The spundtrack to 'Sparkle' is now streaming online

The release of Sparkle is still a month away, but the soundtrack album is hitting several weeks earlier, on July 31.

Written largely by R. Kelly and Curtis Mayfield, the album features vocal contributions from Jordin Sparks, Cee-Lo Green, and the late Whitney Houston. A handful of the songs have already been released, and now the entirety of the soundtrack is currently streaming at Essence.

EW spoke to Sparks this weekend about the experience of making Sparkle and dealing with the aftermath of Houston’s sudden passing. “It is hard because it is bittersweet,” Sparks says. “I worked with my idol and that was a dream come true. I used to watch the Cinderella adaptation with her and Brandy every day after school. But she should really be here promoting it with me and [it’s] really hard for me to be doing it alone.”

“Singing her song at the Billboard awards was the hardest thing I have ever done,” she explained. “I think the only reason I got through it without sobbing was because she’s up there watching over me.”

Check out the Sparkle soundtrack streaming exclusively over at Essence. The album is in stores next Tuesday, with the movie hitting theaters on August 17.

Additional reporting by Carrie Bell

Read More on EW.com:

‘Sparkle’ soundtrack listing: Whitney Houston’s final recordings coming July 31

‘Sparkle’: Video for Whitney Houston-Jordin Sparks duet ‘Celebrate’ debuts — WATCH

Whitney Houston duets with Jordin Sparks for ‘Sparkle’ track: Hear it here

Additional reporting by Carrie Bell