David Guetta: I'm trying to make music like Whitney

Whitney Houston's astounding vocal talent has been an inspiration to a number of female singers who wanted to follow in her footsteps, but her music was also special enough to transcend across genres.

David Guetta, who was nominated for two Grammys and is performing at the awards show tonight, told CNN on the red carpet that Houston's ability to speak to a wide variety of listeners always inspired him.

"I was really sad, it was the first year I didn’t go out," Guetta said of the news that Houston had passed. "I didn’t feel like celebrating...She was making music that speaks to everyone, whether the white or black community. That’s something I’m always trying to do, and she’s always been an inspiration for me."

Guetta added that he does see dance and electronica gaining more traction, not only in the mainstream but also among critics.

"It’s been amazing, I always wanted our community to grow bigger and share my passion with more people," he said. "It’s very exciting. It’s really a new area for music. It’s really incredible...To be honest, it felt a little bit like people were ignoring us, even though we were playing to thousands, but the industry wasn’t really paying attention. But it’s happening now."