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American Morning

Rapping for Jesus; "90 Second Pop"

Aired March 25, 2005 - 09:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: 9:30 here in New York on this Good Friday. Markets are closed today for the Easter holiday. We're going to get back to these developments in the Terri Schiavo case, coming fast again today. A federal judge in Tampa denying a latest request to reinsert a feeding tube. We're hearing reports now the family has appealed that decision already, trying to sort things out of Florida. Where an appeal would go, what it means, is there any hope left on the legal side for Terri Schiavo's parents? We'll get to all of that coming up here in the next couple of minutes.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN: Also, our series on faith in America continues this morning with musicians who are breaking a pop music taboo, trying to bring religion to the iPod generation. And, it's working. We'll explain ahead.

Another check of the headlines, though, with Carol Costello. Good morning.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Good morning to all of you.

"Now in the News," a developing story out of Iowa this morning. An amber alert is out for a 10-year-old girl. Jetseta Gage was apparently taken from her mother's home by a man described as a family acquaintance. He is Roger Bentley, a registered sex offender. He's said to have left in a pickup truck. Police don't have a lot to go on because most of the information is coming from the girl's 7-year-old brother. But if have you any information, of course, call police. This is in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The faithful in Rome hoping to catch a glimpse of the pope on this Good Friday. There is word he may make a video link appearance. The pope has not been seen in public since Wednesday, but is expected to give an Easter blessing on Sunday.

A survivor of the Columbine high school massacre is reaching out to the victims of the Red Lake school shooting. Lauren Beyer Bohn joined us earlier on AMERICAN MORNING and told us about the message she is sending to those students.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAUREN BEYER BOHN, FMR. COLUMBINE STUDENT: I think they wanted to know that there is hope after this. They wanted to know that life does go on, that they do not have to stay in this state of, you know, questioning, of mourning. You know, you will consistently mourn for the lost ones, the close friends that you do lose, but that there is life beyond it. And I think for them to see that I have picked up and I have moved on and I have kept my head up. And I've said, you know, I'm going to use this tragedy for the good. I think that was really positive for them to see.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Funeral services are expected to begin tomorrow for the victims in that Minnesota school shooting.

And "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul getting a judgment of her own. She's been sentenced to 24 months of informal probation and fined after pleading no contest to a hit and run charge in Los Angeles last December. The other driver used a cell phone camera to snap a picture of Abdul's car and to get her license plate number. So she was cooked before she ever went to court.

HEMMER: Simon says, you're guilty, girl.

COSTELLO: Exactly.

HEMMER: Thank you, Carol. The latest developments in the Schiavo matter now. The A.P. is reporting that Terri Schiavo's parents are going to appeal the latest ruling against them. CNN has a producer at that same courthouse and we are learning word that no appeal has officially come out of the courthouse just yet. We'll continue to watch this. That ruling against Schiavo's parents indicates yet again that the feeding tube will not be reinserted. Terri Schiavo now without food or water for seven days. And her parents and their supporters calling on the governor in Florida to intervene. There's an awful lot of pressure right now building on the state capital and the governor of Tallahassee.

Ed Henry is there, watching that story -- Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. That's right. This federal judge's ruling in Tampa -- out of Tampa is obviously another legal setback for the parents of Terri Schiavo and only ratchets up the already intense pressure on the governor to unilaterally act to get that feeding tube reinserted. Specifically, people close to the parents want the governor -- they believe he has the executive power to go into the hospice and take state custody of Schiavo, take her to a nearby hospital, and get that feeding tube reattached.

In fact, earlier on AMERICAN MORNING, Brother Paul O'Donnell, who is a spiritual adviser to the parents, made an emotional plea to the governor to save Terri Schiavo on this good Friday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROTHER PAUL O'DONNELL, SPIRITUAL ADVISER TO THE SCHINDLERS: Our last hope is Governor Jeb Bush. Now, I know the governor and the family has heard from the governor in the past, but we have been told by legal experts that the governor can intervene. He may not want to because of public image, but he does have the legal authority to do so, maybe not through the DCF intervention, but through other avenues. (END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: But the governor, after spending all day yesterday huddled behind closed doors in his office behind me here, with various staff and attorneys, trying to sort through all the complexities of this case, did a local TV interview in which he said he does not have the power that some people are suggesting he does.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: They're acting on their heart. And I fully appreciate their sentiments and the emotions that go with this. But I cannot go -- and as I've been consistently saying and I guess you guys haven't been listening and repeating it back, I've consistently said that I can't go beyond what my powers are and I'm not going to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Nevertheless, the governor is still feeling the heat. Despite this rainy, dreary morning here in Tallahassee, there are about 25 people holding a prayer vigil just down the street at the governor's mansion, urging him to act -- Bill.

HEMMER: Ed Henry from Tallahassee, thanks -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Now a look this morning at the changing voice of music in religion in final installment of our special series "Faith in America." Carol Costello has more. Good morning.

COSTELLO: You know, I found this so interesting, Soledad. There is no doubt young people are searching for meaning. Religion and its power all around them. But they're finding comfort in the world of music, namely rap.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC)

COSTELLO (voice-over): "Jesus Walks" and Kanye West talks. He mentions the "J" word unabashedly, performed his Grammy-winning song "At Angel Wing." It's in-your-face spirituality and it's selling.

REVEREND RUN, RUN DMC: He's a genius. He knew that his heart was strong enough and understood that this is a hit. I'm going to shock the heck out of people with this "Jesus Walks" thing. Listen to it, bump, bump, bump, bump, bump, a bump. What? "Jesus Walks."

COSTELLO: And Jesus rocks. The MTV crowd loves the music and the message. Shaheem Reid is the hip-hop editor for MTV News.

(on camera): So is Jesus cool now, I mean?

SHAHEEM REID, HIP-HOP EDITOR, MTV NEWS: Jesus has always been cool in my book. COSTELLO (voice-over): But never as cool as right now. In an era when a lot of mainstream music is becoming known for its political, violent and sexist statements, Jesus is parting the mainstream waters.

REID: If you can be vocal about making songs about killing people or you can be vocal about songs about sex, nothing is really taboo nowadays, so why not go and make a song about the Lord if that's what you're feeling.

COSTELLO: But there are tricks to the trade. Christian music doesn't sell in the mainstream world, but music that includes Christ does. Hip-hoppers talk spirituality in a world where the devil still lives. In "Jesus Walks," West writes, "My momma used to say only Jesus can save us. Well, momma, I know I act a fool, but I'll be gone until November, I got packs to move."

Packs, as in illegal drugs.

Perhaps no one can explain why this works better than Reverend Run, the rap pioneer of Run DMC, who now uses his mike to minister.

RUN: The day I went to church, the first day, I wasn't in the best condition. I had a bag of weed in my pocket. Isn't that hypocritical, you got a bag of weed in your pocket and you're looking for God? No, that's obvious, I should be looking for God because I drank two 40 ounces of beer on the way here.

COSTELLO: The hell and redemption sell is such a winning formula, L.L. Cool J is starting an all-gospel rap label. R. Kelly, an artist famously accused of videotaping kinky sex with teenaged girls, is now working on a CD full of inspirational material. Just the thing, some say, for young, hip teens searching for Jesus.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And this idea of Jesus, that Jesus is cool, has become so big that MTV is actually considering a pilot featuring Run DMC and his ministry. They're going to show him ministering to people, talking about God, and sort of, like, intertwine it into that world, because you know, Russell Simmons (ph) is Run -- or is Run's brother. And you know, Komora Simmons (ph) is very popular right now, so they're going to be included. So who knows where this will go.

O'BRIEN: Bringing pop culture and Jesus. And when you think about all the singers who get their start in the first place in the church, singing those gospel songs, people discover they can sing, and then they go out to big hip-hop careers.

COSTELLO: And it's interesting, they don't call themselves gospel singers anymore. That goes away.

O'BRIEN: Right. Hip-hop stars.

COSTELLO: Exactly.

O'BRIEN: All right, Carol, great piece. Thanks -- Bill.

HEMMER: Our CNN photographer David Albrighten (ph) was blown back about 12 feet, Reporter Alex Quaid (ph) with him, then captured more of the incident with a mini camera. The Marines later scrambled to pull ammunition from the burning Humvee before it blows and causes other injuries. Luckily through all of this on the road from Falluja to Baghdad, no one was hurt. Wow.

The complete story on their experience Alex Quaid, David Albrighten. That story later tonight on "ANDERSON COOPER" 7:00 Eastern here on CNN. Lucky to know today that everybody is OK after that. Wow.

(WEATHER REPORT)

She is no Shaquille O'Neal, but this woman is scoring big points with inner-city kids. You will hear her story in a moment.

O'BRIEN: And a wrong number and an extra day. Which "Idol" contestant got the ax in last night's revote? Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Welcome to "90-Second Pop" for a Friday. You know what, I don't know who that girl was. She sounded very off key. Yes, I thought that was Mikaela, right? Oh, she's horrible. Man, we'll get to that in a moment. But first let's introduce you to our all- star panel. I can sing better than that, and I can't sing.

Andy Borowitz is joining us at borowitzreport.com, Amy Barnett from "Teen People," B.J. Sigesmund, the staff editor for "US Weekly."

Good morning. Good morning. Good morning.

Let's get right to it. You know what, she's horrible.

ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: You're kind of in Simon Cowell mode today. You sound very forgiving.

O'BRIEN: There's no reason to ruin a perfectly good song. Tuesday, big mistake obviously by "American Idol," the whole phone numbers wrong, blah, blah, blah. Wednesday, they repeat the show. Thursday, then you have the voting and the results in. What happened?

BOROWITZ: Well, Mikaela, as we see, got the ax, right? And I guess deservedly so.

AMY BARNETT, "TEEN PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: Didn't you feel bad for us all though, like, having to sit through Mikaela twice, again on Wednesday night. I feel like channeling Taylor Dane for the second time is what really did her in.

BOROWITZ: I thought you were going to say, don't you feel bad for her, but she was, like, but don't you feel bad for us? B.J. SIGESMUND, "US WEEKLY": It's ironic too that this was the week they had this revote, because she was so certainly the one to go. Everyone I know was saying Mikaela's out, Mikaela's out, Mikaela's out. There was no -- there was really no competition.

BOROWITZ: But aren't you a little suspicious about Fox, because, I mean, this was a huge rating bonanza. They make a mistake, and then they do a whole redo. I know from speaking from my experience and the time I've been on CNN, I've made 10,000 mistakes. They've never asked me to come back on and fix it. Are you with me on that?

SIGESMUND: I'm not with you, because remember "American Idol" was on three nights a week. This whole season, this whole middle section of the show was for next week. Fox could have scheduled it for next week if they wanted to.

BARNETT: I think it was Gail Berman's (ph) last prank before she leaves for...

O'BRIEN: That explains it all. All right, let's talk about this new show on the USA Network, "Kojak." It stars Ving Rhames who I think is a brilliant choice. Bald, lollipop, OK, he's black Kojak was white, whatever. Does it work?

SIGESMUND: Yes, we know it premieres tonight. We all watched it last night. Some things are the same, and some things are different. The lollipops are still there.

O'BRIEN: Who loves you, baby?

BOROWITZ: He's not saying, "who loves you, baby?"

SIGESMUND: "Who loves you, baby, is not in there, and also he plays him somewhat differently than Telly Savalas.

O'BRIEN: How so?

SIGESMUND: He plays him sometimes as a tough guy, but most of the time he's this huge softie. Like I actually lost track of the number of times that he cries, he cries on his best friend's shoulder.

BOROWITZ: Here's the thing, I think that is a mistake. Because if I want to just give one note to Ving as one actor to another, is that if you're crying, but you also have a lollipop in your mow, there's a danger of looking like a big baby.

O'BRIEN: You've done one movie now, right?

BOROWITZ: You know, and he might have like, you know, a rattle, too.

BARNETT: I don't think that's the biggest problem with this show. I was wondering what was going on with all the slow-mo scenes and the bad music. It seemed like a '70s porn movie, not that I know what a '70s porn movie is like, but it was just, you know, too much. SIGESMUND: What about the fact that he's called Kojak and he's a black guy. Well, Telly Savalas, he was Greek. It's an interesting name. But they never explain how the has guy has the name "Kojak" also.

O'BRIEN: Oh, we all know black people with strange names. Come on them, Soledad is one of them. I have no problem with that part of it.

Our last topic this morning, let me get right to it, which is Whitney Houston. We have to just finish that up with her because she's going back into rehab, and we don't have a lot of time to talk about it, but of course really sad for her. They've got a child. I hope that it all works out for her family as well. That kind of breaks my heart. I'm a huge fan of Whitney. Girl, come on, get it together. We're rooting for you again.

You guys, as always, big thanks. Appreciate it. Have a great weekend -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right, Soledad. They put an extra effort on the court, now going the extra mile for their future. Nice, inspiring story, in our "Extra Effort" segment, right after this on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: If you're just joining us, want to update you right now on what we're learning out of Florida. That case now moving -- Terri Schiavo's case, moving out of Florida and back now to Atlanta, where the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals sits. Two days ago -- this is the same court of 12 judges that voted against, 10-2, about the appeal to get the tube reinserted into Terri Schiavo.

We're waiting for that appeal to be taken up and get another ruling from the 11th Circuit in Atlanta. It is quite possible after that, it will go back to the U.S. Supreme Court as well. But for now, we know the tube has not been reinserted on day seven for Terri Schiavo -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: All of this, of course, we continue to discuss with Jack, who's got the "Question of the Day."

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: This is beginning to border on the absurd, isn't it? Going back to a court is a said no two days ago with the same judges...

O'BRIEN: The parents are heartbroken.

CAFFERTY: That the same 12 judges that ruled on the same case 48 hours ago.

HEMMER: Just trying to fight for their daughter as much as they can. And yet this, I would say, like Alan Dershowitz (ph) said, you're bringing a frivolous suit, as an attorney, back to a court that already rejected you. CAFFERTY: That would be is same as bordering on the absurd, I would think. Was it a mistake for Congress and the president to get involved in the Schiavo case? A lot of political issues, as an undertone to all of this.

Scott in South Carolina writes: "Congress should have gotten involved. They are a safety valve for our nation, just like the judicial branch is a safety valve for us as well. These people were voted on and reflect our values."

Judith also in South Carolina: "Yes, and yes. I'm a Republican and have been all my adult life, but what the president and Congress did was wrong. I have pulled all my donations and my time to the party. I will no longer be a part of such a side show."

And Mary writes: "No, it was not a mistake, it was a kind and humane thing to do until new tests and research can be done on Terri before pulling her tube and forfeiting all hope. I hope that he and the others will do the same thing for me."

Thank you. About 1,500, I think, letters.

O'BRIEN: And very interesting and thoughtful responses, I thought.

CAFFERTY: Well, and then some of them were just stupid.

O'BRIEN: Well, some, yes.

CAFFERTY: Your old favorites who just weigh in with the -- but that's OK. You take the good with the bad.

O'BRIEN: You going to do this thing here, by the way?

CAFFERTY: Oh yeah, "IN THE MONEY." As I've told you before, I have a child in college. And tuition is outrageous. So I request that you watch this feeble little business show that -- I'm begging here. Feeble little business program we do on the weekends.

This weekend, it will be about the politicians on both sides of the aisle, working harder than ever to prove they're sensitive to the demands of religious groups. Is it good for the government, is it good for religion? I don't know. But it's good for my college tuition for my daughter. Please join us tomorrow at 1:00 and Sunday at 3:00 for "IN THE MONEY." I will appreciate it very much.

O'BRIEN: And our weekly "Extra Effort" series pays tribute this morning to people who go the extra mile to help others. Today we're talking about a woman behind a Washington, D.C. mentoring program that's putting inner city kids through college. We've got the story now from CNN's Kathleen Koch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kenny Allen and Sean McColl seem unlikely friends. A teenager from gritty southeast Washington and a Virginia marketing executive. But one is helping the other graduate from high school and go to college.

KENNY ALLEN, JR., HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR: The thought of you going to college and just the thought of somebody helping you. That some people thought no, that -- that you wouldn't succeed in life.

SEAN MCCOLL, VP, PROMOCORP: He's very disciplined, very driven, knows what he wants. And I'm trying to help him out along the way to get to the places that he needs to go to.

KOCH: Since 1996, nearly 800 inner city students like Kenny have been paired with successful mentors and provided college scholarships by a group called Hoop Dreams. It was founded by Susie Kay, a teacher at H.D. Woodson High School, in one of the roughest neighborhoods in Washington, who saw so much promise in her students.

SUSIE KAY, HOOP DREAMS FOUNDER: But what I also saw was so much frustration, because they did not have necessarily the proper resources and opportunities that you do need.

KOCH: So she organized a small basketball tournament to raise money to send four young people to college. And it snowballed from there.

KAY: What we do as an organization, we build bridges. We build relationships. And I haven't really stopped working on this since that day.

KOCH: The basketball tournament now features star athletes. VIPs flock to the Hoop Dreams congressional reception. And the first graduates now work for Susie.

THEO BRANNUM, PROGRAM COORDINATOR: She really showed me the importance of giving back to my community.

KOCH: Or for local businesses, like the Washington Nationals, where Brandon Bradford handles season ticket sales.

BRANDON BRANFORD ACCT. EXEC., WASHINGTON NATIONALS: They stay on top of you from beginning to end, making sure that you get the best education, a well-rounded education. That's in the books as well as in the real world.

JOE DEOUDES, WASHINGTON NATIONALS: Brandon was a great product of Hoop Dreams. I wish there were five of them.

KOCH: Students and mentors in Hoop Dreams marvel at Susie.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Susie Kay, I just see her and it's like, you never see her down.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Makes you want to do more, she's so positive.

KOCH: But Susie Kay sees inspiration and pride elsewhere.

KAY: My pride is all in them and, you know, what they symbolize as far as what's possible when you believe in the power of hope. KOCH: Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Susie Kay was recently honored at the Urban Independent Music Awards as community activist of the decade. If you want more information, you can check out her Web site. It's called hoopdreams.org. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired March 25, 2005 - 09:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: 9:30 here in New York on this Good Friday. Markets are closed today for the Easter holiday. We're going to get back to these developments in the Terri Schiavo case, coming fast again today. A federal judge in Tampa denying a latest request to reinsert a feeding tube. We're hearing reports now the family has appealed that decision already, trying to sort things out of Florida. Where an appeal would go, what it means, is there any hope left on the legal side for Terri Schiavo's parents? We'll get to all of that coming up here in the next couple of minutes.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN: Also, our series on faith in America continues this morning with musicians who are breaking a pop music taboo, trying to bring religion to the iPod generation. And, it's working. We'll explain ahead.

Another check of the headlines, though, with Carol Costello. Good morning.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Good morning to all of you.

"Now in the News," a developing story out of Iowa this morning. An amber alert is out for a 10-year-old girl. Jetseta Gage was apparently taken from her mother's home by a man described as a family acquaintance. He is Roger Bentley, a registered sex offender. He's said to have left in a pickup truck. Police don't have a lot to go on because most of the information is coming from the girl's 7-year-old brother. But if have you any information, of course, call police. This is in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The faithful in Rome hoping to catch a glimpse of the pope on this Good Friday. There is word he may make a video link appearance. The pope has not been seen in public since Wednesday, but is expected to give an Easter blessing on Sunday.

A survivor of the Columbine high school massacre is reaching out to the victims of the Red Lake school shooting. Lauren Beyer Bohn joined us earlier on AMERICAN MORNING and told us about the message she is sending to those students.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAUREN BEYER BOHN, FMR. COLUMBINE STUDENT: I think they wanted to know that there is hope after this. They wanted to know that life does go on, that they do not have to stay in this state of, you know, questioning, of mourning. You know, you will consistently mourn for the lost ones, the close friends that you do lose, but that there is life beyond it. And I think for them to see that I have picked up and I have moved on and I have kept my head up. And I've said, you know, I'm going to use this tragedy for the good. I think that was really positive for them to see.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Funeral services are expected to begin tomorrow for the victims in that Minnesota school shooting.

And "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul getting a judgment of her own. She's been sentenced to 24 months of informal probation and fined after pleading no contest to a hit and run charge in Los Angeles last December. The other driver used a cell phone camera to snap a picture of Abdul's car and to get her license plate number. So she was cooked before she ever went to court.

HEMMER: Simon says, you're guilty, girl.

COSTELLO: Exactly.

HEMMER: Thank you, Carol. The latest developments in the Schiavo matter now. The A.P. is reporting that Terri Schiavo's parents are going to appeal the latest ruling against them. CNN has a producer at that same courthouse and we are learning word that no appeal has officially come out of the courthouse just yet. We'll continue to watch this. That ruling against Schiavo's parents indicates yet again that the feeding tube will not be reinserted. Terri Schiavo now without food or water for seven days. And her parents and their supporters calling on the governor in Florida to intervene. There's an awful lot of pressure right now building on the state capital and the governor of Tallahassee.

Ed Henry is there, watching that story -- Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. That's right. This federal judge's ruling in Tampa -- out of Tampa is obviously another legal setback for the parents of Terri Schiavo and only ratchets up the already intense pressure on the governor to unilaterally act to get that feeding tube reinserted. Specifically, people close to the parents want the governor -- they believe he has the executive power to go into the hospice and take state custody of Schiavo, take her to a nearby hospital, and get that feeding tube reattached.

In fact, earlier on AMERICAN MORNING, Brother Paul O'Donnell, who is a spiritual adviser to the parents, made an emotional plea to the governor to save Terri Schiavo on this good Friday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROTHER PAUL O'DONNELL, SPIRITUAL ADVISER TO THE SCHINDLERS: Our last hope is Governor Jeb Bush. Now, I know the governor and the family has heard from the governor in the past, but we have been told by legal experts that the governor can intervene. He may not want to because of public image, but he does have the legal authority to do so, maybe not through the DCF intervention, but through other avenues. (END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: But the governor, after spending all day yesterday huddled behind closed doors in his office behind me here, with various staff and attorneys, trying to sort through all the complexities of this case, did a local TV interview in which he said he does not have the power that some people are suggesting he does.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: They're acting on their heart. And I fully appreciate their sentiments and the emotions that go with this. But I cannot go -- and as I've been consistently saying and I guess you guys haven't been listening and repeating it back, I've consistently said that I can't go beyond what my powers are and I'm not going to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Nevertheless, the governor is still feeling the heat. Despite this rainy, dreary morning here in Tallahassee, there are about 25 people holding a prayer vigil just down the street at the governor's mansion, urging him to act -- Bill.

HEMMER: Ed Henry from Tallahassee, thanks -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Now a look this morning at the changing voice of music in religion in final installment of our special series "Faith in America." Carol Costello has more. Good morning.

COSTELLO: You know, I found this so interesting, Soledad. There is no doubt young people are searching for meaning. Religion and its power all around them. But they're finding comfort in the world of music, namely rap.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC)

COSTELLO (voice-over): "Jesus Walks" and Kanye West talks. He mentions the "J" word unabashedly, performed his Grammy-winning song "At Angel Wing." It's in-your-face spirituality and it's selling.

REVEREND RUN, RUN DMC: He's a genius. He knew that his heart was strong enough and understood that this is a hit. I'm going to shock the heck out of people with this "Jesus Walks" thing. Listen to it, bump, bump, bump, bump, bump, a bump. What? "Jesus Walks."

COSTELLO: And Jesus rocks. The MTV crowd loves the music and the message. Shaheem Reid is the hip-hop editor for MTV News.

(on camera): So is Jesus cool now, I mean?

SHAHEEM REID, HIP-HOP EDITOR, MTV NEWS: Jesus has always been cool in my book. COSTELLO (voice-over): But never as cool as right now. In an era when a lot of mainstream music is becoming known for its political, violent and sexist statements, Jesus is parting the mainstream waters.

REID: If you can be vocal about making songs about killing people or you can be vocal about songs about sex, nothing is really taboo nowadays, so why not go and make a song about the Lord if that's what you're feeling.

COSTELLO: But there are tricks to the trade. Christian music doesn't sell in the mainstream world, but music that includes Christ does. Hip-hoppers talk spirituality in a world where the devil still lives. In "Jesus Walks," West writes, "My momma used to say only Jesus can save us. Well, momma, I know I act a fool, but I'll be gone until November, I got packs to move."

Packs, as in illegal drugs.

Perhaps no one can explain why this works better than Reverend Run, the rap pioneer of Run DMC, who now uses his mike to minister.

RUN: The day I went to church, the first day, I wasn't in the best condition. I had a bag of weed in my pocket. Isn't that hypocritical, you got a bag of weed in your pocket and you're looking for God? No, that's obvious, I should be looking for God because I drank two 40 ounces of beer on the way here.

COSTELLO: The hell and redemption sell is such a winning formula, L.L. Cool J is starting an all-gospel rap label. R. Kelly, an artist famously accused of videotaping kinky sex with teenaged girls, is now working on a CD full of inspirational material. Just the thing, some say, for young, hip teens searching for Jesus.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And this idea of Jesus, that Jesus is cool, has become so big that MTV is actually considering a pilot featuring Run DMC and his ministry. They're going to show him ministering to people, talking about God, and sort of, like, intertwine it into that world, because you know, Russell Simmons (ph) is Run -- or is Run's brother. And you know, Komora Simmons (ph) is very popular right now, so they're going to be included. So who knows where this will go.

O'BRIEN: Bringing pop culture and Jesus. And when you think about all the singers who get their start in the first place in the church, singing those gospel songs, people discover they can sing, and then they go out to big hip-hop careers.

COSTELLO: And it's interesting, they don't call themselves gospel singers anymore. That goes away.

O'BRIEN: Right. Hip-hop stars.

COSTELLO: Exactly.

O'BRIEN: All right, Carol, great piece. Thanks -- Bill.

HEMMER: Our CNN photographer David Albrighten (ph) was blown back about 12 feet, Reporter Alex Quaid (ph) with him, then captured more of the incident with a mini camera. The Marines later scrambled to pull ammunition from the burning Humvee before it blows and causes other injuries. Luckily through all of this on the road from Falluja to Baghdad, no one was hurt. Wow.

The complete story on their experience Alex Quaid, David Albrighten. That story later tonight on "ANDERSON COOPER" 7:00 Eastern here on CNN. Lucky to know today that everybody is OK after that. Wow.

(WEATHER REPORT)

She is no Shaquille O'Neal, but this woman is scoring big points with inner-city kids. You will hear her story in a moment.

O'BRIEN: And a wrong number and an extra day. Which "Idol" contestant got the ax in last night's revote? Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Welcome to "90-Second Pop" for a Friday. You know what, I don't know who that girl was. She sounded very off key. Yes, I thought that was Mikaela, right? Oh, she's horrible. Man, we'll get to that in a moment. But first let's introduce you to our all- star panel. I can sing better than that, and I can't sing.

Andy Borowitz is joining us at borowitzreport.com, Amy Barnett from "Teen People," B.J. Sigesmund, the staff editor for "US Weekly."

Good morning. Good morning. Good morning.

Let's get right to it. You know what, she's horrible.

ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: You're kind of in Simon Cowell mode today. You sound very forgiving.

O'BRIEN: There's no reason to ruin a perfectly good song. Tuesday, big mistake obviously by "American Idol," the whole phone numbers wrong, blah, blah, blah. Wednesday, they repeat the show. Thursday, then you have the voting and the results in. What happened?

BOROWITZ: Well, Mikaela, as we see, got the ax, right? And I guess deservedly so.

AMY BARNETT, "TEEN PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: Didn't you feel bad for us all though, like, having to sit through Mikaela twice, again on Wednesday night. I feel like channeling Taylor Dane for the second time is what really did her in.

BOROWITZ: I thought you were going to say, don't you feel bad for her, but she was, like, but don't you feel bad for us? B.J. SIGESMUND, "US WEEKLY": It's ironic too that this was the week they had this revote, because she was so certainly the one to go. Everyone I know was saying Mikaela's out, Mikaela's out, Mikaela's out. There was no -- there was really no competition.

BOROWITZ: But aren't you a little suspicious about Fox, because, I mean, this was a huge rating bonanza. They make a mistake, and then they do a whole redo. I know from speaking from my experience and the time I've been on CNN, I've made 10,000 mistakes. They've never asked me to come back on and fix it. Are you with me on that?

SIGESMUND: I'm not with you, because remember "American Idol" was on three nights a week. This whole season, this whole middle section of the show was for next week. Fox could have scheduled it for next week if they wanted to.

BARNETT: I think it was Gail Berman's (ph) last prank before she leaves for...

O'BRIEN: That explains it all. All right, let's talk about this new show on the USA Network, "Kojak." It stars Ving Rhames who I think is a brilliant choice. Bald, lollipop, OK, he's black Kojak was white, whatever. Does it work?

SIGESMUND: Yes, we know it premieres tonight. We all watched it last night. Some things are the same, and some things are different. The lollipops are still there.

O'BRIEN: Who loves you, baby?

BOROWITZ: He's not saying, "who loves you, baby?"

SIGESMUND: "Who loves you, baby, is not in there, and also he plays him somewhat differently than Telly Savalas.

O'BRIEN: How so?

SIGESMUND: He plays him sometimes as a tough guy, but most of the time he's this huge softie. Like I actually lost track of the number of times that he cries, he cries on his best friend's shoulder.

BOROWITZ: Here's the thing, I think that is a mistake. Because if I want to just give one note to Ving as one actor to another, is that if you're crying, but you also have a lollipop in your mow, there's a danger of looking like a big baby.

O'BRIEN: You've done one movie now, right?

BOROWITZ: You know, and he might have like, you know, a rattle, too.

BARNETT: I don't think that's the biggest problem with this show. I was wondering what was going on with all the slow-mo scenes and the bad music. It seemed like a '70s porn movie, not that I know what a '70s porn movie is like, but it was just, you know, too much. SIGESMUND: What about the fact that he's called Kojak and he's a black guy. Well, Telly Savalas, he was Greek. It's an interesting name. But they never explain how the has guy has the name "Kojak" also.

O'BRIEN: Oh, we all know black people with strange names. Come on them, Soledad is one of them. I have no problem with that part of it.

Our last topic this morning, let me get right to it, which is Whitney Houston. We have to just finish that up with her because she's going back into rehab, and we don't have a lot of time to talk about it, but of course really sad for her. They've got a child. I hope that it all works out for her family as well. That kind of breaks my heart. I'm a huge fan of Whitney. Girl, come on, get it together. We're rooting for you again.

You guys, as always, big thanks. Appreciate it. Have a great weekend -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right, Soledad. They put an extra effort on the court, now going the extra mile for their future. Nice, inspiring story, in our "Extra Effort" segment, right after this on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: If you're just joining us, want to update you right now on what we're learning out of Florida. That case now moving -- Terri Schiavo's case, moving out of Florida and back now to Atlanta, where the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals sits. Two days ago -- this is the same court of 12 judges that voted against, 10-2, about the appeal to get the tube reinserted into Terri Schiavo.

We're waiting for that appeal to be taken up and get another ruling from the 11th Circuit in Atlanta. It is quite possible after that, it will go back to the U.S. Supreme Court as well. But for now, we know the tube has not been reinserted on day seven for Terri Schiavo -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: All of this, of course, we continue to discuss with Jack, who's got the "Question of the Day."

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: This is beginning to border on the absurd, isn't it? Going back to a court is a said no two days ago with the same judges...

O'BRIEN: The parents are heartbroken.

CAFFERTY: That the same 12 judges that ruled on the same case 48 hours ago.

HEMMER: Just trying to fight for their daughter as much as they can. And yet this, I would say, like Alan Dershowitz (ph) said, you're bringing a frivolous suit, as an attorney, back to a court that already rejected you. CAFFERTY: That would be is same as bordering on the absurd, I would think. Was it a mistake for Congress and the president to get involved in the Schiavo case? A lot of political issues, as an undertone to all of this.

Scott in South Carolina writes: "Congress should have gotten involved. They are a safety valve for our nation, just like the judicial branch is a safety valve for us as well. These people were voted on and reflect our values."

Judith also in South Carolina: "Yes, and yes. I'm a Republican and have been all my adult life, but what the president and Congress did was wrong. I have pulled all my donations and my time to the party. I will no longer be a part of such a side show."

And Mary writes: "No, it was not a mistake, it was a kind and humane thing to do until new tests and research can be done on Terri before pulling her tube and forfeiting all hope. I hope that he and the others will do the same thing for me."

Thank you. About 1,500, I think, letters.

O'BRIEN: And very interesting and thoughtful responses, I thought.

CAFFERTY: Well, and then some of them were just stupid.

O'BRIEN: Well, some, yes.

CAFFERTY: Your old favorites who just weigh in with the -- but that's OK. You take the good with the bad.

O'BRIEN: You going to do this thing here, by the way?

CAFFERTY: Oh yeah, "IN THE MONEY." As I've told you before, I have a child in college. And tuition is outrageous. So I request that you watch this feeble little business show that -- I'm begging here. Feeble little business program we do on the weekends.

This weekend, it will be about the politicians on both sides of the aisle, working harder than ever to prove they're sensitive to the demands of religious groups. Is it good for the government, is it good for religion? I don't know. But it's good for my college tuition for my daughter. Please join us tomorrow at 1:00 and Sunday at 3:00 for "IN THE MONEY." I will appreciate it very much.

O'BRIEN: And our weekly "Extra Effort" series pays tribute this morning to people who go the extra mile to help others. Today we're talking about a woman behind a Washington, D.C. mentoring program that's putting inner city kids through college. We've got the story now from CNN's Kathleen Koch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kenny Allen and Sean McColl seem unlikely friends. A teenager from gritty southeast Washington and a Virginia marketing executive. But one is helping the other graduate from high school and go to college.

KENNY ALLEN, JR., HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR: The thought of you going to college and just the thought of somebody helping you. That some people thought no, that -- that you wouldn't succeed in life.

SEAN MCCOLL, VP, PROMOCORP: He's very disciplined, very driven, knows what he wants. And I'm trying to help him out along the way to get to the places that he needs to go to.

KOCH: Since 1996, nearly 800 inner city students like Kenny have been paired with successful mentors and provided college scholarships by a group called Hoop Dreams. It was founded by Susie Kay, a teacher at H.D. Woodson High School, in one of the roughest neighborhoods in Washington, who saw so much promise in her students.

SUSIE KAY, HOOP DREAMS FOUNDER: But what I also saw was so much frustration, because they did not have necessarily the proper resources and opportunities that you do need.

KOCH: So she organized a small basketball tournament to raise money to send four young people to college. And it snowballed from there.

KAY: What we do as an organization, we build bridges. We build relationships. And I haven't really stopped working on this since that day.

KOCH: The basketball tournament now features star athletes. VIPs flock to the Hoop Dreams congressional reception. And the first graduates now work for Susie.

THEO BRANNUM, PROGRAM COORDINATOR: She really showed me the importance of giving back to my community.

KOCH: Or for local businesses, like the Washington Nationals, where Brandon Bradford handles season ticket sales.

BRANDON BRANFORD ACCT. EXEC., WASHINGTON NATIONALS: They stay on top of you from beginning to end, making sure that you get the best education, a well-rounded education. That's in the books as well as in the real world.

JOE DEOUDES, WASHINGTON NATIONALS: Brandon was a great product of Hoop Dreams. I wish there were five of them.

KOCH: Students and mentors in Hoop Dreams marvel at Susie.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Susie Kay, I just see her and it's like, you never see her down.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Makes you want to do more, she's so positive.

KOCH: But Susie Kay sees inspiration and pride elsewhere.

KAY: My pride is all in them and, you know, what they symbolize as far as what's possible when you believe in the power of hope. KOCH: Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Susie Kay was recently honored at the Urban Independent Music Awards as community activist of the decade. If you want more information, you can check out her Web site. It's called hoopdreams.org. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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