People.com Celebrity Goodbye, Whitney: Famous Friends, Sad Hearts The Great Ones – Janet, Mariah, Aretha – share their respect for an unrivaled talent By People Staff Published on February 12, 2012 02:00 AM Share Tweet Pin Email 01 of 15 JANET JACKSON Kevin Mazur/WireImage "I couldn't believe it. Immediately I started shaking [when I heard the news] … She was known as the voice. When she would open her mouth and this instrument would come out, you would obviously understand why. She was such a sweet sweet soul. Especially back in early '80s and early '90s is when I connected with Whitney the most. It doesn't matter if we were doing an awards show. We would always take the time out to find one another." (via Anderson) 02 of 15 MARIAH CAREY Kevin Mazur/WireImage "She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth." (via Twitter) 03 of 15 DOLLY PARTON Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Beimages "I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, 'Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed.' " 04 of 15 ARETHA FRANKLIN Everett "I just can't talk about it now. It’s so stunning and unbelievable. ... My heart goes out to Cissy, her daughter Bobbi Kris, her family and Bobby." 05 of 15 OPRAH WINFREY George Burns/Harpo/AP "To me Whitney was THE VOICE. We got to hear a part of God every time she sang. Heart is heavy, spirit grateful for the GIFT of her." (via Twitter) 06 of 15 SMOKEY ROBINSON Globe "I've known Whitney since she was a little girl and I have always loved her. She was like family to me and I will miss her dearly." (via Twitter) 07 of 15 CELINE DION Scott Gries/PictureGroup; Kyle Rover/Startraks "When I started my career, I wanted to be like her. I loved her so much. My prayers go out to her daughter and to all of her family." 08 of 15 TONY BENNETT WireImage "It's a tragedy. Whitney Houston was the greatest singer I've ever heard and she will be truly missed." (via Twitter) 09 of 15 NICK CANNON Steve Granitz/WireImage, Peter Kramer/AP " 'To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.' RIP to Whitney Houston a true queen." (via Twitter) 10 of 15 TONI BRAXTON Courtesy Patrick Demarchelier, Atlantic Records "My heart is weeping...RIP to the Legendary Diva amp Icon Whitney Houston!!!!! Such an incredible influence over music as a whole!" (via Twitter) 11 of 15 QUEEN LATIFAH KMazur/WireImage "Oh Dear Lord! Hurting so Bad!!! MY Sister Whitney!!!!!!! Newark please Pray!!! World Please Pray!"(via Twitter) 12 of 15 USHER Jason Merritt/Getty; Andy Kropa/AP "R.I.P Whitney Houston... A true icon of our time. Gone too soon. My heart goes out to the family in their time of distress." (via Twitter) 13 of 15 BARRY MANILOW Time Life Pictures/Getty "We spent more than twenty great years together at Arista Records with our friend and mentor, Clive Davis. My heart goes out to her family, to Clive, and to everyone who knew and loved this amazingly talented and beautiful artist. I will always love her." 14 of 15 JIMMY JAM M. Caulfield/WireImage; Joe Scarnici/FilmMagic "To me, Whitney was that next person, after Diana Ross, who for a lot of little girls was sort of that bright light called positive African-American beauty and talent. ... When you look at someone like a Beyoncé, you know the influence someone like Whitney had on that."] (to Essence.com) 15 of 15 ALICIA KEYS Kevin Mazur/WireImage "I feel sick.... Life is precious, we are fragile souls. Let's love each other! I miss you beautiful Whitney, the whole world misses you!!" (via Twitter)