Whitney Houston's final movie performance drew sobs from the audience at a screening of Sparkle.

One particularly moving scene involving the late singer struck a chord with the crowd at the Tribeca Grand in New York City. Many people became emotional upon hearing Whitney sing a solo of gospel hymn His Eye Is on the Sparrow.

According to the New York Post "sniffles could be heard in the audience".

However, after composing themselves, viewers "wiped away tears" and "burst into applause at the end of Houston's scene".

Sparkle stars Jordin Sparks as a struggling songstress who is striving to make it in a group with her two sisters during the Motown era. Whitney plays her on-screen mother in the musical movie.

A host of the film's stars were in the crowd including, Jordin, Mike Epps, Carmen Ejogo, Derek Luke, Tika Sumpter and Omari Hardwick.

Aside from the actors present, Olympic athletes also showed their faces at the event. The USA gymnastics team's McKayla Maroney, Jordyn Wieber, Kyla Ross and Aly Raisman were at the screening.