A new Whitney Houston song is set to be released, 13 years after her death, in a duet with English singer Calum Scott. The single is a balladic reinterpretation of Houston’s classic hit “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” using the late singer’s original vocal stems. This unique collaboration was made possible with the approval of Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law and executor of her estate, and Primary Wave, which acquired the copyrights to Houston’s songs in 2022.
The idea for the duet originated from Primary Wave, who were familiar with Scott’s live cover version of the song, which he performed during his stint opening for Ed Sheeran in 2024. Scott’s rendition transformed the up-tempo pop classic into a heartfelt ballad, blending it with Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own.” Pat Houston was impressed by Scott’s rendition and saw it as an opportunity to celebrate Houston’s 40th anniversary in the music industry.
To create the duet, Scott was provided with Houston’s original vocal stems, produced by her longtime producer Narada Michael Walden. He then recorded the song with producers Jon “MAGS” Maguire, Andrew Yeates, and Charlie T in the UK. The recording process took about a week, and a string section was added to give the song additional depth. Scott’s approach was to “take a pop song and make it sad,” highlighting the melancholic lyrics of the original song.
The new song starts with Houston’s voice alone in the first verse, a deliberate decision made by Scott to pay tribute to the late singer. The song’s iconic key change in the last chorus was also retained, with Scott having to “dig for those high notes” to harmonize with Houston. The original songwriters, George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, were consulted and approved of the duet, praising Scott’s respectful approach and virtuosic vocals.
The release of this new song marks a significant moment in Houston’s legacy, introducing her music to a new generation of fans while showcasing Scott’s talent as a vocalist. With the 40th anniversary of Houston’s music career being celebrated in 2025, this duet serves as a fitting tribute to her enduring impact on the music industry.