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Steve McNair Found Shot to Death; Preparations Taking Place for Michael Jackson's Memorial Service; Powerful Drugs Found at Michael Jackson's Home; Sarah Palin Resigning from Governor of Alaska

Aired July 04, 2009 - 19:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live in Los Angeles.

We're following breaking news tonight on the shooting death of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair. Police found his body and that of a woman inside a Nashville condominium just hours ago.

We heard from police tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DON AARON, METROPOLITAN NASHVILLE POLICE: At 1:35 p.m. this afternoon, the police department received a call of persons injured inside one of the condominiums behind me. When police officers arrived in response to that call, they found two individuals who had been shot to death inside the residence: one female, one male. We now know that the male deceased is Steve McNair. The female deceased has been tentatively identified, we're working to confirm that and then notify her next of kin.

At this point, we don't know the circumstances of these shooting deaths. The investigation is going to be conducted by the police department's centralized homicide unit. Those detectives have assembled here at the scene. And the condominium still has to be processed.

There's a lot of work yet to be done. It's going to take many hours to process the scene. I don't have any answers for you now as to what's happened, who's responsible, what the circumstances are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: McNair spent 13 seasons in the NFL; most of that time was with the Tennessee Titans. He led them to the Super Bowl in 2000 and came within a yard of forcing the St. Louis rams into overtime.

Titan owner Bud Adams has released a statement. He says, "We are saddened and shocked to hear the news of Steve McNair's passing today. He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans. He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led to us places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as they deal with his untimely passing."

Our Nashville affiliate has been all over this story, working it for us. Cindy Carter of WZTV -- she joins us now by telephone with the very latest.

What do you know, Cindy?

CINDY CARTER, WZTV REPORTER (via telephone): Well, Don, football fans are gathering right now outside a Rutledge Hill condo complex in downtown Nashville. That is again, where Steve McNair's body was discovered earlier today.

Police are still on the scene. They are processing the scene. We've seen police chaplain go in and out, consulting with the police. And also, consulting with the fans, who are just devastated by this. The former Tennessee Titan and Baltimore Raven was shot to dead, as was the woman who was with him.

You just heard Don Aaron, the police spokesperson, say they do have a tentative ID on the woman, but they are not releasing any more information at that time. Again, we've seen a lot of traffic going in and out of the complex, a lot of forensic officials going in and out. But they are all still out here on the scene.

And earlier today, we spoke with Titans quarterbacks coach Craig Johnson who called McNair a great man, a great Titan, a great warrior, and a huge loss. And I think that that emotion is echoed by the fans that have gathered out here at this time -- Don?

LEMON: All right. Cindy Carter, WZTV, our affiliate there in Nashville -- thank you very much for your reporting.

Let's send to CNN law enforcement analyst Mike Brooks now. He has been working his sources.

Mike, there was some question about whether or not this was a double homicide or whether it may have been a murder-suicide. You're clearing that up for us, aren't you?

VOICE OF MIKE BROOKS, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: You know, Don, talking to my source close to the investigation, law enforcement source close to the investigation there in Nashville, saying that it looks like right now it is a double homicide.

And, apparently, he was discovered about 1:35 -- we heard from the law enforcement spokesperson there -- about 1:35 this afternoon, apparently by one of his ex bodyguards from when he was in the NFL. He could not reach him over the course of a number of hours, last night (ph) and today, and he knew where he would be because, apparently, the woman who was found with him, Don, is his girlfriend. It was at the girlfriend's condo where both of them were killed.

And so, they discovered the body. Law enforcement thinks it happened sometime maybe late last night. The shooting happened late last night or early today. And they're saying that, apparently, that McNair was shot in the head.

And so, again, double homicide. We really don't know a lot right now about motive. They're working that right now. You've got the -- you've got the Metropolitan Nashville Police forensics team on the scene there. They're working that along with the homicide division. But we still do not know a motive.

LEMON: All right. CNN law enforcement analyst Mike Brooks -- Mike, thank you very much for that.

Also, breaking news out of South Carolina to report to you, where a manhunt is under way for a suspected serial killer whom police say killed at least five people in the past week, including a 15-year-old girl.

Richard Lui joins us now from Gaffney, South Carolina -- a small community mostly known for its peach orchards, now in the middle of a very big crime.

What do you know, Richard?

RICHARD LUI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Good evening to you, Don.

That's what we're hearing right now. This is the result of what the Cherokee County sheriff is calling a serial killer.

Confirming today -- the coroner has -- that a fifth homicide victim has died: 15-year-old Abby Tyler, who was shot on Thursday, now passing away today at 11:25 a.m. local time. Much loved by her fellow Gaffney high schoolers, she was supposed to be a junior this coming here. Her pastor is also saying that she was a passionate Christian the 15 years of her life.

So, you can imagine here, this has put the town on edge -- what should be a celebratory July 4th, it is not. Instead, they are concerned in some spaces. On other areas, they are ready to fight back. We spoke with a couple of residents and business owners.

Brian Ziegelheafer told us because what his son said last night as he reacted to the ominous concern of a serial killer. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO LCIP)

BRIAN ZIEGELHEAFER, SHOP OWNER: He was -- he was actually fearful and a -- and scared. And asked me not to stay up late because he was afraid that something would happen at the house, because of what he hears. It's constantly in the news. People are talking. It's -- that's what they've been hearing for the last two days.

So, he was fearful, he was scared. And a -- and he was concerned for my safety.

ROBERT BROWN, FIREWORKS STAND WORKER: (INAUDIBLE) wants somebody who has a firearm at all times out here, just for protection.

LUI: Do you always wear it?

BROWN: No. Just working up here, and open like this, I wear it if I'm working. But it stays in my truck all the time in the glove compartment in the dash. I do carry it in my car all the time. (END VIDEO CLIP)

LUI: All right. There you, you can see the two different approaches and reactions to what is now the concern of a serial killer. The sheriff county now has over 100 investigators on this. They're getting many calls to their call center. The roads are actually packed here, Don, with law enforcement cars.

In about five minutes, for instance, as we were driving down, we encountered five law enforcement cars over the course of five minutes. And we were actually pulled over twice. So, you can see they are quite vigilant today, Don.

LEMON: All right. Richard Lui joining us from Gaffney, South Carolina -- Richard, thank you very much.

A tragic start to the July 4th holiday today in the North Carolina's Outer Banks -- a truck carrying fireworks blew up while it was being unloaded at the dock of the Ocracoke Island. The explosion killed one person and injured four others. Ferry service to the island was temporarily shut down but has since resumed.

Right here in Los Angeles, intensive preparations are under way for Tuesday's memorial service for Michael Jackson. At last check, more than a million and a half people have registered for a chance to get a pair of tickets to the service. Two hours from now, 8,750 people will be randomly selected to each receive a pair of tickets.

Also, CNN's confirmed that singer Jennifer Hudson will be among the performers at Tuesday's service.

Our Drew Griffin is tracking the investigation into what killed Michael Jackson, including the report that a powerful drug has been found inside his home. Drew joins us from Los Angeles tonight.

What do you know about that, Drew?

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Don. The "Los Angeles Times" on its web site this afternoon, the latest to report, according to one of its sources, that Diprivan was found in Jackson's home. This is that powerful medication used in surgeries basically to put people under. The "L.A. Times" is saying that bottles of it were found in Jackson's home, leading to even more speculation that this drug could be involved.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN (voice-over): What we do know is Michael Jackson asked for Diprivan by name just months ago, telling this nurse in April, Diprivan was the only drug that could help him sleep.

CHERILY LEE, NURSE: That was odd.

GRIFFIN (on camera): Without asking for a regular old sleeping pill? LEE: Yes. But this is and he's -- and I said, "Have you taken sleeping pills?" He said, "They don't work." He said, "I don't want those things, they don't work. I want it in the I.V. I don't want pills. I don't want any pills."

GRIFFIN (voice-over): Nurse practitioner Cherilyn Lee says Jackson described how Diprivan is administered: an I.V. drip, instant sleep.

We also know from several sources, Jackson traveled with a doctor in the mid-'90s who carried what's described as a mini clinic complete with I.V. stand. And we know from Jackson's own friends that sleep problems, past surgery, injuries left him at times dependent on prescription drugs.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: He was really addicted to these prescription drugs, is that right?

DEEPAK CHOPRA, MICHAEL JACKSON'S FRIEND: In my belief, yes. From what I know, he was.

GRIFFIN: While officially, investigators have mentioned no drug or drugs, the direction of the investigation has this week pointed towards drugs Michael Jackson may have been taking. On Monday, detectives returned to Jackson's rented home and left with what we are told were medications. The federal DEA was asked to join the investigation, and later in the week, California's attorney general's office announced it too was involved, trying to help trace possible supplies of medications and who may have administered them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: But, again, Don, as you have been reporting, we've been reporting all week, even with all of these developments, this remains a death investigation, with no crime as of yet being alleged -- Don?

LEMON: All right, CNN's Drew Griffin -- Drew, we appreciate that.

And make sure you tune in for a "CNN PRESENTS" special on the life and music of Michael Jackson. "Man in the Mirror" airs tonight, 8:00 p.m. Eastern, only here on CNN.

To politics now and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, she made a career out of defying the conventional wisdom, and now, she's at it again. Her stunning announcement that she's going to resign by the end of the month has everybody talking. Her term is supposed to run through December of next year.

And during her speech outside her home, Palin talked about family concerns as well as a desire to work for political change beyond Alaska. But she gave no hints about any plans to run for higher political office.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), ALASKA: Though it may be tempting and more comfortable to just kind of keep your head down and plod along and appease those who are demanding, hey, just sit down and shut up. But that's a worthless, easy copout. That's a quitter's way out. And I think the problem in our country today is apathy. It would be apathetic to hunker down and go with the flow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, that speech left a lot of people puzzled. But today, Governor Sarah Palin posted a statement on Facebook. Here's what she writes.

"The response in the mainstream media has been most predictable, ironic, and as always, detached from the lives of ordinary Americans who are sick of the politics of personal destruction. How sad that Washington and the media will never understand; it's about country. And though it's honorable for countless others to leave their positions for higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make. But every American understands what it takes to make a decision, because it's right for all, including your family."

Governor Palin ended her Facebook statement with these words -- which appear to offer some clues about her future, quote, "Now is the time to rebuild and help our nation achieve greatness. God bless you and I look forward to making a difference with you."

All right, that is from Governor Sarah Palin and her Facebook page.

And we're watching nature's fireworks tonight. We want to head to Atlanta and CNN's Karen Maginnis -- Karen?

KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, we've got a lot to tell you about here.

I want to show you specifically what's happening right around that extreme southwestern corner of Kentucky. Where you see those purple-shaded areas, that's where we have tornado warnings. Now, there is a report in Mayfield or near the city of Mayfield, tucked in that southwestern corner of Kentucky, that there was some thunderstorm damage reported there.

These yellow boxes indicate the severe thunderstorm watches. One is gradually getting shaved off. But now, we're starting to see that Nashville also is encompassed in the severe storm watch.

We've got a live picture coming out of Memphis, Tennessee. They have thunderstorms that are expected to move across their area. They're not in the watch just yet. But the temperatures cooled down maybe just a couple of degrees. But a lot of activity taking place tonight, especially through that Tennessee River valley, extending down across west Texas, places like Lubbock -- also into Amarillo, seeing some pretty strong storms there. Well, this is where our problem area is. And a lot of these regions that have seen those temperatures well into the 90s are going to be cooling off dramatically, five or 10 degrees as they go into the next 24 and 48 hours.

And we're on Twitter also by the way, Don, at CNN Weather.

LEMON: Oh, great. Yes, I follow -- I follow you on Twitter.

MAGINNIS: Good.

LEMON: Absolutely.

MAGINNIS: All right.

LEMON: Karen Maginnis, we appreciate it, thank you very much.

With the U.S. task in Iraq winding down, but we've seen a build- up of fighting in Afghanistan. What is next? Some answers from (INAUDIBLE).

Plus, we want you to be part of our show team tonight. We want your comments to get on the air. You can do that by logging on to Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or iReport.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SPEC. ADAM HOLLAGAUGH, U.S. ARMY, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: This is Specialist Adam Hollagaugh coming to you from bright and sunny Afghanistan. Wishing everybody in Cleveland, Georgia, a wonderful and happy 4th of July. And I'd like to wish my wife a happy birthday, and I love you, girls.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: In Afghanistan, fierce gun battles today in the eastern province of Paktika claimed the lives of two U.S. service members. Military officials say at least 42 Taliban fighters were killed as they launched two separate attacks on American posts.

To the south, thousands of U.S. Marines, this week, moved into the southern province of Helmand, one of the largest military operations into the region to date.

Helmand is more than a Taliban stronghold, it is -- it was once the bread basket of Afghanistan, with bumper crops of wheat and corn. Today, those grains have been largely replaced by opium poppies, the raw material for heroin, morphine and other narcotics.

Ninety percent of the world's opium comes from Afghanistan and Helmand is the center of opium production in Afghanistan. Helmand is such fertile ground that it accounts for two-thirds of all the opium grown in Afghanistan. It provides the Taliban with millions in income. Farmers are often paid in advance to plant the poppies in the fall. They don't even have to harvest it in May -- other people come into the fields to collect the raw opium.

Well, some people say the renewed emphasis on Afghanistan is long overdue. But others say it could undermine the progress made in Iraq. Retired Army General Russell Honore joins us now by telephone from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, my hometown. He joins us with his perspective on this.

Thank you, sir, for joining us. How's the weather in Baton Rouge, pretty hot today?

VOICE OF GEN. RUSSELL HONORE, U.S. ARMY, (RET): It's hot. It's smoking.

LEMON: It's smoking hot.

All right. Let's talk about Afghanistan now. So, we're seeing that they've committed more troops there and committed to stay in Helmand province until Afghanistan forces have it under control. How long do you think that will take, General?

HONORE: It's going to take several months, I would suspect. But for the long-term, to do what needs to be done in Afghanistan, it will take a big U.S. and NATO effort that could probably go another eight to 10 years. Because once you get it secure, you're going to have to give the country an opportunity to build an economy.

I mean, the quasi-government, they hadn't said anything about these opium fields. We cannot leave Afghanistan as the world's largest producer of opium. We've got to transfer -- and he, under his leadership, the Afghan people are going to have to make a decision of what kind of economy they're going to build. It certainly can't be built based on dope.

LEMON: So, then why -- why aren't our troops going in to take those crops out? That's not part of the operation, is it?

HONORE: Well, right now, it's focused on the Taliban and the time of the harvest cycle. And now is the right time to go in there. I mean, that was the center of the economy of much of Afghanistan, coming from these illicit drug operations.

So, once we secure it and hold it, which is a great strategy that the marines are working on, and nobody better to do it than the marine and army troops on the ground, in some very, very, very tough conditions. And I wonder how many Americans realize the tough conditions those marines and soldiers are fighting in down there in Helmand, because it's hot, it's (INAUDIBLE) and they're going where we have not been before, other than with reconnaissance.

LEMON: Yes. Yes, I'm sure -- I'm sure it's tough and a lot of people don't realize it. So, you know, a lot of people are concerned, though, General, about our military being spread too thin. We do have operations going on in Iraq. Do operations in Afghanistan undermine those operations in Iraq at all?

HONORE: No, I think Iraq is in the bag. I think we're in the stage, as has been articulated by the White House and General Odierno and General Petraeus, that we're in the withdrawal phase.

And I think what we ought to start looking for is a withdrawal of equipment and people from Iraq. Now, the next thing on their calendar is the elections, which the American government is worried about. But I think we are in a position to start some withdrawals. At least put some brigades in Kuwait in reserve in case we need them in Afghanistan.

I think we can do both of these wars. But it's time for us to end these large deployments because we are wearing the army and the marines out.

LEMON: Yes. I was going to ask you that -- Afghanistan has a long history of wearing down armies, wearing down foreign troops and foreign armies. Why do you think we can succeed there, General? And I'm up against a break -- I have to tell you that.

HONORE: I understand. They've been at war since the 1970s. The Russians had 100,000 in there. But I think we can do it because we're committed to help the people be successful.

LEMON: All right. General Russell Honore -- thank you very much, sir, appreciate it. Make sure you stay hydrated down there. And if you run into my mom, tell her I said hello.

HONORE: Yes. And thank you, Don. And Happy Fourth to the American people and to their families who are watching these warriors do their mission's work.

LEMON: Absolutely, and especially our service members. Thank you very much for that, General. We appreciate it.

We're going to talk now about the Michael Jackson investigation. You know TMZ, Thirty Mile Zone, that show with Harvey Levin, they scooped the world on the news of Michael Jackson's death. But how did they do it? I'll take you inside the celebrity news operation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Well, TMZ scooped the world with the news of Michael Jackson's death. But how did they do it? This week, I went to their newsroom to find out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARVEY LEVIN, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, TMZ: Yes, let's do it.

LEMON (voice-over): Harvey Levin is the executive producer of TMZ.com and TMZ TV.

LEVIN: If someone else calls, I want you to scream for me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got it.

LEMON: His staff and a lot of old school media are following his lead when it comes to the Michael Jackson death investigation.

(on camera): You broke the story before the time of death from the coroner.

LEVIN: Well, before it was officially announced, they -- we really knew this significantly before even what was going on. But, you know, this is making, you know -- crossing every T. And you know, there was -- we were positive when we put it up. I mean, we put it up when we were 100 percent positive.

LEMON (voice-over): Levin, an attorney, made his name covering the O.J. Simpson trial as a TV reporter and later as a legal analyst on the show "The People's Court." He says traditional news organizations are beginning to notice that TMZ, which, like CNN, is owned by Time Warner, is changing the media landscape.

So, what is it about, you know, big so-called, quote, "legitimate organizations" that (INAUDIBLE) say, you know, we can't quote TMZ and we don't want to -- but yet, and still, they're using your material?

LEVIN: They do.

LEMON: Yes.

LEVIN: Look, what I'm interested in right now is the story. Not in this kind of self-indulgent analysis of the media. That's just -- that's for lazy people who don't know how to break a story. Let's talk about the media. It's like I want to just deal with the story.

But, I mean, look -- you know, the -- I think what happened is that, you know -- again, we just beat everybody on this one. And there are people, you know, who feel like, wow. You know, we should have gotten that. Well, you know, too bad, so sad.

LEMON (voice-over): But with the Internet, social networking sites, and a 24-hour news cycle, speed matters as never before.

LEVIN: This is the classic -- the classic business of "what have you done for me lately." That I've been doing this thing for 3 1/2 years, where you can put a huge story up and then it sits on the Web site, and 20 minutes later you think, OK. It's been there for 20 minutes. And it doesn't matter how big that story is, what are you putting up next?

LEMON: TMZ says its Web site has 10.8 million visitors a month, and growing -- with the Jackson story. Levin says the TV ratings are doing the same.

(on camera): But Harvey Levin, as a businessman, you have to know that your page views have to be up. Your ratings have to be up.

LEVIN: Yes, they are. I mean, I'm not ...

LEMON: By how much?

LEVIN: A lot. A lot.

LEMON: And how does that make you feel?

LEVIN: Well, I would rather succeed than fail, you know?

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Harvey Levin of TMZ. By the way, TMZ stands for "Thirty Mile Zone." There's a 30-mile zone here in the Los Angeles and the Hollywood area that he believes is the center of the universe when it comes to celebrity news, and Harvey Levin has made a terrific business of covering those stories.

By the way, more behind the scenes of TMZ. Go to our blog at CNN.com/Newsroom and you can click on Don and you can see behind the scenes at TMZ, plus other stories that we have. A lot of behind-the- scenes stories that we have, especially since we've been here in Los Angeles covering the Michael Jackson investigation.

Speaking of that, he has worked with Jagger, McCartney and Streisand. How different were those experiences from his days with the King of Pop? Music producer Bruce Swedien.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Shocking news tonight in the world of sports. Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair is dead. Nashville police say McNair was found fatally shot inside a Nashville condominium. They found his body and that of a woman just hours ago.

A law enforcement official close to the investigation says the woman was McNair's girlfriend. McNair spent 13 seasons in the NFL. Most of that time with the Tennessee Titans. He led the team to the Super Bowl in 2000 and came within a yard of forcing the St. Louis Rams into overtime. He retired in 2008 after two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.

We're also following breaking news out of South Carolina tonight. A manhunt is under way for a suspected serial killer who police say killed at least five people in the past week, including a 13-year-old girl. She died today after being shot with her father at the family's furniture store on Thursday. The first shooting was a peach farmer last Saturday. Four days later, an elderly woman and her daughter were found bound and shot to death in their homes. Police say all of the killings appear to be connected. About 100 investigators are now involved in that case.

Intensive preparations are under way for Tuesday's memorial service for Michael Jackson. At last check, more than 1.5 million people have registered for a chance to get a pair of tickets to the service. Two hours from now, 8,750 people will be randomly selected to each receive a pair of tickets. Also the "Associated Press" reports the drug Diprivan was found in Jackson's rental home. Diprivan is given intravenously and widely used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness.

Let's get some insight on what it was like to work with Michael Jackson up close and personal. Music producer Bruce Swedien is the author of "In the Studio with Michael Jackson" which comes out later this month. Again it's called "In the Studio with Michael Jackson." It comes out later this month. He also authored - he's the author of "Make Mine Music." Bruce Swedien joins me from Orlando, Florida. Thank you very much Bruce for joining us. We know that you worked with some amazing artists, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand. How are they different from working with Michael Jackson?

BRUCE SWEDIEN, ENGINEER/MUSIC PRODUCER: Michael was the absolute ultimate professional. He was also - he had a very wonderful human side to him too. He was polite and gentle. And in a business where e didn't hear these words too often, Michael, if he would ask for something during a session, he'd say "please." "you're welcome" and so on. He was such a great guy.

HOLMES: Mr. Swedien, everyone I've spoken to, even attorneys who have either worked for Michael Jackson or represented against him, when have all said he appears to be one of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet, very mild-mannered. Let's talk though about the creative process. Was the distinction between Michael Jackson and other artists, was that in the creative process?

SWEDIEN: I think the creative process is where Michael really was on top of the heap. Because I never did a recording session with Michael where he didn't have the lyrics memorized, for instance. Whether it was one of his own songs or not. But his dedication to the work, he'd stay up all night the night before and learn the lyrics. Or if we were rewriting something, or if he was working on a lyric or harmonies or whatever, his dedication was total.

HOLMES: Mr. Swedien, you worked with him on a song called "Have you seen my childhood?" He called it his most biographical song. Let's listen to a little bit of it, OK?

SWEDIEN: Oh, great.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

I'm searching for the world I come from because I've been looking around in lost and found with my heart.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: So Mr. Swedien, "Have you seen my childhood," many have said the reason for Neverland Ranch and much of Michael's behavior because he longed to have a childhood of his own. He had been like an adult at a very young age. Did he talk to you about that at all when you were making this song, this video?

SWEDIEN: Oh, absolutely. We talked about it a lot. And I brought the score for that piece of music with and have it here if you'd like to take a look at it. It's right here. And Michael autographed that.

HOLMES: Let's see it. Do you have it close?

SWEDIEN: Yes, here it is right here.

HOLMES: Can you hold it up? Can you grab it for us? There we go. Oh, wow.

SWEDIEN: And I don't know if you can see Michael's inscription. But this is typical Michael Jackson. And he's loving and kind. And I mean, he's not the kid next door. I don't mean to imply that. But he's phenomenal to work with. And I have trouble speaking of him in the past tense. And that's going to take me awhile to get used to that. Because it doesn't seem like he's gone, to me.

HOLMES: Yes, I think he says "thank you, Bruce, for everything that's important, "Have you seen my Childhood, I always wanted to make that statement." So again, having a childhood was very important to him and something it appears that he missed out on. At least he feels that he did.

SWEDIEN: Absolutely. For sure.

HOLMES: All right. Bruce Swedien, we really appreciate it. Thank you, sir. And sorry for your loss.

SWEDIEN: OK, and I'm happy to talk about my pal, Michael.

HOLMES: All right. Thank you, sir.

SWEDIEN: Thank you.

HOLMES: Less than 90 minutes ago, thousands of people will be randomly picked in a drawing to get tickets to Michael Jackson's memorial service. More than 1.5 million fans have already registered. We have the very latest for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Two very special guests join me with personal memories of Michael Jackson, both as a colleague and a friend. Damon Elliot is a songwriter and music producer and also a Jackson family friend. He joins me here in Los Angeles. Thank you, sir, for joining us. Also joining us by phone is Damon's mom, music legend Dionne Warwick. Thanks to both of you for joining us. Miss Warwick, can you hear us?

DIONNE WARWICK, SINGER: Yes, I can.

HOLMES: I understand Michael called you had mom.

WARWICK: Yes, he did. Like so many others. You know, everybody felt I was a motherly type.

HOLMES: Yes. Damon, did you mind sharing your mom with Michael?

DAMON ELLIOT, SONGWRITER: Not at all. Not at all. Couldn't choose someone to share mom with.

HOLMES: Why do you say that?

ELLIOT: Michael was just such an enormously loving person. And, you know, growing up around him and his family, just feels very natural to call him my brother. And that he called mom, mom. You know.

HOLMES: Yes. And mom, speaking of calling you mom, he worked with you. And we understand that you guys were very, very dear friends. You worked with him on "We are the World." Let's listen to just a little bit of that, Miss Warwick. I want you to talk about that experience of working with others, but with Michael Jackson specifically.

WARWICK: OK.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

We are a part of God's great big family and the truth you know love is all we need. We are the world. We are the children. We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving. There's a choice we're making.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: I see you standing there. You were standing behind some of the artists there. There's a part that comes up, Miss Warwick, where you sing in that. This was really the cavalcade of stars, I mean, everyone in this music video. But talk to us about the experience because really Michael wanted to do this along with Lionel Ritchie. There you are, you're singing right there.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

And our hearts will be stronger and free.

HOLMES: talk to us about this experience, Miss Warwick.

WARWICK: I've always described the experience as something that you really had to be there. It's very difficult to describe it. It was - it was a room full of incredible artists. All on one accord. It's very difficult to combat. There for one purpose. Most of the artists who were in the room had been invited by Quincy Jones. And they came directly from the American Music Awards. Recording studios. I was performing in Vegas at the time. And Steve Winwood was just wonderful. He sent me back to L.A. on a private jet so that I could be a part of this.

Quincy called me and said, listen, you've got to come into L.A. tomorrow. I said, but I'm working. He says, you're going to be working here because you have to be here. It was the most incredible event that I've been a part of in a long, long period of time. HOLMES: Damon -- was Damon around for that? You didn't get to share that with your mom, did you? I'm sure you've heard her speak of it but you weren't there for any of the taping, were you?

ELLIOT: Actually, I was around, and of course, you know, I had to go to part of it. Because I'm the biggest Michael Jackson fan breathing, I'll say that. And I begged mom and she let me be a part of it. And one of the many special occasions that I was a part of with mom.

HOLMES: You know what, you guys, a lot of people have come out and said they were friends with Michael, they knew Michael. And some of them, you know, have not been so close to Michael. Miss Warwick, I know that you were very close with Michael. Damon, I know that you were very close with him. You've worked with him. You've worked with some of the biggest stars. But you've also worked with Michael Jackson. Have you spoken to the family? Either of you?

WARWICK: Oh, yes.

HOLMES: And how are they doing? Miss Warwick, I'll let you go first.

WARWICK: Yes. I flew out to Los Angeles a couple of days ago. And these past two days I've been at the home. And had time to spend with Katherine and the rest of the family. And it's a very difficult time for them. As you know, we all should understand that. But I know that the family is strong enough. They'll get through this. It's going to take a bit of time. It's going to take a lot of time for a lot of other people who revered Michael. And the thought of him as a loving, giving, caring, sharing person that he was. And he will be remembered for that, believe me.

HOLMES: And Damon, I'll give you the last word about your friend Michael Jackson.

ELLIOT: I just want to say, Mike, wherever you are, we all love you. The world loves you. We mourn together. And I just want to let the brothers and sisters know and Katherine know and Joe and everybody else at the house, that anything you need, we're there. We're there for you.

HOLMES: Damon Elliot, who is a producer and a successful entertainer, entertainment person, in his own right. And his mom, who just happens to be the talented Dionne Warwick, very close friends with the Jackson family. Can you please give them our condolences, OK?

WARWICK: Most certainly.

ELLIOT: Yes, certainly.

HOLMES: Thank you both very much. Sorry for your loss.

WARWICK: Thank you.

ELLIOT: Thank you.

HOLMES: Bye, mom.

WARWICK: Bye, baby.

HOLMES: Remembering Michael Jackson as only New Orleans can. We'll take you there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Maintaining any type of business in a recession is a challenge. But how about a small business offering products for less, while also trying to turn a profit? CNN's Stephanie Elam takes a look at one business that others can learn from.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

XAVIER HELGESEN, CO-FOUNDER, BETTER WORLD BOOKS: I just thought, wow. All these books out there that the bookstores are saying no, I don't want it. But there's totally value in those books. You just got to get them and efficiently get them up on the internet and then someone will buy them.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Building and maintaining a successful small business in this environment is a challenge, one that Xavier Helgesen and his partners Chris Fuchs and Jeff Kurtzman know all too well. When they were in school, the bookstore wouldn't buy back their used textbooks. So they tried selling them on half.com. It worked. And the idea took on a whole new chapter.

HELGESEN: There's great stuff in there. I promise you.

ELAM: With more than two million books at any given time in this Mishawaka, Indiana warehouse, the owners of Better World Books think they have a book for everyone and a small business plan others can follow.

HELGESEN: We bring a lot of stuff in even in full truckloads. So we bring about 50,000 pounds of books in at once, drop it off in the bay here and then put it on the shelves.

ELAM: After funding the business themselves for the first five years. The founders got a small administration backed credit line in 2004, followed by a $2.4 million venture capital investment in 2008. All to build up the website and the Better World Books brand. As other small businesses have struggled, Helgesen and partners have seen their revenues grow from $4 million a year in 2005 to a projected $31 million in 2009, and all the time, helping others buy books at a cheap price.

HELGESEN: The cheapest they find would be $3.48 with free shipping.

ELAM: The books are donated by libraries, bookstores and college campuses from across the country. Every day, Better World brings in 40,000 to 50,000 books sending just as many out.

HELGESEN: We've sold orders up to 5,000 books at once and we sell a lot of single book orders. Our average order there is three or four books.

ELAM: The Better World founders built the company on the foundation of the broke college students. So text book sales remain at the heart of the business.

HELGESEN: What's cool about us is we price them at market level. So you may be getting $100 book for $10 and that happens everyday here.

ELAM: And Better World Books believes in giving back. It donates five to 10 percent of its revenue back into the hands of libraries and literacy programs around the world. Stephanie Elam, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Fourth of July celebrations underway at the White House now. The president entertaining military family service members, 1,200 of them. He's talking about their sacrifice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRES. BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES: But I want to say this to all of you. You have done everything that has been asked of you. The United States of America is proud of you. I'm proud to be your commander in chief. And that's why this fourth of July, I renew my pledge to each and every one of you that for as long as I have that immeasurable honor, you will always have the equipment and support you need to get the job done. Your families will always be a priority of Michelle's and mine and remain on our hearts and on our minds.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: The president at the White House. You'll hear more from the president later on CNN this evening.

The king of pop is being celebrated at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans this weekend and CNN's Sean Callebs is there. Sean?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Icons of the big easy, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band paying tribute to the king of pop. Bands throughout the city are working Michael Jackson's signature songs into their sets.

TROY "TROMBONE SHORTY" ANDRES, MUSICIAN: When I listen to his music, he has influence from jazz, rock, funk, R & B and that's where I am in life right now. I'm a student of music first of all and I just wanted to be able to take everything and put it all into one gumbo pot.

CALLEBS: And few can stir the pot with a horn like Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, a rising star in New Orleans. On the spot, he can conjure up a soulful version of "Rock with You."

(MUSIC PLAYING)

She's a dancing, dancing, machine, watch her get down.

CALLEBS: Black and white, young and old stop at New Orleans musician, and you'll hear a Michael Jackson story. Even from mainstays like Ivan Neville who arguably comes from the first family of Crescent City music.

IVAN NEVILLE, MUSICIAN: Us being from New Orleans, we were all influenced by the sounds of the streets of New Orleans. You know, but we always listened to the radio.

To let you go, let you go baby, not since I see you anytime.

NEVILLE: Even though my dad and my uncles were all musicians and they had their brand of music, but I listened to the radio. And what you hear on the radio, you hear what's popular. You hear Michael Jackson.

CALLEBS: Alan Toussaint was a star in his own right when Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five stepped into the limelight.

ALAN TOUSSAINT, MUSICIAN: I was so extremely impressed when I heard him for the first time, such a young child and singing with all the nuances that age is supposed to bring about.

If you're breathing and doing Michael's period, one way or another, you were affected by Michael Jackson. I mean there's no way around it.

CALLBES: Through the personal ups and downs, artists say Jackson never lost that command as a front man, the consummate entertainer.

NEVILLE: When I look at it now and look at how somewhat tragic his life has been, that's all he had. And that's what he gave us. I mean, to me, he was put here to entertain us.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS: And what an entertainer he was. We have a live shot here of the stage, Don, at the Essence Music Festival. Later on this evening, Maxwell , Anita Baker are going to be performing. And if it's anything like last night, expect a lot of emotional tributes to Michael Jackson.

Perhaps the most poignant last night, before John Legend came on. They actually came out with a New Orleans Jazz funeral and to quote Trombone Shorty, people here in the Big Easy, they don't mourn when people pass, they celebrate their life. That's what's going on here. Don.

LEMON: Oh, yes. And you better believe, you know I know that, right, Sean? We celebrate life and we don't mourn the death of people in New Orleans. They're celebrating Michael Jackson's life and they're celebrating it here as well. And Tuesday will be the big celebration.

Sean Callebs, we appreciate it. Thank you very much, sir.

Time now for some of your feedback. Here's what ladydivine7 says "I was very touched by the "Have you seen my childhood" piece. Heydivad says Sarah Palin is one big run-on sentence. What is she saying? But really who cares. Also more on Michael Jackson's CD sales and tickets, less drugs. Kittens says "if Palin can't handle the heat, well she needs to get out of the kitchen. She should look at Obama on how to handle personal attacks.

Also appreciate all of your tweets on Dionne Warwick and her son. It was a very sweet interview. Thank you very much. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, I-report.com.

"Michael Jackson: Man in the Mirror" starts right now.