2012 Billboard Music Awards: Whitney Houston, Donna Summers, MCA, To Be Honored Tonight [Live Video]

It’s been a bad few months for music. The 2012 Billboard Music Awards will pay tribute to Whitney Houston, Donna Summers, and Beastie Boys’ rapper Adam “MCA” Yauch who all passed away this year.

Billboard.com reports that a tribute for Whitney Houston has been planned for months. But the unexpected deaths of Donna Summers and Adam Yauch forced organizers to re-arrange this year’s show a little bit.

Billboard Music Awards co-executive producer Richard Beckman said that the Whitney Houston tribute will feature performances from John Legend and Jordin Sparks. The award show will also give Houston the Millenium Award, which will be accepted by Bobbi Kristina.

Beckman said:

“I was at the Grammys, and what a curveball they were thrown when Whitney passed away [the day before the show]. They did a good job with Jennifer Hudson, but obviously we had a bit more time, so we wanted to do something honoring such a remarkable performer. “

Beckman said that MCA and Summers will also be honored during tonight’s show, but did not give any details.

Beckman said:

“We’re going to do something for Adam, and for Donna too — given that it only happened yesterday, there’s not a lot of room to get too creative, but they’re both great influences in music and they deserve to be respected.”

The Billboard Music Awards will air tonight from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. In addition to tributes to Whitney Houston, Donna Summers, and MCA, the award show will feature performances from Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Justin Bieber, LMFAO, Nelly Furtado, Usher, and Chris Brown.

You can watch a live stream from the red carpet, as well as back stage interviews from tonight’s show, below.

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