Earlier this week, pop superstar Britney Spears took part in a special event to honour the late musical icon Whitney Houston.

The 'Hold It Against Me' songstress helped to host the Los Angeles tribute, which saw live performances from Jennifer Hudson and Jordin Sparks, and told reporters from Access Hollywood that she has always admired Houston and even had the pleasure of meeting her once:

"I did actually at the World Music Awards in Monaco. I was maybe 17 years old. I just remember being so excited! I was just like, 'Oh my God it's Whitney Houston, oh God!' I was really excited. I just felt her voice alone said so much in every song she sang and through the radio you could feel her emotion and the type of person she is and what she's gone through. She's just someone to really admire."

During the memorial concert, Spears tweeted a photograph of herself posing with fiance Jason Trawick (shown above left) that was accompanied with the caption: "Backstage at The Whitney Houston Tribute. Such a solemn occasion. Jason's doing his best to put a smile on my face."

Spears also opened up about her collaboration with Black Eyed Peas sensation Will.i.Am, adding: "It's coming out soon. You just have to hear it - he's just like a radical genius scientist [in the studio]. Just to be able to do a song with him is really fun."