Jordin Sparks paid tribute to her "Sparkle" co-star, the late Whitney Houston, at the 5th Annual ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon on Thursday, and she told Access Hollywood she had a few nerves before her performance.

"I don't know how I'm gonna do in there. We'll see," Jordin told Access Hollywood on the red carpet before the event. "We'll see what happens. If I choke up...

PLAY IT NOW: Whitney Houston Talks Working With Jordin Sparks On 'Sparkle'

"I'll get it together," she continued. "Have to try and keep it in."

Jordin's "Sparkle" performance at the ESSENCE event was a long time in the works, but following Whitney's death earlier this month, it turned into a tribute for the late superstar.

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"I was already going to do it and sing a song from the movie and everything like that and then all recent events happened, and now I'm going to be singing a song that she actually sang, but is also in the movie, from the original, it's called 'Look Into Your Heart,'" Jordin explained to Access. "She was a part of the Curtis Mayfield tribute album. She actually sang [an] amazing version, so I'm going to do my own little version too."

Looking back on her time with Whitney, Jordin admitted to being a little emotional as Thursday rolled around.

"It definitely makes me very emotional," she told Access. "I looked up to her and I sang her songs and then all of a sudden I was in a movie with her and I got to see her face-to-face, and she was so kind and she was so sweet.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Singing Sensation Jordin Sparks

"She was an incredible woman and I was very, very blessed to get to know her for the short time that I did, but she was incredible," Jordin added.

And the former "American Idol" winner is hoping to keep Whitney's memory alive with the release later this year of "Sparkle."

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Whitney Houston's Final Public Appearance — February 9, 2012

"It gives me a lot of excitement to be able to put this movie out because it was her baby, and she was so, so into it and so happy to be doing it," Jordin told Access . "I'm excited that I get to be a part of it."

"Sparkle" will hit theaters on August 17, 2012.

For Access Hollywood's Shaun Robinson's exclusive sit down interview with Jordin backstage at the ESSENCE event, tune into Access Hollywood on Friday.

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