The X Factor runner-up told Digital Spy that he is a huge fan of the late singer, admitting that he used to impersonate her at school.
Watch Collins discuss Whitney Houston below:
He said: "I was and still am a big fan of Whitney's. It's just devastating news."
Asked his favourite Houston track, he confessed: "'I Will Always Love You. [It's] a classic and you can't beat that - the jaw and everything!
"We used to sit and mime it with all my friends at school and just pretend that we were her. She's amazing."
The 23-year-old recently revealed that he still receives racist and homophobic phone calls.
He releases his debut single, a cover of The White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army', on March 4.
> Whitney Houston set to dominate UK singles, albums charts
> Marcus Collins new single 'Seven Nation Army': First listen
Listen to 'Seven Nation Army' below:
