The life and legacy of Whitney Houston is being spotlighted in the new music biopic Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody. Directed by Kasi Lemmons, the film follows the iconic vocalist's journey from when she was plucked from obscurity by Clive Davis to her becoming one of the most successful singers of all time.

Last night, EBONY hosted an intimate cocktail party and dinner, in conjunction with TriStar Pictures and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, in celebration of the film's upcoming New York City premiere. Fashion guru Misa Hylton, FUBU co-founder J. Alexander Martin, actresses Vivica Fox, Erika Alexander, Tamara Tunie, Nafessa Williams and Naomi Ackie—who stars in the film as Whitney Houston—mixed and mingled with President of TriStar Pictures, Nicole Brown, EBONY Media's CEO Eden Bridgeman Sklenar, Editor-In-Chief and Senior Vice President of Programming Marielle Bobo, Vice President of Partnerships Denise Faulkner Sims and Director of Special Events Jenae Holloway.

Held in the private dining room at the trendy Public Hotel in downtown Manhattan, guests supped on a three-course feast that included sea bass, steak, and decadent dessert options. A special highlight of the meal were the printed menus which were emblazoned on their flip side with the vast multitude of JET and EBONY magazine covers Houston graced.

(L) Stylist Misa Hylton (R) Actress Vivica A. Fox. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
(L) Stylist Misa Hylton (R) Actress Vivica A. Fox. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
(L) EBONY Editor-in-Chief & SVP, Programming Marielle Bobo, Actress Naomi Ackie, EBONY Chairwoman and CEO Eden Bridgeman Sklenar. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
(L) EBONY Editor-in-Chief & SVP, Programming Marielle Bobo, Actress Naomi Ackie, EBONY Chairwoman and CEO Eden Bridgeman Sklenar. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
The cast of
The cast of "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" From left: Nicole Brown, Tamara Tunie, Naomi Ackie, Kasi Lemmons, Nafessa Williams and Clarke Peters. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
(L) Cyndi Pierre (R) EBONY Vice President of Partnerships Denise Faulkner Sims. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
(L) Cyndi Pierre (R) EBONY Vice President of Partnerships Denise Faulkner Sims. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
(L) Leslie Romer (R) Hinton Group founder Nate Hinton. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
(L) Leslie Romer (R) Hinton Group founder Nate Hinton. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
(L) EBONY Events Director Jenae Holloway and a guest. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
(L) EBONY Events Director Jenae Holloway and a guest. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
(L) EBONY Head of Communications BJ Coleman (R) Dede Brown. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
(L) EBONY Head of Communications BJ Coleman (R) Dede Brown. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
EBONY Correspondent Yonathan Elias. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
EBONY Correspondent Yonathan Elias. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
(L) Nicole Brown, President of TriStar Pictures (R) Actress Naomi Ackie. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
(L) Nicole Brown, President of TriStar Pictures (R) Actress Naomi Ackie. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
(L) Director Kasi Lemmons and (R) Marcene Mitchell. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
(L) Director Kasi Lemmons and (R) Marcene Mitchell. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
EBONY Chairwoman & CEO Eden Bridgeman Sklenar. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
EBONY Chairwoman & CEO Eden Bridgeman Sklenar. Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
Image: courtesy of AK47Division.
Image: courtesy of AK47Division.

If you have not taken a peak at the trailer for Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody, check it out below:

i wanna dance with somebody
whitney houston