Thirteen years after Whitney Houston’s untimely passing, her unmistakable voice has returned to the airwaves—this time, in a way that nobody quite expected. On September 11, 2025, Capitol Records released a new rendition of Houston’s iconic hit, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” featuring a duet with English singer-songwriter Calum Scott. This release, which pairs Scott’s soulful vocals with Houston’s original studio stems, marks the first time her voice has been used in this fashion. For fans and music historians alike, it’s both a celebration and a gentle reimagining of a song that once defined an era.
According to The Associated Press, the idea for this collaboration was born from Scott’s live performances in 2024, where he blended “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” with Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” during his stint opening for Ed Sheeran. The mashup resonated with audiences, but Scott never imagined it would lead to a posthumous duet with one of his childhood idols. “It wasn’t even something I could have dreamt as a possibility, and the fact that I’m getting to do it is, geez, one of the honors of my career,” Scott told The Associated Press, reflecting on the immense influence Houston’s music had on him growing up.
Bringing this project to life was no simple feat. It required the approval of Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law and executor of her estate, as well as Primary Wave, which acquired the copyrights to many of Houston’s hits in 2022. Pat Houston explained to the AP that the idea originated with Primary Wave, who were familiar with Scott’s heartfelt live cover. “I said, you know what, this is a no-brainer. This is the Houston style. So, let’s go with this,” she said. Pat Houston emphasized that Whitney was, at her core, a balladeer, and Scott’s approach honored that legacy. “Calum turned the song into a beautiful ballad.”
The technical process was as delicate as the emotional one. Scott was entrusted with Houston’s original vocal stems, produced decades ago by Narada Michael Walden. Working with producers Jon “MAGS” Maguire, Andrew Yeates, and Charlie T in the UK, Scott and his team transformed the upbeat pop classic into a lush, string-accompanied ballad in just about a week. The song opens with Houston’s voice alone—a decision Scott insisted upon out of respect. “Whitney starts the song because this is her song,” he explained. “I would never dare stand in front of Whitney for that first verse.”
Some quirks from the original recording remain, such as the subtle bleed of a snare drum into Houston’s vocal—a charming artifact from the days of tape recording. “We can’t change anything like that because those are etched into the song and into her vocal,” Scott noted, adding, “To remove it would be taking a piece away.” The iconic key change in the final chorus also remains, a nod to the song’s original power and a challenge that Scott relished. “I really had to dig for those high notes,” he admitted. “It was an honor just to harmonize with her.”
When the newly minted duet was played for the song’s original writers, George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, their reaction was resoundingly positive. “Some people would have come in and they would have added something ... to boost their visibility next to Whitney. And he had the boldness to tear it all down and just have acoustic piano, just Whitney, and then give her the first verse,” Merrill said, as reported by AP. Rubicam added, “They’re a good vocal match together. They both got a lot of emotionality and command also of their vocal instrument. ... Whitney could overpower a lot of people. But for Calum, he’s confident and he had a vision about it and they both are meeting at an emotional level.”
The release of the duet comes at a poignant time, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of Whitney Houston’s historic career. Her self-titled debut album, released in 1985, was the first of three RIAA-certified diamond albums in the U.S. The original “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” released in May 1987, became a global phenomenon, topping charts in more than 17 countries and earning Houston a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance as well as an American Music Award. The song’s legacy is further cemented by its eight-times platinum certification by the RIAA as of June 2025 and more than 500 million views of its music video on YouTube, as noted by Capitol Records.
For Scott, the project is both a milestone and a deeply personal achievement. “Growing up, my mum would play Whitney Houston’s music in the car and her legendary voice had a big impact on me,” he said in a Capitol Records release. “It has truly been an honour to be trusted with Whitney’s voice to reimagine her song as a duet ballad which I hope continues to immortalise her incredible artistry. I am extremely grateful to Pat Houston, Primary Wave Music and songwriters, George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam for making a Yorkshire boy and his family very proud. This opportunity is a dream come true.”
Pat Houston, reflecting on the broader significance, told Capitol, “With Whitney, one of our goals is to continue to expand Whitney’s music in new and innovative ways, where it makes sense. When we make decisions on behalf of Whitney, we always want to be authentic to her creative integrity. Calum is a multi-talented artist and producer... I love Calum’s rendition of the song, and we decided to move forward with the release. Whitney always believed in helping others and extending a hand to help others fulfill their dreams.”
The song is featured on Scott’s third studio album, “Avenoir,” scheduled for release on October 10, 2025. The album will also include tracks such as “Die For You,” “Roots,” and “Where Are You Now,” and is set to be supported by The Avenoir Tour—a global headline run that will see Scott perform in 48 cities across the UK, Europe, and North America. This extensive tour follows Scott’s recent stints supporting Ed Sheeran on stadium stages across Asia and Europe.
The new “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” is more than just a nostalgic revival; it’s a testament to the enduring power of Houston’s artistry and the respectful innovation of a new generation. As Pat Houston aptly put it, “Forty years ago, this particular song was hot then and it’s hot now. So why not keep producing? But it’s the right connection, it’s the right platform and it certainly is the right artist to collab with her on this.”
In a world constantly searching for the next big thing, sometimes the most powerful moments come from revisiting the classics—especially when they’re given new life by voices, old and new, in perfect harmony.
