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CNN Sunday Morning
Whitney Houston's Funeral; ESPN Accused of Using Racial Slur
Aired February 19, 2012 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN ANCHOR: From CNN Center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It's Sunday, February 19th. Good morning. I'm Gary Tuchman. And a special good morning to our service men and women who are watching on the American Forces Network overseas.
Today the family and friends of Whitney Houston will lay the pop star to rest. A private burial is planned. We'll take a look at her music-filled sendoff.
Plus, ESPN is accused of using a racial slur. Did the network cross the line with its headline about New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin? There's been world reaction. We'll hear what people are saying.
And, the Navy SEALs are called into action on the big screen. It's a new blockbuster thriller. And, no, those are not actors. We'll talk to the real men on the front line and in the movie.
We start, though, with Whitney Houston being laid to rest today. She is being buried next to her father in the Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey. That's about 25 miles south of Newark where the funeral service was held yesterday. Where her grace was remembered. So was her faith and her passion. We'll have much more on yesterday's event later in this program.
An Arizona sheriff, outed by a Phoenix newspaper, has stepped down as the state's co-chairman for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. In the newspaper article, Sheriff Paul Babeu is accused of threatening to deport his former boyfriend if he revealed the relationship. He denies that allegation. Babeu, the sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, who is also running for Congress, acknowledged publicly for the first time that he is gay, but says he won't end his congressional run.
China is calling for an immediate cease-fire in Syria. A Chinese diplomat was visiting the Syrian counterparts when the military opened fire on anti-government activists in Damascus, the capital city. Activists say as many as 17 people were killed in Syria yesterday. China's vice foreign minister said that both sides should sit down and negotiate an end to the violence. China and Russia recently vetoed a U.N. resolution calling on Syria's president to step aside.
The new discovery of human remains on Long Island, New York, has reignited fears of a possible serial killer on the loose. The remains find Friday were actually around 40 miles from where 10 other sets of remains were found last year. But police said they aren't sure yet if the new discovery is linked to the other cases.
Yesterday's funeral for Whitney Houston was a celebration of her life, of her gift, and of her legacy. Family and friends like Stevie Wonder were at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, to say good-bye. There were songs and stories about the little girl that everyone called "Nippy" and about a woman who did not consider herself a superstar.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEVIN COSTNER, ACTOR/DIRECTOR: It's a tree we could all hang from, the unexplainable burden that comes with fame, call it doubt, call it fear. I've had mine. And I know the famous in the room have had theirs. I asked her to trust me, and she said she would. A half hour later, she went back in to do her screen test and the studio fell in love with her.
The Whitney I knew, despite her success and worldwide fame, still wondered, am I good enough? Am I pretty enough? Will they like me? It was the burden that made her great and the part that caused her to stumble in the end.
Whitney, if you could hear me now, I would tell you, you weren't just good enough, you were great.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: That was Kevin Costner.
Meanwhile, Houston's ex-husband, Bobby Brown, added some unexpected drama to the day. He ended up leaving the funeral early. In his statement, Brown says he was asked to move several times when he got there and finally just decided to leave instead of creating a scene, he says. Houston's family says Brown was expected to be there with two friends, but instead he brought 10. Some of his group were then asked to move to make room for Whitney Houston's mother. The family says Bobby Brown refused, so police were called over.
We've got much more ahead this morning on Whitney Houston. Next hour, we'll talk with Atlanta area pastor Michael McQueen (ph), who was there at the funeral yesterday. We'll get his impressions. At 7:20 Eastern Time, we'll be joined by a pop culture expert to look at Whitney Houston's musical legacy and the lasting effect she's had on entertainment. And then at 8:00 a.m. Eastern, we'll get a journalist's view from inside the funeral at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark.
Well, the South getting a double dose of bad weather this weekend from severe storms and then another blast from old man winter. Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf is here.
Good morning, Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Gary.
It is indeed the one-two punch from mother nature. You know, yesterday we did have a lot of heavy rain along the Gulf Coast, including New Orleans. Right in Bourbon Street had some very heavy rain. Even a couple of tornado reports in parts of Louisiana and into Alabama. But -- and, thankfully, no severe damage and certainly no injuries, no fatalities.
Now, the system is going to chug its way into parts of north Florida. The top half of the system, though, back in the Appalachians. Not rain but possibly some snowfall. We're going to talk more about that and how it's going to affect your travel coming up in a few moments.
TUCHMAN: Thank you, Reynolds.
ESPN is offering an apology to Jeremy Lin after using a racial slur in a story about the NBA sensation.
Plus, a vote in one state defining life as beginning at inception. This morning, concerns it could lead to a ban on abortions.
And, kidnapped as a child and held captive for months, Elizabeth Smart is now a married woman. More on her nuptials just ahead.
And, a new combat movie featuring real Navy SEALs. And it's not without controversy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: Well, we now have time to look at the weather. We're going to go to Reynolds Wolf.
Reynolds, tell us, at this point, we have some serious weather going on in the Gulf, Virginia, Maryland it looks like from (INAUDIBLE).
WOLF: Yes. It's really a mix. It's basically this area of low pressure we've been tracking right along parts of the Gulf Coast. And I'll tell you, if the water was a little bit warmer and it just happened to be, say, during hurricane season, it might be something we'd have even greater concern about.
We're showing you the possible snowfall that we have from the top half of the system, how it may be affecting parts of the Appalachians. Some places three to six. Other places, would not be surprised if you've been the highest peaks, amounts that get to be a bit more.
Take a look at this. Let me show you what we have in terms of precipitation. We've got a lot of it mainly in parts of Memphis, back over to Chattanooga and Nashville. But in New Orleans yesterday, the rain was very heavy.
Let's go to the video and show you what happened on Mardi Gras. Yes, it was certainly a rainy time to say the very least. The beads were coming down, and so too were the rain drops. Very heavy at times.
You know, it wasn't just a rain event, though. We had all kinds of things going on. Some tree damage that was reported in parts of the Gulf Coast. Even a couple of tornadoes reported. But in terms of extreme damage, it just did not happen today. So that's the good news.
Now, the bad news is that area of low pressure is going to continue to move its way over parts of the southeast. We're seeing some strong storms near Jacksonville, right between Jacksonville and Savannah, along 95. I would expect that to intensify. When it makes that cold air aloft, that's when we're going to see the snowfall develop over parts of Virginia, back into the Carolinas, even into West Virginia.
Now, how it's going to affect you in terms of travel, it could be a tough travel day, especially in places like Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville, due to the fog, the mist, the rain, the snow. Raleigh, snow may be an issue, especially into the afternoon hours. And in Washington, D.C., look for some snow to develop by late afternoon.
Other than the mess we're seeing in parts of the southeast, it's pure bliss for portions of the central plains. Just beautiful. Lots of sunshine. Scattered snow showers across the central and northern Rockies. Even the Wasatch Range getting in on that action.
In terms of high temperatures, 40s for Seattle and Portland, 63 in Los Angeles, and 39 in Denver. That's the high for the day, not the current temperature. Thirty-nine also in Chicago, 45 in New York, 55 in Atlanta, 84 in Miami and 41 in Boston outside Fenway Park.
That is the latest in the forecast. Gary, your turn.
TUCHMAN: Forty-one outside Fenway Park.
WOLF: Oh, yes.
TUCHMAN: Spring training is beginning this weekend. (INAUDIBLE).
WOLF: Oh, be still my heart. Great.
TUCHMAN: That's right. The time has come. Thank you, Reynolds.
Well, speaking of sports, ESPN says it's sorry for using an "inappropriate word," that's ESPN's description, to describe NBA sensation Jeremy Lin. ESPN says it could punish employees responsible for it. On Wednesday, an anchor used a word that's also a racial slur referring for Asians. The same word appeared later on ESPN's mobile website. The network says it's taken steps to make sure something like this does not happen again. Lin is an American of Taiwanese descent. He's come off the bench to lead the New York Knicks to some thrilling wins.
Whitney Houston's ex makes an appearance at her funeral. But this morning, some are asking why Bobby Brown left before the service was over. His explanation coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A celebration. It's a celebration of life. OK, she's gone, but she's never forgotten. Whitney will always, always be in our hearts.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know, the family needed this time. We -- as much as we'd love to be there or be somewhere in the realm of it all, it still, you know, moves us, you know, to be out here, you know, sharing, you know, our memories with Whitney Houston.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: Those were some of Whitney Houston's fans saying good- bye in their way. Inside the church, it was a celebration of song and powerful memories. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (singing): She was born in Newark. She was heaven sent.
MAYOR CORY BOOKER, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY: We are here to mourn our loss, but to celebrate her life, one of our angels, Whitney Houston.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (singing): A long time coming. But a change had to come.
TYLER PERRY, ACTOR/FILMMAKER: So what I know about her is that she loved the Lord. And if there was a grace that carried her all the way through, it was the same grace that carried her home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (singing): But I know she wasn't afraid to die.
PERRY: So say whatever you want. God was for her and she is resting singing with the angels. God bless you, family. God bless you. God bless you, Whitney. We love you so much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (singing): Because Whitney understood somebody's waiting beyond the sky. It's been a long time coming.
KEVIN COSTNER, ACTOR: A lot of leading men could have played my part. A lot of guys -- a lot of guys could have filled that role. But you, Whitney, I truly believe that you were the only one that could have played Rachel Marron at that time. She told God that she was going to be like Aretha, like her famous cousin Dionne, like her beautiful mother Cissy. There can be little doubt in this room that she has joined their ranks. And as the debate heats up this century, and it surely will, about the greatest singer of the last century, as the lists are drawn, it will have little meaning to me if her name is not on it.
CLIVE DAVIS, MUSIC EXECUTIVE/WHITNEY HOUSTON'S MENTOR: Without knowing of her love of music, her passion, and her absolutely natural genius in interpreting songs, you certainly don't know all of Whitney Houston. Personally, all I can say is that I loved her very much. Everyone in heaven, including God, is waiting. And I just know you're going to raise the roof like no one else has done before.
STEVIE WONDER, MUSICIAN (singing): And no more Whitney, no more do you have to cry. You will always be our ribbon in the sky.
DIONNE WARWICK, WHITNEY HOUSTON'S COUSIN: Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free. I'm following the path God laid for me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): And do I hear a song, I look to you.
WARWICK: God wanted me now. He set me free.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (singing): Yes, Jesus loves me for the Bible tells me so.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love you, Whitney.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: It's time now to check out what other stories are making news across the country.
We start in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a former University of Virginia lacrosse player, accused of killing his girlfriend, decided not to take the stand in his own defense. Instead, George Huguely left it up to his attorney to explain that while Huguely admits he fought with Yeardley Love back in May 2010, he left her injured, but not dead. They called the death an accident. Both the prosecution and defense rested their cases. The trial resumes on Wednesday.
To Hawaii now where Elizabeth Smart is a married woman. She married her boyfriend in a small ceremony on Oahu's north shore. Smart and Matthew Gilmour were supposed to get married this summer but a spokesman says the couple decided to move it up a couple of months because of all the media attention. You'll remember that Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped when she was just 14 years old and held for around nine months. She's now 24 years old.
Finally, let's go to Las Vegas, where the stars came out to say happy birthday to Muhammad Ali. Ali actually turned 70 last month, but Vegas never misses an opportunity to party.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is the most generous person I know. And you know what, my dad doesn't want to spend his birthday getting gifts. He wants to give back to the community.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is the most unselfish person that I've ever known.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's an icon in just about every avenue of life. Both as an athlete and as a person.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ali has changed us all and impacted us all, whether we acknowledge it or not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: President Obama sent along a video message to Ali. People paid up to $10,000 a ticket to go to the party, which doubled as a fund-raiser for the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, and the brain health center at the Cleveland Clinic.
Bobby Brown is speaking out on his early exit from the funeral for his ex-wife Whitney Houston. The R&B singer left the service shortly after arriving. Police sources tell CNN, Brown decided to leave after being asked to move several times in the church. Reverend Jesse Jackson spoke to CNN's Don Lemon about the incident.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. JESSE JACKSON, RAINBOW PUSH COALITION: Four or five of them sitting in the front row. And they wanted him to move. And I think they didn't make proper accommodations for him to move. And so he was asked to leave. That was a very difficult moment for all of us. I tried to get him to stay, but they asked him to get up to go and wouldn't make room for him. That was a painful mar (ph) on today's otherwise tremendous, inspiring service.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: In a statement Brown said in part, "I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continued to ask us and no one else to move. I will continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how."
So, we want to hear from you on this topic. What do you make of the Bobby Brown scenario at the funeral? Tweet me @garytuchmancnn.
Whitney Houston's funeral brought out the famous and brought out her fans. A look at how Whitney was remembered when we return.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: We want to welcome you back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Gary Tuchman. Thank you very much for waking up with us. It's half past the hour. Or actually, more precisely, we want to be honest with you, it's 26 minutes past the hour. We don't want you to think your clock is running four minutes fast when it's half past. So, 25 minutes, 26 minutes past the hour.
In the news, Whitney Houston's family will gather today at a private burial to lay her to rest. She will be buried next to her father. Her burial comes one day after celebrities like Alicia Keys sang tributes to Houston at her childhood church in Newark, New Jersey. The emotionally charged invitation only service lasted several hours with people remembering the superstar as a powerful singer, actress, and child of God. Our national correspondent Susan Candiotti has more on what happened after the funeral.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Gary, after the funeral with the rain coming down, friends and family of Whitney Houston were invited to a special gathering called a repast (ph). And they gathered on the 22nd floor of a private dinner club to share something to eat and to share stories, no doubt, about Whitney Houston, how they knew her, how they loved her.
Many people who were notables were also here. A lot of people here, the spectators recognized from across the street, as these invited guests crossed a red carpet and a rope line into the building. They included, of course, Cissy Houston and also Bobbi Kristina, Whitney's daughter. We saw Kevin Costner go in. Even afterwards he came out and waved to everyone standing across the street, watching all these people gather.
We also saw Reverend Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Tyler Perry came here, as well as Dionne Warwick. And Jennifer Hudson and Angela Bassett. A number of notables. For many people here, undoubtedly, it was an inspirational and emotional experience and, in many ways, very likely, a comforting one.
Gary, back to you.
TUCHMAN: Susan, thank you very much.
Now we all know Whitney Houston will be remembered as the voice, a diva, and a superstar. But how did she see herself? Here's Whitney Houston in her own words.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHITNEY HOUSTON, MUSICIAN/ACTRESS: When we started, it was about, what would fit with my voice? What song did? And when Clive heard me sing "The Greatest Love," which was the first song he kind of like grasped onto and said, OK, that's where we're going to go. We're going to go -- we've finally got someone who can sing great ballads. So I'm proud to carry that torch, you know what I'm saying? I'm proud of that.
When you're doing it, you just -- you give the best you've got, you know. I worked really hard, you know, and I gave it all I had, you know, and that's all you can expect. I feel humbled. I feel blessed to have, you know, received all of this -- these accolades. I mean, that's -- I don't know, that's the way I feel.
I fell in love with a great man. And I thought, mm, I think I'll have his baby. No, I'm only kidding. But, no, I did fall in love with a great man and decided, I'd like to have some kids, you know. But, I don't know, I just thought maybe it would be nice to have somebody carry me on.
It's not a comeback for me. I've been here. I've just been here. I just took a break, you know, which sometimes you have to. You have to know when to slow that train down and kind of just sit back and just relax for a minute. I just wanted time to be -- for my daughter to look in my eyes and to know that I was mommy and not the lady on TV, you know what I'm saying? That's very important to me.
My mother used to always tell me, above all, to thine own self be true. And that's kind of like what I want to teach Bobbi Kris, you know, be true to yourself. You can fool people. You can fool anybody any time of the day, but you can't fool yourself. At night, when you go home, you've got to be straight up with you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: Here's a look at some top stories on this Sunday morning.
The co-chair of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign in Arizona has stepped down. We're talking about Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu.
"The Phoenix New Times" published allegations that he threatened to deport an ex-boyfriend. Babeu is now saying he is gay but denied trying to deport the man. Babeu is also running for Congress. He says he will continue with his congressional campaign.
A new set of human remains found on Long Island, New York, has renewed fears that a serial killer is out there. Police say they found the remains about 40 miles from where at least 10 other sets of human remains were found. So far, it's not clear if the cases are connected.
Iranian navy ships, including a destroyer, reportedly have passed through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea and are headed to Syria. A deployment one year ago, which is seen here, stirred fears in Israel and other nations. An Iranian news agency quotes an admiral, saying the deployment is meant to show friendship and support for countries in the region and display Iran's military resolve.
And Greece, authorities are looking for a couple of art thieves. They tied up a guard and stole dozens of clay and brass figures. This happened at a museum in Olympia during business hours. Many of the stolen artifacts are related to the Olympics and are statuettes of athletes. It's the second big art theft in Greece this year. The culture minister resigned after this one.
This week the Virginia Senate could take up a bill that says life begins at conception and gives even a fertilized egg the same rights as a person. The House of Delegates in Virginia approved the bill last week. If it survives the trip to the governor's desk and he signs it, Virginia will be the first state in the nation with a law like this. CNN's Athena Jones has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ATHENA JONES, CNN REPORTER (voice-over): The battle over women's reproductive rights is playing out in state houses around the country. In Virginia, the House of Delegates just passed a bill that says life begins at conception and gives unborn children in all stages of development, including embryos, the same rights available to you and me.
BOB MARSHALL, (R) VIRGINIA STATE HOUSE: It grants recognition that there's a human being here. By itself, this cannot criminalize abortion. JONES (voice-over): While the bill doesn't directly challenge the landmark Roe versus Wade Supreme Court decision affirming a woman's right to abortion, Republican delegate Bob Marshall, the bill's sponsor and a longtime abortion opponent, acknowledges it's a step in that direction.
MARSHALL: We need to get back to the respect for life that we used to have in this country that's been lost.
JONES (voice-over): The bill hasn't yet passed the state senate.
JONES: The fight over the legislation here in Richmond has been fierce, with opponents saying the bill will severely restrict women's reproductive rights.
JONES (voice-over): Democratic delegate Eileen Filler-Corn worries the measure could reduce access to forms of contraception that prevent the implantation of fertilized eggs.
EILEEN FILLER-CORN, (D) VIRGINIA STATE HOUSE: This all is an overreach by the state and by the government, and these decisions should be left to a woman and her -- with her physician, medical professional. This is a slippery slope, and eventually the goal of the personhood movement is to ensure that birth control is illegal.
JONES (voice-over): The battle in Virginia isn't unique. A similar bill is now pending in Oklahoma's legislature.
ELIZABETH NASH, GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE: What I would say is that we're in the middle of a wave of these kinds of bills, and that they're happening across the country. We're also seeing ballot initiatives being introduced.
JONES (voice-over): Virginia's Governor Robert McDonnell has said he will review the bill if it passes the state senate, but he hasn't committed to signing it. Whatever happens in Virginia, one thing is certain: 39 years after Roe v. Wade, the debate over women's reproductive rights is not going away -- Athena Jones, CNN, Richmond, Virginia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
TUCHMAN: Now to the presidential race. We're a little more than eight months from the general election, folks. We're going to talk about Newt Gingrich's Southern strategy today. His home state of Georgia is a key for him. Win and go on, or lose and possibly, possibly go away.
Joining me now is Patricia Murphy. She's the founder of Citizen Jane Politics and a contributor for "The Daily Beast." Thank you very much, for joining us, Patricia.
PATRICIA MURPHY, CITIZEN JANE POLITICS: Thank you for having me.
TUCHMAN: You've been following Newt Gingrich during his campaign swing here in the state of Georgia. Key for him on Super Tuesday.
MURPHY: Huge.
TUCHMAN: How is he doing?
MURPHY: He is doing well. He's getting his crowds out. His crowds are thrilled to see him. These are people who knew him when he was Speaker here, and people who have moved to the state are there to see him, some of them for the first time, very excited about his message.
But he knows, and he says, Georgia is not a slam dunk. He's down in a lot of polls. He is running a little short on money. He's able to raise some recently. He himself has said Georgia is not a slam dunk.
TUCHMAN: I mean, I said he possibly could be in a lot of trouble if he doesn't win in Georgia. I mean, can he continue if he doesn't win his home state? This is where he was a congressman for so many years and this is what sprung him to be Speaker of the House.
MURPHY: Yes. If we're listened from 2012, if anything, it's do not count Newt Gingrich out, no matter what happens in the race. But it would be very, very difficult for him to go on as a legitimate candidate if he can't win his own home state of Georgia.
And even unlike some places like Michigan for Mitt Romney, he did serve here in Congress. Everybody knows him. He has a message that should resonate here. If he doesn't do really well in Georgia, if he doesn't win Georgia, how can he continue? He could keep going, but could anybody believe he would win the nomination?
TUCHMAN: OK. Now the guy who was just shaking his hand and hugging Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain, another man from Georgia --
MURPHY: Yes, another man from Georgia.
TUCHMAN: -- who we know dropped out of the race. He's been campaigning with him in Georgia.
MURPHY: Yes.
TUCHMAN: Let's listen to something that Herman Cain just said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HERMAN CAIN, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I got news for you, 50 percent of American people are clueless. Fifty percent of American people do fall in the category of either stupid or ignorant, relative to what's going on in this country. There's stupid people (inaudible) this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: So Herman Cain just called a lot of the American people stupid and ignorant. Is that a good campaign tactic to insult lots of Americans?
MURPHY: Well, if you need 50 percent plus one, let's be nice to the plus one at least, you know.
(LAUGHTER)
MURPHY: That message right there, it was basically Herman Cain saying the Democrats have pulled the wool over the eyes of half of Americans. I don't think he really meant that half of America is really stupid. They're just dumb enough to get tricked by the Democrats.
But everybody else is smart enough to vote for Newt Gingrich. And listen, Herman Cain is really just a radio guy. He's a deejay. Well, he's --
TUCHMAN: Talk show host.
MURPHY: Yes, talk show host, if you will. This is really the --
TUCHMAN: I used to be a deejay --
MURPHY: Congratulations --
TUCHMAN: -- when I was in college.
MURPHY: And look at you now.
TUCHMAN: (Inaudible) -- I wish I still was. I loved spinning those tunes.
(LAUGHTER)
TUCHMAN: Anyway --
MURPHY: Yes, and (inaudible) -- so this is -- this is how he gets his crowds riled up. The crowd there loved it. That's one of his biggest applause lines. And it does tee this group up to say the future of the country is in your hands. Half of the country's not going to help us. It's your turn to help us now. And, really, that message worked incredibly well this weekend.
TUCHMAN: OK. We don't think Rick Santorum will necessarily win Georgia, but he was at 1 percent of the polls a short time ago, and now he's in double digits. Let's listen to what Rick Santorum had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FORMER SEN. RICK SANTORUM, R-PA., PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The greatest gift I have as a politician is everybody underestimates me, and it is -- it is, of all the things you can have as a politician, of any gift you can have, that is the best one, because they never take you seriously.
(END VIDEO CLIP) TUCHMAN: All right. So Rick Santorum thinks people aren't taking him seriously. Are people not taking Rick Santorum seriously?
(LAUGHTER)
MURPHY: Well, yes and no. People absolutely are taking Rick Santorum seriously, because he keeps winning races. How could you not take him seriously? On the other hand, when you talk to political professionals, they will say, yes, but -- but he doesn't have a lot of money. But he doesn't have a large infrastructure.
But the reality is that has not stopped him in a lot of these states. So you have to take Rick Santorum seriously. He is very consistent with his message, which these conservative voters love. He's very unpredictable with his results, which is making the Republican establishment so worried.
TUCHMAN: And I interviewed Rick Santorum the night of the Nevada caucuses -- he didn't do well, and he said, he goes, "I'm going to win the nomination." I said, "Really?" I mean, he caught me kind of by surprise, because he sounded different than he just did there. He says, I'm going to win. And then he won the next three contests. So I think people need to take him seriously, right?
MURPHY: Absolutely. And, listen, if you're looking for somebody who is really truly very conservative, socially conservative, fiscally conservative, for a Republican Party like the one in 2010 that was hungry for conservatives and a conservative message, Rick Santorum really is their guy.
So are they going to all get together and nominate him? It's tough. He's being outspent 10:1, 20:1 in some of these contests. Newt Gingrich looks like he could be strong in the South, but you must take Rick Santorum seriously.
TUCHMAN: Patricia Murphy, it's very nice meeting you in person.
MURPHY: Thank you. Great meeting you in person.
TUCHMAN: And I look forward to talking to you soon.
MURPHY: Sounds good.
TUCHMAN: Thanks for your expertise.
Well, there is only one debate left before Super Tuesday, and we've got it for you here on CNN. It's the Arizona Republican debate. It will be this Wednesday night. Join our John King as he welcomes the four remaining Republican presidential candidates, once again, this Wednesday, 8:00 Eastern time.
A new combat movie featuring real Navy SEALs, not actors, and it's not without controversy -- that's ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) TUCHMAN: It's party time in Rio de Janeiro Brazil as Carnival kicks off into high gear. Carnival, drums, fireworks, elaborate floats dotting the parade as partygoers attend hundreds of neighborhood block parties.
The five-day festival officially started Friday, leading up to Fat Tuesday. Officials say 850,000 tourists are in Rio for the celebrations. And we now go to the guy who spends every Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Reynolds Wolf. Actually, have you ever been there before?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No. No, no, no.
TUCHMAN: Me neither. I've got to get there. I haven't had any stories in Rio and around Carnival would be the perfect time --
WOLF: Seriously, I mean, that is definitely on the agenda. Got to make it to Carnival at one point.
You know, here in the U.S., we certainly had our own celebration, that, of course, Mardi Gras, down in New Orleans, where they had to deal with -- not only with the nice big parade floats and they had to deal with the beads, they had to deal with some heavy rainfall. That rainfall now moving to the east.
And look how it's changing over. So although we have some storms in places like Florida and back into Tennessee, we're also starting to se a different type of precipitation in the top half of the storm, especially right here in this area.
Notice a little bit of white beginning to pop up. That is because we've got a lot of cold air loft coming in from the north, and with the overbearing moisture, you're going to see the snow. Question is, how much snow are we going to see in that part of the world? Well, the latest computer models show anywhere from, say, three to six inches of snow.
Everything you see in pink for the time being is where we have our winter storm warnings. That's going to be in effect, not just for today but into Monday as well. So any morning drive you have on parts of 40, even 81, even on Blue Ridge Parkway you might have some problems. So just take it easy out there.
Now in terms of travels just around the rest of the nation, you might have some backups at a lot of your airports. Atlanta, Birmingham, and even into Nashville, you're going to have some issues with the weather. Raleigh, could have some delays there, too, because of the snow.
And in Washington, D.C., by late afternoon, we might see some of that snow make its way from the Blue Ridge back over towards the tidal basin. So, yes, you could definitely see some snow before all is said and done.
In terms of the rest of your forecast, it is going to be beautiful for the central and northern plains, certainly cold, but it's going to be feeling OK for you in many place in terms of the sunshine in the desert southwest. But when you get into the higher elevations, we're going to be dealing with some snow at some of the ski resorts.
West Coast, looks like a mix of sun and clouds in most spots with highs in San Francisco and in Los Angeles into the 50s and 60s, 37 in Salt Lake City, 50 in Kansas City, 61 in Dallas, 64 in Houston, 59 in New Orleans -- a better day today as the rain moves out -- 41 in Boston, 43 in D.C. and as a wrap-it-up, 84 degrees the expected high -- get out of there -- 84 in Miami. That's the latest, Gary. Back to you.
TUCHMAN: Eighty-four in Miami looks good, just like Rio.
WOLF: There you go.
TUCHMAN: Thank you very much, Reynolds.
"The Simpsons" celebrate a major milestone tonight. It's "The Simpsons" 500th episode, but Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie haven't changed hardly at all over the past 20 or so years.
Tonight's 500th episode includes an appearance by Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks. So how does that work into a "Simpsons" episode? Well, we don't want to spoil it for you, but I will tell you it involves a family being forced out of Springfield.
Imagine being an orphan, given a name that forever reveals why you were left alone. That scenario apparently has been happening in China until now. More in a moment.
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TUCHMAN: To weigh in on Bobby Brown leaving Whitney Houston's funeral early yesterday after an apparent dispute over seating arrangements. Well, on Twitter, Air Hostess tweeted to me, "Bobby is hurting just like the rest of the family and made a horrible decision to leave. I feel sorry for him."
Michele tweeted to me, "I think it's typical Bobby. Things with him can't ever go smoothly. Knowing how toxic their relationship was, he should have left."
Send me your thoughts, and we'll read some more of them on the air.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: It's time for this morning's passport with our very own Nadia Bilchik.
Nadia? Nadia has a story, I guarantee that most of you never heard about this, but when you're an orphan in China, you can sometimes be given very demeaning names that you have to live with your entire life. NADIA BILCHIK, EDITORIAL PRODUCER: Yes. Now in China, particularly, what they call orphans up until now, there's new regulation, is Dang Guo, which means party or state.
TUCHMAN: So they name you -- basically, that's the Communist Party kind of thing --
(CROSSTALK)
BILCHIK: Absolutely.
TUCHMAN: You're the property of our state.
BILCHIK: Exactly.
TUCHMAN: Yes. Yes.
BILCHIK: So this year the Ministry of Civil Affairs have said we are no longer going to do that. Children in orphanages, in fact, are prohibited from being called party or state. They will rather be given the surnames or the last names of 100 of the most popular Chinese last names.
Now it's interesting, one particular orphanage said that up until 2010 every single orphan was called -- or their last name was Party because, because as you just said, they owed their lives to the party. And one particular welfare worker said, we don't want children to grow up in orphanages to carry labels that imply they are different from those who have parents.
TUCHMAN: What an enlightened thing to say.
BILCHIK: Exactly. Now of course that goes with them throughout their lives. So now there are about 100,000 children in 900 orphanages throughout China. So it really is going to impact a lot of children.
TUCHMAN: Does this happen in other countries?
BILCHIK: You know, in India last year, I did a story about little girls who were called "Nakusha" or "Nakushi," which in Hindi meant unwanted. And up until last year that had been their names. So only in 2011 were they given names for the first time that didn't identify them as being unwanted.
So certainly in China, change in regulation later this year will be implemented, and these children will have surnames that have so much more dignity than simply "Party" or "State."
TUCHMAN: What has led to this sudden enlightenment?
BILCHIK: I think psychologists and welfare workers. The "China Daily" particularly says that this move shows the government is paying more attention to these children's psychological needs, which helps their development. So certainly some kind of movement to understand what are the long-term ramifications? And it brings us to think, what's in a name, Gary Tuchman?
TUCHMAN: You know, well, I mean, Tuchman in Chinese means of the state. You didn't know that?
BILCHIK: Oh, well, now I do.
TUCHMAN: And that's so startling that's why I'm sitting here with you discussing the --
(CROSSTALK)
BILCHIK: And do you know what your first name means, Gary?
TUCHMAN: Gary? It's a British name.
BILCHIK: And do we know, does it mean king or queen or -- ?
TUCHMAN: Oh, definitely king.
BILCHIK: Definitely king.
TUCHMAN: Yes, definitely --
BILCHIK: Because my name Nadia means --
TUCHMAN: So tell me what -- yes, I'm --
BILCHIK: -- hope or gift.
TUCHMAN: Really?
BILCHIK: Yes. So it's always interesting to know what does your name mean, what does a family name mean, and what does it mean to have a wonderful new last name? So there's going to be a whole generation of Chinese orphans, who are going to be much more proud of their names than they ever were --
TUCHMAN: What I can tell you, so I somewhat informed, that Tuchman, I do know what that means. Tuchman's a German name, and tuch means -- and German speakers would know this -- means cloth or clothes. So it's cloth man.
BILCHIK: So cloth man.
TUCHMAN: I'm a man of the cloth.
BILCHIK: Well, that says a lot about your warmth and your wisdom.
TUCHMAN: Well, Nadia, thank you very much. You should be my agent. Nadia Bilchik, thank you very much for joining us. It's great talking to you.
BILCHIK: It's always good to talk about what's in a name.
TUCHMAN: Yes, it very -- it very much is. And this is an inspiring story, too, because they've finally seen the light in China, give kids some dignity. Thank you.
An edge-of-your-seat Hollywood thriller starring real navy SEALs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, two, one. All clear!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: But some people are not too happy about the movie or the secrets it reveals. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: A Hollywood thriller about Navy SEALs, but these aren't actors. Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, two, one. All clear!
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: The SEALs of Bandito Platoon are called into action --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Be safe.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know I will.
STARR (voice-over): -- when a deadly terrorist plot against the U.S. is uncovered.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: This is a personal recovery. Proceed to target. Recover the package and move to extract.
STARR (voice-over): It's an edge of your seat Hollywood thriller, but wait, those are real SEALs acting in "Act of Valor."
"LT. RORKE," ACTIVE-DUTY U.S. NAVY SEAL: They remain as (ph) asked to participate in the film, said no. Everyone to a man said no.
MIKE MCCOY, DIRECTOR: Initially all the guys turned us down. You know, they weren't about making movies.
STARR (voice-over): But Director Mike McCoy convinced the Navy only SEALs could play SEALs.
MCCOY: We started to see a brotherhood of men that you didn't even know existed in the real world.
STARR (voice-over): And together they embarked on a two-and-a- half year production schedule.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Action.
STARR (voice-over): Denver (ph) has been on classified SEAL missions to all over the world. This movie is as close as you get to what he really does. The combat is actually the crew filming SEALs on training missions.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Be nice if I could be here, we're talking why he's addressing this threat. You can see this guy move. Frag out.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Frag out.
"RORKE": It is extremely authentic. I mean, we were there at every turn with the production company and the directors during the filming of "Act of Valor," where we could say, this is the way it actually happens.
STARR (voice-over): The movie is not without controversy. The Navy originally wanted to make a SEAL recruiting film. The crew shot hundreds of hours, and suddenly it became a movie that never got the Pentagon's official stamp of approval. Navy officials say they know some will be critical of real commandos being used in a Hollywood thriller.
REAR ADM. DENNIS MOYNIHAN, CHIEF OF NAVY PUBLIC INFORMATION: It did not the follow the typical approval process, but the Navy did support the film, and the SEALs were involved with the film every step of the way.
STARR (voice-over): But to keep their secrets, some camera angles were adjusted on weapons, classified procedures left out -- and there was a lighter side.
"RORKE": We made fun of each other constantly. You know, you're running around trying to simulate combat. And you're going to take a fall and tumble and look silly. And that's now on camera where you can get away with that on the battlefield, only your buddies see that. So, it had its moments.
MCCOY: These were some of the most compelling, dynamic men we'd ever met in our lives. And they were just really humble, good dudes you just wanted to have a beer with, and maybe go surfing and hang out.
STARR (voice-over): And what about a real SEAL becoming a real actor?
"RORKE: If Clint Eastwood calls, know I'm taking that phone call.
STARR (voice-over): Barbara Starr, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: Remembering Whitney Houston's faith, I'll be talking to her Atlanta area pastor about the last time they prayed together. Meantime, we asked you to weigh in on Bobby Brown leaving Whitney Houston's funeral early yesterday after an apparent dispute over seating arrangements. It's not too late to weigh in. Send me your tweets @GaryTuchmanCNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) TUCHMAN: Now back to some of your comments about Bobby Brown leaving Whitney Houston's funeral early yesterday.
Charlsey wrote, "We've only heard his side so far. If accurate, however, it does seem he was treated harshly. He has a right to grieve."
But TD said, "If we ignore him, perhaps he'll simply go away. Whitney's day."
Finally, Bejo said, "More fuss is being made of him than Whitney Houston. They were married for 15 years. Could not have been that bad." Bejo adds #leave the man alone.
And we want to hear more of your thoughts. Tweet me @GaryTuchmanCNN and we'll read your responses on air.
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TUCHMAN: From CNN Center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It's Sunday, February 19th, 2012. It's 7:00 am here in Atlanta, 4:00 am in Los Angeles. Good morning, everybody. I'm Gary Tuchman.
Today the family and friends of Whitney Houston will lay the pop star to rest. A private burial is planned. We'll take a look at her music filled sendoff.
Plus ESPN is accused of using a racial slur. Did the network cross the line with its headline about New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin? There's been world reaction to it. We'll hear what people are saying.
And President Jimmy Carter talks about his journey to Christianity and how at times he had questioned his beliefs.
We start with Whitney Houston being laid to rest today. She is being buried next to her father in the Fairview cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey. It's about 25 miles south of Newark, where friends and family gathered yesterday to remember her grace, her passion, her faith. We'll have much more on yesterday's event later in this program.
An Arizona sheriff outed by a Phoenix newspaper has stepped down as the state's co-chairman for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. In the newspaper article, Sheriff Paul Babeu is accused of threatening to deport his former boyfriend if he revealed their relationship.
He denies the allegation. Babeu, who's a sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, south of Phoenix, is also running for Congress, and he acknowledged publicly for the first time that he's gay. He says he will not end his congressional run.
China is calling for an immediate ceasefire in Syria. A Chinese diplomat was visiting his Syrian counterparts when the military opened fire on anti-government activists in the capital of Damascus. Activists say as many as 17 people were killed in Syria yesterday. China's vice foreign minister says that both sides should sit down and negotiate an end to the violence.
China and Russia recently vetoed a United Nations resolution, calling on Syria's president to step aside.
The new discovery of human remains on Long Island in New York has reignited fears of a possible serial killer on the loose. The remains found Friday were actually found around 40 miles from where 10 other sets of remains were found last year. Police say they aren't sure yet if the new discovery is linked to the other cases.
Whitney Houston's family will gather at a private burial today to lay her to rest. She will be buried next to her father. Her burial comes one day after celebrities like Alicia Keys sang tributes to Whitney Houston at Whitney Houston's childhood church in Newark, New Jersey. The emotionally charged invitation-only service lasted for several hours as people remembered the superstar as a powerful singer, an actress, and a child of God.
Our national correspondent Susan Candiotti has more on what happened after her funeral.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Gary, after the funeral with the rain coming down, friends and family of Whitney Houston were invited to a special gathering called a repast, and they gathered on the 22nd floor of a private dinner club to share something to eat and to share stories no doubt about Whitney Houston, how they knew her, how they loved her.
Many people who were notables were also here. A lot of people here, the spectators recognized from across the street as these invited guests crossed a red carpet and a rope line into the building. They included, of course, Cissy Houston and also Bobbi Kristina, Whitney's daughter. We saw Kevin Costner go in. Even afterwards, he came out and waved to everyone standing across the street, watching all these people gather.
We also saw Reverend Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Tyler Perry came here, as well as Dionne Warwick and Jennifer Hudson and Angela Bassett, a number of notables.
For many people here undoubtedly, it was an inspirational and emotional experience, and in many ways, very likely, a comforting one.
Gary, back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: Thank you, Susan.
Whitney Houston was very strong in her faith, even as she was away from her New Jersey home. The Reverend Dr. Michael McQueen knew that firsthand. He's the pastor at St. James United Methodist Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta.
He joins me now on the phone.
Pastor, thanks for joining us. I know that Whitney Houston was at your church on New Year's Eve. You were at the service yesterday.
What were your impressions, first of all, of the service?
Looks like Pastor McQueen's phone isn't working right now. But we will come right back to him as soon as we get that phone connection with him. It will be very fast.
Like I said, it was New Year's Eve when Whitney Houston was in his church in Alpharetta, which is a suburb of Atlanta, half an hour north of the city of Atlanta.
Next hour in "Faces of Faith," we'll have an interview, our own Martin Savidge did, with President Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, about his new book. The 39th president has written his 27th book. It's called "Through the Year with Jimmy Carter" and documents his journey into the Christian faith.
Here's a small part of the interview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Specific instances of when you were in the White House. I mean, you apply both faith with the political -- what was going on at that time. Have you ever felt abandoned by your faith?
JIMMY CARTER, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: Just once in my life, I was disillusioned with my faith. It's when I ran for governor in 1966. I was basically running against Lester Maddox, who was a well-known segregationist. And when he didn't win, but the legislature appointed him. There was a constitutional provision. I really felt let down by God.
But my younger sister, who was a very famous evangelist, took some Scriptures from the Book of James, I remember, that a setback in life should be an institution that results in perseverance and patience and self-analysis and renewed spiritual commitment. And she convinced me. So, my faith was renewed at that time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: That interview coming up.
Meanwhile, ESPN is apologizing for a racial slur about Jeremy Lin. The word made the air and ESPN's mobile Web site. We'll have that story.
Plus, meteorologist Reynolds Wolf is standing by with our weekend forecast -- Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, I've got to tell you -- yesterday, all the rain was right along the Gulf Coast, including places like New Orleans. Now, it is all shifting to the East, where it's going to bring rain to parts of Florida and Georgia and the Carolinas and even some snow into the Appalachians. We'll let you know how long it will last, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: We were telling you about Whitney Houston being very strong in her faith, no matter where she was, California, New Jersey, where she was born. Georgia, she has lived for many years.
Her pastor, one of her pastors, the Reverend Dr. Michael McQueen. He knew that first hand. He just saw Whitney Houston in his church in Alpharetta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, on New Year's Eve. He was at the service yesterday.
Pastor, thank you very much for joining me.
Tell me how you thought the service was yesterday.
REV. MICHAEL MCQUEEN, ST. JAMES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (via telephone): I thought it was a great testament to Whitney Houston. It was one, very musical. And I think she got --
TUCHMAN: Pastor, it's a little hard to hear you. Sometimes that phone technology gets you. That's a million technology. Oh, you're on an airplane, I understand.
Thank you for talking for the airplane and I apologize to the flight attendant if you're on the runway about to take off. Just tell her it's an important call.
But you prayed with Whitney, as I was saying this past New Year's. Can you tell us about that?
MCQUEEN: Whitney came in. (INAUDIBLE). She loved the Lord. In sharing with us, she shared with me that she had really enjoyed me and I was her pastor every time she came through to Atlanta. So, she really enjoyed worship and being with the Lord.
TUCHMAN: Pastor, still really hard to hear you, but we're getting the idea of what you're saying, that she loved the Lord and talk to you about that. What do you think the family can do to heal, sir?
MCQUEEN: Can you say it again, please?
TUCHMAN: What do you think the family can do to heal right now?
MCQUEEN: Well, I'm recommending to spend time in prayer, get away, reflect upon Whitney's life to see how they can best honor her life. (INAUDIBLE) And so, I think some time away, spending time in prayer.
TUCHMAN: Dr. McQueen, thank you very much for talking with us. It's nice of you to rush and get through security, get on the airplane. We're sorry for the bad reception, but I enjoyed talking to you. Have a nice flight. MCQUEEN: OK. Thank you.
TUCHMAN: Well, the Pacific Northwest is getting ready for another winter blast, and parts of the south are preparing for severe storms. New Orleans hit some severe storms yesterday, Reynolds Wolf, and it's Mardi Gras. This is the seventh Mardi Gras since Hurricane Katrina, which is a wonderful testament because a lot of people thought there wouldn't be another Mardi Gras after Hurricane Katrina.
WOLF: Absolutely. I mean, the city continues to rebound. Yesterday, they went out there and had the best they possibly could despite the rainfall and despite the thunderstorms and even a couple of tornadoes along the Gulf Coast. But thankfully, no major damage; certainly no injuries, no fatalities.
We're watching that system slowly move its way to the east. As it does, it's beginning to go change a little bit. Not just a rain maker, but also some light snow that's beginning to pop up through parts of the Blue Ridge and back into the Appalachians.
Some of the half of this though, you can take a look and see some strong storms moving through central Tennessee. Good morning to you, Nashville. You might hear some thunder boomers to the South. Before the day is out, you might get some additional rainfall, from Memphis, by (INAUDIBLE), Nashville. Let's see extreme northern Mississippi, you're going to see the rain continue throughout the day and maybe flash flooding there, too, because of poor drainage in some low-lying spots.
In Florida, look for a chance of storm there, especially into the afternoon as the atmosphere continues to destabilize. But one thing we're going to be seeing back over to central Alabama is mainly the rain, but everything further north, it's all going to be snow. Perhaps even into Washington, D.C. before the day is out.
And the reason why is because we've got a lot of cold air that's still coming in from the North. The overall moisture is what could give you the snow and could also aid in the some delays you might be seeing.
In Atlanta, Birmingham, and Nashville, it's going to be the combination of the fog and the mist that's going to be giving you some issues. In Nashville, maybe a light touch of snow, but I'm not I'm not expecting any significant accumulation, Raleigh, perhaps a light dusting, Washington, D.C., you could see the rain also, a few snowflakes here and there.
Now, the heavy snowfall is going to be limited mainly to the highest elevations of the Appalachians. How much? Well, we're calling for three to six, but don't be surprised if up by Blue Ridge Parkway, you get a more into the highest peaks, maybe even to around eight inches of snowfall before all is said and done.
Now, in terms of the weather for the Central Plains, it looks great. It's going to be picture perfect for you across the Dakotas, back in Nebraska, even into Kansas, over towards the Pacific Northwest, we're going to see again the snow in some of the highest elevations.
And in terms of temperatures, we wrap things up -- 47 degrees, the expected high in Seattle, the showers is going to stick around through the next couple of days, 55 in San Francisco, 40 in Billings, 61 in Dallas, 39 in -- let's see -- Chicago, 43 in Washington, D.C., 74 in Tampa, and 41 in Boston.
That is a quick snapshot of your forecast. We have so much more coming up.
You're watching CNN SUNDAY. See you in a bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks has been such a hit that he's applied for a trademark on the word Linsanity, and his appeal is going global.
CNN's Eunice Yoon shows us why he's a big hit in China.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
EUNICE YOON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With his unbelievable performance on the court, Jeremy Lin has become an American sensation and the Linsanity over the New York Knicks Guard is starting to spread, halfway around the world, to China.
The Taiwanese-American, 23-year-old from California, is winning over fans here, in a country where there are as many basketball buffs as there are Americans in the world.
BROOK LARMER, AUTHOR, "OPERATION YAO MING": China has a very, I think, wide and inclusive sense of national identity and it embraces even a Chinese-American born of Taiwanese parents in Palo Alto who is a devout Christian.
YOON: Lin Shou Hou as he's known here, has already garnered more than a million followers on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. His jerseys selling fast on a popular e-commerce site Taobao.
And the Harvard graduate's tongue-in-cheek video on how to get into the Ivy League school has been viewed half a million times on the Chinese Internet, poking fun at Asian stereotypes.
JEREMY LIN, NBA PLAYER: Step one, get glasses.
YOON: While capturing the imagination of a nation obsessed with education and success.
"He proves that Asians can succeed in basketball," says this fan.
(on camera): But Lin's success here isn't a slam dunk. Lin didn't grow up in China and he didn't rise to the ranks of the nation's sports system like his mentor, Yao Ming.
LARMER: Yao is promoted from the day one as its national icon who represented the nation, who is standing tall in the world to show that China itself answered could stay and talk.
On the other hand, I think that Jeremy Lin will eventually grow on Chinese.
YOON: "He gives players like me a lot of confidence," this fan says. "He is not too tall, just like us."
When Yao retired from the Houston Rockets last year, the NBA feared the game here could lose momentum. Now, they are hoping the 6'3" player who the media have called a super nova can one day fill Yao's shoes.
"This might just be a burst of talent," he says, "but I hope he keeps playing like this for a long time."
A feeling that is mutual among the Linsane back in the U.S.
Eunice Yoon, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN: Well, hit movies and millions of songs sold. So we will talk about memories of Whitney Houston coming up next. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLIVE DAVIS, MUSIC EXECUTIVE, HOUSTON'S MENTOR: You wait for a voice like that for a lifetime. You wait for a face like that, a smile like that, a presence like that for a lifetime. And when one person embodies it all, well, it takes your breath away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: Music executive Clive Davis remembering Whitney Houston at her funeral in New Jersey yesterday, and millions of fans missing the music legend as well.
Just look at how her music sales have skyrocketed in the last week alone. Digital sales for her hit, "I'll Always Love You" jumped more than 6,723 percent. That's according to Nielsen SoundScan. Radio airplay has increased 915 percent. The song now sits at number four on iTunes and number seven on Billboard's hot 100.
Entertainment journalist and pop culture expert Jawn Murray joins me now.
Jawn, thank you for joining us.
And you saw those numbers. One thing that we see with Michael Jackson and even today with Elvis Presley is that the sales of the music for years and years could be even bigger than when the celebrity was still around.
Do you think that will happen with Whitney Houston?
JAWN MURRAY, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Absolutely, Gary. I mean, we already see that. That music is on a fast track to being a main stage, to moving lots of units.
But, Gary, there was something I noticed yesterday, in addition to the music taking off, which there has been for the last seven days, there was an outpouring on social media of people who are saying, you know what? I'm going to get up and go to church tomorrow. I'm going to return to church tomorrow in honor of Whitney Houston because Whitney Houston and her death commanded a worldwide revival and an intimate look at the black church experience that was quite impressive to a lot of people who had never seen anything like it before.
TUCHMAN: Yes, I think that's a really important point, that so many people aren't familiar with the African-American church experience. And that was the first look for a lot of people. It was certainly very inspirational and moving and much different than what a lot of people have experienced in their houses of worship.
One thing I want to talk to you about also was Bobby Brown, her husband. Her ex-husband, I should emphasize. Certainly a big part of the story, that it's the ex-husband. But you saw him in concert this past Thursday, I understand, in Maryland. What was that like?
MURRAY: You know, Bobby has been on tour with his group New Edition, and they've been doing dates here and there, and Bobby himself has consistently performed over the last three or four years.
But it was great. It was his first night back after having gone to Los Angeles to look after his daughter Bobbi Kristina, and the crowd embraced him in such a great way, Gary. I mean, when he hit the stage, the applause was thunderous.
And you could tell he really needed that energy. You know, he had his fiancee Alicia with him. He had three of his other children with him, and they were encouraging him throughout the night. He spoke lovingly about Whitney, and he beckoned the audience to continue to keep him, their family, and her legacy in prayer.
TUCHMAN: What do you think of the weird situation, though, in the funeral service where he ended up not staying because he said he came with 10 people and wouldn't let him sit in one place, and he ended up just leaving?
MURRAY: Gary, you know, I was a little bit disappointed when people kept saying Bobby showed up with an entourage. And he actually showed up with his brother and his children, which were Whitney's step kids. You know, he released a statement that said they had to move several times, and ultimately, when he went to go speak to his daughter, the security blocked him, and he felt like he wasn't wanted, so he left.
And I just really hope that the family can work out their difficulties. In death, people usually put aside their challenges, they put aside their struggles, and they try to work it out. I really hope the Houston family can work things out with Bobby Brown because they need to be together. He needs to have a relationship with his daughter, and the family will benefit from that ultimately.
TUCHMAN: Jawn, might Bobbi Kristina, their daughter, follow in her mother's footsteps?
MURRAY: You know, she has some YouTube clips where she's singing. She's expressed subtle singing aspirations. You know, she would perform a little bit with her mom when they would go out and do interviews and performances. She'd sing a little bit on the Wyclef Jean song, "My Love is Your Love."
So, we could see Bobbi Kristina, the recording artist, in the future.
TUCHMAN: Finally, what was so extraordinary about Whitney Houston, Jawn.
MURRAY: Whitney Houston was extraordinary because of the voice. I mean, she came out in an MTV era where there were music videos, there was pyrotechnos, there were laser lights. But Whitney Houston would put on a gown, stand flatfooted and sing. And so many artists, the Jennifer Hudsons, the Christina Aguileras, the Kelly Clarksons of the business, they all benefit from being able to just sing, and that's because of Whitney Houston.
TUCHMAN: Jawn Murray, thank you very much for your insight. It's nice having you on on your program.
MURRAY: Great to be with you, Gary.
TUCHMAN: We'll be back with more right after this. Stay with us.
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TUCHMAN: It's time to look at our top stories.
Another set of human remains has been discovered on Long Island, New York, where 10 other sets have been found in recent years. Those earlier discoveries prompted local police to begin a search for a serial killer. But authorities saying now it's too early to tell if the cases are connected.
And it's party time. Rio de Janeiro, as Carnival kicks into high gear. Fireworks, elaborate floats, parades as partygoers attend hundreds neighborhood block parties. The five-day festival officially started Friday, leading up to the Fat Tuesday. It's a crazy place, I'll tell you. I've never been there, but it's crazy, which is to say 850,000 tourists are in Rio for the celebrations.
Well, up next, it is called the silent epidemic. It's the abuse of legal prescription drugs. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a look, a close look, at problems in this country, and it leads to one death every 19 minutes. That's a startling statistic.
"DR. SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." starts right now.
