued, "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."
She finished, "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."
on People
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