Jennifer Hudson 'closest thing we have now' to Whitney Houston: LL Cool J

Jennifer Hudson has been compared to the late Whitney Houston by Grammy Awards host LL Cool J.

Jennifer Hudson and Whitney Houston

Cool J spoke on the red carpet about how he and producers of the show will honour Houston's legacy on music's biggest night.

The rapper-actor, who is the first host at the Grammys in seven years, said that since learning about the singer's death on Saturday, the focus has been on "how we can be respectful and show her the love and appreciation she deserves and that her life warrants and merits," People magazine reported.

That will include a performance by Jennifer Hudson, who is expected to sing Houston's mega-hit 'I Will Always Love You'. "She's the closest thing we have now to what Whitney was," he said.