Amanda Edwards, Getty Images
"First of all, I want to tell you that I love you all," he told fans gathered at a nearly sold-out 7,500-seat venue in northern Mississippi. "Second, I would like to say, 'I love you, Whitney.' The hardest thing for me to do is to come on this stage."
Brown took the stage as part of the New Edition reunion tour at the Landers Center in Southaven, close to Memphis, Tenn. He said he decided to go on with the performance because fans had shown their loyalty to the group New Edition for more than 25 years. He performed about 10 songs over more than hour -- "My Preogative" and "Mr. Telephone Man" among them -- before he appeared visibly shaken on stage.
Brown suddenly appeared overcome with emotion as the concert wound down, wiping his face with his vest as the group prepared to sing a ballad. When the song began, he joined in, but his voice cracked. He then waved to the fans and walked off stage. The show ended shortly afterward.
Houston and Brown had a tumultuous 15-year marriage that ended in 2007.
In 1993, they had a daughter, Bobbi Kristina. Ten years later, police responded to a domestic violence call from Houston about Brown. Police found Houston with a cut lip and bruised cheek. She was in and out of drug rehabilitation during the mid-2000s, and appeared to hit a low point with her unsteady appearances in the 2005 reality TV show "Being Bobby Brown." She filed for legal separation the following year and the couple divorced in 2007.
Before New Edition took the stage, Landers Center executive director Todd Mastry had indicated Brown would go on as scheduled but wouldn't be available to talk with the media.
Mastry said he hadn't spoken with Brown, but had been backstage. Asked the mood there, he said, "It's what you would expect it to be when something like this happens - respectful."
Singer Kevon Edmonds paid tribute to Houston on stage and said his thoughts and prayers were with her family, according to Mastry.
New Edition began its show with the five members coming onstage without Brown. He joined them to a standing ovation. They were all wearing burgundy red coats with black pants and white shirts, and Brown wore a black hat. As they began to perform, one group member said, "This one is for Whitney."
During an intermission, one of Whitney Houston's early hits, "You Give Good Love," played over the speakers. Fans stood up and began singing along with the song.
Khalilah Hollis, 34, of Horn Lake, Miss., said she was already in the building for the concert when she found out through Facebook that Houston had died.
"It's really sad that she passed away. She was an icon," Hollis said. She said that when she heard the news, she thought that perhaps Brown would not perform. But she was glad when he did go on.
She said Brown's words about Whitney were touching.
"He probably didn't want to go into details because he probably would have broken down," Hollis said.
Watch 'Singing Superstar Whitney Houston Dead'
Watch Whitney Houston's 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' Video
Listen to Whitney Houston Tribute Radio
"Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL."
"Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL."
Phine Na
17 of the Riskiest Moves in Music History: The Brave, Crazy and Inspirational
Rihanna Twitter Pictures: See the Singer's Most Shocking Social Media Photo Shares
Wayne Newton Sexual Harassment, Animal Abuse Allegations: Singer Sued Over Home Museum Plans
Van Halen Cancel Summer Tour Dates
Jay-Z Pauses Music Career, Janet Jackson Records New LP, Iggy Azalea Flaunts Booty & More
PHOTOS: We 'Turn Back Time' On Cher's Wild Style
Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez Split? Social Media Moves Lead to Breakup Speculation
LOOK: Pictures From Sunday's Solar Eclipse
Lady Gaga, Philippines Protests: Pop Star Faces More Religious Demonstrators on Asian Leg of Tour
PHOTOS: Thank Goodness For Double-Sided Tape...
Billboard Music Awards Red Carpet 2012 (PHOTOS)
PHOTO: Mom's Public Punishment For Daughter's Facebook Pics
Who Wore It Better? Jennifer Lopez vs. Emma Stone's Snake Dress
Kim Looks Elegant & 12 Other Best-Dressed Stars This Week
David Lee Roth, Postponed Tour Dates: Van Halen 'Getting Along Famously,' Singer Insists in Video
The Best And Worst Supermarket Dill Pickles
PHOTOS: Kate, Charlene & All The World's Royals Party With Queen Elizabeth II
PHOTOS: The Queen Of Swaziland Is Into Some Totally Wacky (Read: Awesome) Fashion
PHOTOS: Ann Taylor LOFT Has Some Fun With Photoshop
WATCH: SNL's Emotional Goodbye To Kristen Wiig
PHOTOS: Gorilla Overload!
PHOTOS: Inside The World's First $1 Billion Home
14 Fascinating Facts About Solar Eclipses
Pelosi Says Boehner 'Wants To Go Over The Edge'
Maher: Liberty University Is Not A Real School
Geraldo Rivera: Trayvon Martin Was 'Dressed In Thug Wear'
How To See Sunday's Solar Eclipse
Mom Temporarily Banned From Uploading Photos To Facebook
Chihuly's Controversial New Museum
Live Coverage Of Solar Eclipse
Tim Lihoreau: 11 People You Don't Want To Be Friends With
Grandma Gets Life In Prison For First-Time Drug Offense
LOOK: Mesmerizing Macro Bug Photos
133 Comments