Undoubtedly, Whitney Houston has influenced a number of R&B and pop songbirds through the years. The late singer’s voice has inspired everyone from Beyonce to Christina Aguilera to Mariah Carey. Houston’s music is also influencing a new crop of singers, including Elle Varner. PopCrush’s 2012 Artist to Watch alum took time out to honor Houston at a special Grammy event featuring the almighty hip-hop band the Roots. Luckily for us, her performance was captured on video.

In the clip, Varner performed a wonderful rendition of Houston’s 1985 hit, ‘I’m Saving All My Love for You.’ The song was Nippy’s first of several consecutive No. 1 songs in her illustrious career.

The bespectacled Varner, dressed in a black cut-off tank top and blue jeans, gently sung the ballad’s tender lyrics as the Roots provided a jazzier backing from the song’s original melodic R&B vibe. Near the end of the performance, Varner pointed to the sky as she crooned her final line, “I’m saving all my love for you.”

Elle Varner has to been generating the most interest out any other upcoming R&B singer out right now. She release the track and it is set to be featured on the Black Hero Theme Musik project brought to you by Omen and EMO.

With MBK Entertainment in her corner and a new album on the horizon, Elle Varner is quickly making a name for herself in the R&B game. An esteemed graduate of the Clive Davis Program of Recorded Music, this New York-based singer-songwriter made a big splash in 2011 with her hit single ‘Only Want to Give It to You.’ She plans to keep the momentum going with her second single ‘Refill,’ which features a smooth R&B groove and a hillbilly fiddle. Before Varner releases her debut LP ‘Perfectly Imperfect,’ she dropped a new mixtape, ‘Conversational Lush,’ to introduce fans to her new sound. With so many blogs and music websites buzzing about her, expect some big things coming from Ms. Varner in the new year. PopCrush chatted with the 22-year-old songbird about her newfound success and her future plans in 2012.

2011 was a big year for you. ‘Only Wanna Give It to You’ was a radio smash. How are you going to top that in 2012? What are your plans?
‘Only Wanna Give It to You’ wasn’t even an appetizer that was just an hors d’oeuvre. I’m about to blow that out the water with my next single ‘Refill’ and I have [the] mixtape out, and then my album ‘Perfectly Imperfect.’ It’s gonna be crazy.

What’s the musical direction you are going with on your debut album?
I would describe the musical direction as a mix between singer-songwriter over hip-hop beats. So a lot of it is songwriting-driven with a hip-hop-influence. I wrote all of the songs on the guitar with a lot of variety.

Who are some of the producers you worked with on your new album?
I worked mostly with Pop & Oak and Al Shux who produced [Jay-Z and Alicia Keys'] ‘Empire State of Mind.’ Pop & Oak are like my Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

Did your dad [musician-songwriter Jimmy Varner] help you with your album?
My dad helped me with the vocal arrangement and production and co-wrote some of the songs on the album. My mom is featured as a vocalist on a few of the songs — one of them is ‘Soundproof Room.’ It was definitely a family affair.
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WOW. Just wow. This photo is totally amazing. I love it. Here You go :

Young songstress Elle Varner is gorgeous when she’s dolled up and singing onstage. But she’s also deceptively adorable and charismatic when she throws on her nerdy glasses and starts goofing around with hip-hop comedy duo Its The Real.

Check out my cover page on the premier issue of PAGE21 MAG!

Elle posted on her Facebook page, so here it is. Plus one big news, we have NEW theme on Photo Gallery.

First fanwork posted on this site made by me! Enjoy – this is my vector illustrated Album cover for first upcoming album – Perfectly Imperfect.

Ms. Varner hits us with a new project. Listen and download it here. It’s HOT!

Tracklist/download
01. Hello
02. WTF
03. Feel Like A Woman
04. Do You Want To
05. Refill
06. Runaway
07. Go
08. I Just Can’t
09. Ghosts
10. EV
11. So Fly
12. 32 Flavors
13. Hang Up

Hey! I would love to wish You all Merry Christmas! May your world be filled with warmth and good cheer this Holy season, and throughout the year! Wish your Christmas be filled with peace and love. Peace.