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Celebrities React to Whitney Houston's Death; Police, Crowds Clash in Athens; Romney Wins Maine Caucus, CPAC Vote; Georgia's Glittering Past

Aired February 12, 2012 - 14:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: You're in the CNN NEWSROOM this Sunday, February 12th. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

As the music industry prepares for tonight's Grammy Awards, it mourns Whitney Houston. Some of the biggest names in music will honor the pop star.

Houston died yesterday in the Beverly Hills Hilton just hours before she was to attend a pre-Grammy party. She was 48 years old and poised to make a comeback after battling drugs for years.

Houston's body is in the Los Angeles County Morgue right now, waiting an autopsy. The Beverly Hills Police say they will release information on their investigation tomorrow.

And we have a team of correspondents following this developing story. Our Casey Wian is covering the police investigation; entertainment reporter Kareen Wynter is covering the reaction from the music industry and the mood thus far at the Grammy's; and Deb Feyerick is in New Jersey, getting reaction in Whitney's hometown of Newark. We'll get to all of them.

But let's begin first now with Casey Wian in Los Angeles. So Casey, what is the latest on this investigation?

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, as you can imagine, Beverly Hills Police are being very careful about what they say less than 24 hours after the death of singer Whitney Houston.

What we do know is that Beverly Hills Police Department received a 911 call yesterday afternoon, 3:55 P.M. They responded to the Beverly Hilton Hotel - excuse me, it was 3:43 P.M. that the call came in, responded to the - to the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Already on the scene were the fire department and hotel security. They found Whitney Houston there, unresponsive. Now, CPR was attempted and, of course, it failed.

Now, police are conducting their investigation and they tell me that all of the Beverly Hills Police Department investigators were off site from the hotel as of early this morning. What they will not say is if that means that their physical investigation at the hotel has been completed.

Now, as you mentioned, Whitney Houston's body was moved after midnight last night to the Los Angeles County Morgue. A coroner's autopsy is pending. The coroner's office tells us that it could happen today, it could happen tomorrow. They don't schedule these things. It just depends on the number of cases they have coming in. Once that autopsy is complete, they could have information to release as soon as tomorrow, or it could take several weeks, depending on what is found.

Now, there are additional details being reported by celebrity news site TMZ, and let's go through some those. According to hotel employees and people close to Houston, she was found in the tub, pill bottles were found in the room and the first resuscitation attempts were made apparently by her bodyguard.

Now, as you mentioned, Fredricka, the police department's saying they will not have any more details about this pending an ongoing investigation until tomorrow, and perhaps we may have some additional information about a possible cause of death from the coroner at that time. That's the latest, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So Casey, earlier police said that there were no signs of foul play. However, it appears as though some eight hours elapsed before they would actually remove the body from that room. Are police explaining what was taking so long, why they were trying to continue to sanitize the area, what they were looking for, et cetera?

WIAN: Well, they're not saying why it took so long, but you can imagine the scene. It was described as a chaotic scene, and the investigation that is ongoing. They had to look at Whitney Houston's body. As we reported that TMZ is reporting, there were pills found on - pill bottles found in that hotel room. The amount of evidence that they had to collect, the photos they had to take, and the video they probably took.

There are also reports that they had to obtain a search warrant before they went in there and did this investigation. Nine hours, I don't think, for the body to have been removed is really that unusual in a case like this, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Casey Wian, thanks so much. Keep us posted on the investigation.

So meantime, while all of this is unfolding, the Grammy Awards will go on tonight, but with the shock of Whitney Houston's death. Let's get to Kareen Wynter now. She, too, is in Los Angeles.

So Kareen, I know they've had to make many changes in their programming tonight to make sure they have a fitting tribute for Whitney Houston. What do we know about it?

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: Well, we know and we've confirmed this thread through the Recording Academy that Jennifer Hudson will be performing a tribute of some sort to Whitney Houston. We also learned, Fred, that Chaka Kong (ph) - Chaka Khan, rather, has been asked to perform, although she said that she's not sure exactly what she'll be performing, but she was asked by the Recording Academy.

And you have to just imagine all the scrambling that went on behind the scenes after this news broke yesterday, a completely different show. Every year, when we cover this, this is a night of celebration, everyone's upbeat, everyone's excited and it's going to be undoubtedly toned down dramatically this year. And expect, Fred, many people who hit the stage, who are winners or presenters, to make off the cuff comments, dedication to this late singer.

So it's going to be an absolutely incredible emotional night, and I just wanted to talk a little bit, too, about some of the festivities that went on behind the scenes yesterday. You know, for example, the Clive Davis party. Also, the artist Ne-Yo, he had an event. It's his midnight brunch pre-Grammy party, and I'm told by a music insider that it - there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Everyone was so extremely emotional.

Ray J, we're told, a close friend of Whitney Houston, they were reportedly romantically linked several years ago. That wasn't the case now, but they had remained extremely close friends. We were told that he was actually going to pick her up from her hotel in Beverly Hills to take her to her favorite party of the year, the Clive Davis party.

He was extremely emotional, and I'm told by my - my source that he spent the entire night with his head in his sister's arms, in his sister's lap. We're talking about Brandy. He was just so devastated, so broken up, as are many people in the music industry and beyond.

People pay tributes to Whitney Houston, reflected on personal experiences with her, and just really came together to not only console each other but to remember this - this iconic superstar. People are just still so in shock.

And we'll be heading down shortly to the Staples Center, where the Grammy's will take place, and this is something that's undoubtedly, Fred, going to continue as the night progresses and we speak to people on the red carpet, when we speak to artists backstage who knew Whitney Houston. They're really at a loss for words over what's transpired here - Fred.

WHITFIELD: Of course, it's hard on the fans, her admirers, and clearly very hard on the family members. Now, what about her mom, Cissy Houston, and, you know, her aunt and godmother Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin? Have we heard about their whereabouts and how they are handling this?

WYNTER: Well, they're incredibly broken up over what's happened right now. And one of our correspondents caught up with Dionne on the red carpet at the Clive Davis party yesterday, and just - people are just in shock.

And - but she reflected, she shared with our correspondent how for so many years - and I just want to preface this by saying we don't know what the cause of Whitney Houston's death is here. You know, sure, she had a history of drug abuse. But Dionne referenced the fact that so many people within her circle, her family, her friends tried to rally around her over the years, Fred, to - to help her get into rehab and to kick this habit, and people are just saying, you know, maybe - maybe there's more that we could have done on that end.

So they're questioning all that. They're reflecting on her memory. And I'm sure they're going to be speaking out more once they, you know, really soak all of this in, this devastating news, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Kareen Wynter, thanks so much. Keep us posted throughout the afternoon.

Meantime, the place where in large part Whitney Houston grew up and showed her first signs of talent. We're talking Newark, New Jersey, and there people are remembering the gifted neighborhood girl who went on to become an international superstar.

CNN's Deborah Feyerick is outside the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. So - so Deborah, this is the church where a young Whitney started singing as a soloist with the junior choir there. What was this Sunday service like for the congregation today?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there have been multiple services that began at 6:30 this morning. You can see some of the members of the congregation leaving. They are the extended family, Whitney Houston's extended family, several members inside the church, just a little while ago. As was the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who was a friend of the family, who spoke to Whitney Houston's mom, Cissy Houston, saying that she is completely devastated, obviously by this loss.

We do know that there were members of the family over at the home of Cissy Houston. They're really just grappling with this. They're trying to come to terms with exactly what's happened and why it happened now, especially since she seemed to be on the comeback. Really, she seemed - appeared to have kicked the addiction, at least in part. She had a new movie, "Sparkle," which is about musicians who are dealing with drug addiction. So there were a lot of good things in her life, having ended with, by all intents and purposes, was a toxic marriage.

We did speak earlier to several parishioners, but also to the pastor, and here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: How do you feel?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I haven't slept. I've been up all night, just gone over - listening to her songs and - and reminiscing about her life and - and what's going to happen now to her daughter, her mom, her brothers. But, she's in a better place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And a lot of the concern right now, of course, on Whitney Houston's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, who was there at the Beverly Hills Hilton with her mom and who, by some accounts, was not able to see her mom after she passed away. You know, this church, though, Fredricka, the New Hope Baptist Church, this was the place that Whitney Houston really took the stage for the very first time. It's where she learned how to sing. She said when she was here, she felt as if she was singing for God, and said it was here that she developed her vocal talents. She learned how to basically do four part harmony, she learned when the tempo changes in the middle of the song, how you deal with that. She also became a very strong a cappella singer.

So this church here had a huge role in her life. Her mom was choir director for almost 50 years. Her mom, obviously, a very celebrated gospel singer in her own right.

So there's a sense of loss, there's grieving, there's a sense that - that she was clearly taken simply too soon. And that was the - that was the point of the pastor's sermon today. He said, life is fragile and you just never know, and how do you deal with something when it happens so unexpectedly - Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Deborah Feyerick, thanks so much.

So Whitney Houston's career. Yes, it began in the U.S., but she was a global success, and now the world pauses to remember her.

"My Love is Your Love" was another huge single for Whitney Houston, staying in the Billboard Top Ten for 17 weeks. Take a listen of the 1998 hit song.

(WHITNEY HOUSTON SINGING "MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE")

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The world far beyond Hollywood is mourning the loss of Whitney Houston's enormous talents since word of her sudden death spread around the globe reaction has been nonstop.

Our Nadia Bilchik is here with a look at that. People have been touched by her in so many ways.

NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: Every way.

WHITFIELD: Her entire career.

BILCHIK: And growing up in South Africa, I remember 1994, that's the year that Nelson Mandela becomes president and in November of that year, Whitney Houston comes to South Africa as the first major artist post-apartheid and she does the new South Africa tour, the concert for a new South Africa. She goes to Durbin. She goes to Capetown.

There she is with Madiba. Actually that photograph was taken in 2001, but they had such a special relationship. He referred to her as his daughter.

WHITFIELD: Oh, wow.

BILCHIK: And I spoke to the grandchildren this morning and they said, particularly David Manaway, who's Mandela's grandson-in-law, he said he just wants us to know how sad the family is. They're absolutely bereft because Whitney really was an extension of this family and they just - their heart go out to Bobbi Kristina.

WHITFIELD: Oh, it's extraordinary, because so many people, you know, have so many memories of when they first saw Whitney Houston, whether it was on "Seventeen" Magazine or whether it was on Merv Griffin when that was kind of her debut of I'm a singer, and then hit after hit after hit and people kind of forget that it resonated around the world.

BILCHIK: Around the world, global (ph). It was modest of her. In South Africa, she gave all the money from those concerts to South African charities. So she is so fondly remembered there.

But even in Dubai, this is amazing, at a lake in Dubai, they've got these exquisite fountains to the sound of Whitney Houston. And as far a field as China, in China, "The Daily" speaks about the U.S. singer dying and the "BBC Telegraph," "Terrible trajectory of modern fame." And then going to the South African "Mail and Guardian," "Whitney Houston brilliance and tragic," and "The Australian," "Majestic Diva, ravaged by drugs, dies at 48."

So really from Dubai to Durbin, from Ann Harbor (ph), to Amsterdam -

WHITFIELD: That's incredible.

BILCHIK: -- Whitney Houston, I think we will always love you.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Oh, that's a nice way of putting it. And clearly she knew how she resonated around the world. She really did kind of give the world a big hug and they gave her a hug back.

BILCHIK: And she - people's lives - and a role model. And I'm looking forward to your segment with the editor of "Seventeen" Magazine and how that cover changed people's perceptions.

WHITFIELD: It really did. I was one of those kids who saw her as a model in "Seventeen" for the first time and thought, oh, my goodness, who is this woman, who is this girl, because she really was a contemporary, same ages and, you know, it was really - a real eye- opening experience for so many young girls.

BILCHIK: Oprah even said that. Oprah said "Seventeen" Magazine was important to her but when she saw Whitney Houston on that cover -

WHITFIELD: That was it.

BILCHIK: -- that changed her life. So a life-changing woman.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

BILCHIK: A talented, remarkable person.

WHITFIELD: Indeed. We are going to talk to the editor of "Seventeen" Magazine about that breakthrough for Whitney Houston and really for America and for magazine cover as we know it.

So, of course Whitney Houston got the world's attention not just with her voice but because of those great looks. Nadia, cover girl, 1981 and many times over after that on "Seventeen" Magazine, in fact that was the first magazine cover right there with Whitney Houston on it. It was the first time a black girl was on the cover of that magazine.

I'm going to be talking to the editor of "Seventeen" next.

But first, it's hard to talk about Whitney Houston and not hear her. So just hours after Whitney Houston's death, the original soundtrack for her movie "The Bodyguard" shot up to number 13 in the iTunes Music Store. So here now is a bit of the song "I Have Nothing."

(HOUSTON SINGING "I HAVE NOTHING")

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HOUSTON SINGING "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU")

WHITFIELD: All right. "I Will Always Love You" was one of Whitney Houston's greatest hits, spending 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard and Hot 100 Chart. The 1993 ballad has been considered Houston's real signature song.

All right, CNN viewers and iReporters have been sending us their thoughts really for the last - you know, almost 24 hours now. CNN viewer and iReporter Tessa Jackson sent us a picture and her tribute to Whitney Houston.

Jackson says, "Whitney is a hero for Gen X black girls and was her style icon and hero when she went to a predominantly white high school in California." She says, "Whitney Houston showed her she didn't have to be blonde and blue eyed to be beautiful and admired."

All right, Whitney Houston was the first African-American model to land on the cover of "Seventeen" magazine, and for many years people would enjoy seeing her within the cover of "Seventeen." Ann Shoket is the Editor In Chief of "Seventeen." Good to see you.

ANN SHOKET, EDITOR IN CHIEF, "SEVENTEEN": Hi.

WHITFIELD: It really was a breakthrough when Whitney Houston was the cover girl of "Seventeen" Magazine. Can you take me, you know, into I guess the rooms - the editor, you know, rooms, the copy rooms there at "Seventeen" as to how that decision came about and why they felt like she was the face that really resonated.

SHOKET: Well, "Seventeen" Magazine was such a launching pad for Whitney. In fact, I was speaking with the woman who was the editor back in 1981 when Whitney was first on the cover of the magazine and she says that Whitney's mother actually came to "Seventeen" to figure out a plan how could they get her in the pages as a model and ultimately have her on the cover of the magazine.

And, in fact, the other girl that's on the cover with Whitney was a good friend of Whitney's at the time and Whitney insisted that they do the shoot together, that she wanted her friend there. But it was all part of this sort of grand plan that they had to turn Whitney into a star, and it was really it was a launching pad for Whitney. It was an incredibly iconic cover for "Seventeen" Magazine, really important all around.

WHITFIELD: But was the feeling, perhaps, that "Seventeen" magazine, that she would be a star, but she would be a star model, did anyone know anything about her singing ability and that she would be kind of a multitalented superstar?

SHOKET: Well, I think this was like the beginning of Whitney's path and certainly, you know, she was in the pages of the magazine, we've seen pictures of her as a fitness model, she was regularly a fashion model for the magazine, but it was so validating for this generation of young women to see someone who looked like them on the cover.

Imagine the self-esteem boost that young African-American girls felt seeing someone who looks like them and they think, oh, "Seventeen" magazine thinks that girl is pretty, I must be pretty, too. It's a feeling that we try to have at "Seventeen" magazine all the time for all girls that there's this incredible embracing of diversity.

WHITFIELD: You know, I can attest to that. I was one of those - I was one of those little girls, you know, who was looking at "Seventeen" magazine all the time and there were plenty of faces in there that I admired, but when it was Whitney Houston that came on the cover or whether it was, you know, her pictures inside the magazine, it was a whole other level, you know, of admiration and really kind of a feeling of encouragement that none of the other images could actually kind of convey. But then she -

SHOKET: Really validating.

WHITFIELD: But then she went on from there and there was, you know, Cover Girl makeup that also endorsed her as kind of, you know, a face of their product, so she really was a trailblazer in so many ways, well before people even knew she could sing.

SHOKET: I remember so vividly when I was a teen and I - and "How Will I Know" was like this amazing video and you wanted the hair and her makeup and her clothes and it had nothing to do with color. I was that girl who wanted to look like Whitney Houston. I can imagine it so vividly. I went out and bought the eyeliner just like her.

WHITFIELD: Oh. Well, so many people have so many great memories of Whitney Houston. Ann, thanks so much for sharing your memories and -

SHOKET: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: -- "Seventeen" Magazine's history with Whitney Houston.

So fans across the world are sharing their memories of Whitney Houston and that includes a lot of CNN iReporters. One of them caught the singer's ex-husband Bobby Brown, actually breaking down at his concert and those images were caught on his camera, the performance taking place in Mississippi. We're going to share that with you straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The music industry and fans are mourning the passing of Whitney Houston, the pop queen ruled the charts for a decade and a half. Here's a look back at her golden years.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD (voice-over): Hers was a voice instantly recognized worldwide. Recording artist Whitney Houston sold more than 170 million albums with hit like "Saving All My Love For You" and "The Greatest Love Of All."

But perhaps her crowning achievement was her 1992 cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" from her film "The Bodyguard" with Kevin Costner.

Whitney Houston was born into a musical family in Newark, New Jersey, in 1963. Her incredible talent was discovered at an early age and she was signed by Arista Records in 1983.

Her first two albums brought seven consecutive number one hits, surpassing a record set by the Beatles and Bee Gees. She went on to become music's most awarded female artist of all time according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

She won six Grammys, two Emmys, 16 billboard music awards and 23 American music awards and was named female artist of the decade at the "Soul Train" music awards in 2000.

But her career stalled as she struggled with drugs and alcohol and her stormy relationship with singer, Bobby Brown became tabloid fodder. She filed for divorce in 2006.

In 2009, a comeback, Houston released her first studio album in seven years. It debuted at number one on the billboard charts.

WHITNEY HOUSTON, SINGER: It humbled me and it kind of like kind of like said okay, I think I want to do this just one more time.

WHITFIELD: But her tour was reportedly plagued with vocal difficulties. Her reps blamed an upper respiratory infection. In 2011, her publicist said Houston was seeking help for her addiction.

The performer was set to appear in the upcoming film "Sparkle," her first movie role since "The Preacher's Wife" in 1996. Her sudden death shocked fans and musicians across the world.

SIMON COWELL, "THE X FACTOR" (via telephone): I am absolutely devastated by this news. I'm so sad for her. She was, I mean, undoubtedly, one of the greatest super stars of all time, one of the greatest voices, you know, in our lifetime we're likely ever to hear.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: Here's what we know about Whitney Houston's death. CNN has confirmed an autopsy will likely happen today. Police say there are no obvious signs of foul play. The 48-year-old singer was found dead yesterday afternoon inside her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

TMZ quoting their informed sources saying that she was found unconscious in the tub, in the bathtub, her bodyguard attempted CPR and pills were found at the scene in the room. Houston was preparing to attend a pre-Grammy party hosted by her long-time mentor, Clive Davis.

So lots of friends and loved ones are turning out and talking about their greatest memories of Whitney Houston. Among them, long time friend and a woman who was a trailblazer in her own right, coming out with the first full album for a female rapper, very big in the '80s and now the president of the L.A. chapter of the Grammys Recording Academy, MC Lyte on the line with us right now.

MC, I understand that you are also at the Staples Center or at the location where some of the pre-Grammy events are taking place. Give me your thoughts on the passing of your good friend?

MC LYTE, PRESIDENT, GRAMMYS SINGER (via telephone): Boy, you know, I'm not quite sure if I'll say anything that hasn't been said already and that the music community is just devastated and I mean, moreover than losing one of the best vocalists, we're talking about a mama, you know, like we -- we just lost a very, very sweet spirit.

And I don't even really know what else to say outside of I just feel for her family and her daughter and her mother and, you know, all of the other many people who deal with her on a daily basis. Those are the ones that I'm most concerned about.

You know, I -- we've certainly met numerous times. We've hung out, But I don't speak to Whitney every day. So I'm not d I'm not the one that's going to claim, my God, you know. I'm not affected the way that her family is or that her daughter or mother or brothers, you know. This is just -- it's painful.

WHITFIELD: It is painful and a lot of fans and, you know, friends are feeling the pain in so many different ways. It's clear that this evening during the Grammy events people will be exhibiting that and showing that in so many different ways. Can you give me an idea of the tribute that is planned for this evening to embrace --

LYTE: I can only go about I what we were all told --

WHITFIELD: -- embrace the legacy of Whitney Houston.

LYTE: Right. I can only go by what we were all told by the president of the Recording Academy, Neil Portnow, which she is going to be appreciated and acknowledged for her legacy.

Jennifer Hudson is going to grace us and, you know, not so long ago Whitney presented her with an award with a Grammy Award and it's extremely fitting. So we're going to celebrate Whitney and lift her up and I'm happy to be a participant in showing that love and admiration and adoration for Miss Houston.

WHITFIELD: All right, Mc Lyte, we know you're at the Staples Center where they're having some, you know, preshow rehearsals. Thanks so much for your time.

Songwriter, mentor, actress, rapper, and now the president of the L.A. chapter of the Grammys Recording Academy. Mc Lyte, thanks for your time.

All right, CNN I-Reporters are also sharing their memories of Whitney Houston. One fan was actually at a Bobby Brown concert last night and that fan tells us how Whitney's ex-husband broke down crying even leaving the stage.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, people all over the world are mourning the loss of Whitney Houston today. They are reaching out online, sending their thoughts and messages to us here at CNN.

Josh Levs has been going through a number of them. What are some of the thoughts that people are passing on?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, so many, tens of thousands of responses coming out on social media really by the minute if you look at everything that's out there.

Right behind me right now, is her official web site, whitneyhouston.com, which has been getting an amazing amount of traffic including in addition to social media out there.

But we've been telling you about an I-Report that we received from someone who was at a new edition concert last night where Bobby Brown, her ex-husband and father of the child they share together was there and broke down. I want you all to hear what he said, so we've put together a clip with the words. Take a look here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOBBY BROWN: I want you all to do me a favor. Just say a prayer for my daughter, say a prayer for her mother, and if you can find the time, please say a prayer for me because I'm going to need it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: That's just a bit of the concert last night and he tells us that it was absolutely emotional. There was not a dry eye in the house. Everyone had heard the news by that point or if they hadn't learned from him and so an emotional experience to be there in front of him at that moment.

I will tell you that I-Report we received this morning, just many from people who are really affected by this, who really have a lot to say today. And part of what so interesting to me is what people are writing us about the worldwide impact of Whitney Houston and her music and her as an icon.

I want you to show you some quotes here that we received. First one, from Facebook that I think says a lot. This is from a woman in Africa who wrote us.

She wrote us this, she said, quote, "She was truly inspirational, not just in America, but all over the world, particularly here in Africa. She broke the glass ceiling for many black female entertainers. Sure hope she finds the peace she lacked here on earth."

Another one here from KL, I think represents what a lot of people are feeling. "Her music always brought happiness to my mom. When I grew older I would listen to Whitney Houston and it would make me feel better. Her music is a part of my life and mother's life. I pray for her family and friends at this time."

And one more, and it's kind of emblematic, symbolic of what a lot of people are writing us today, using names of her songs, "you were my every woman, and the queen of the night. Whitney, I will always love you. Rest in peace and thank you for sharing your beautiful voice and talents with us." That's from Tamara Smith of I-Report.

So many interesting messages coming in all day. Now folks, when you go to our web site today, I want to show you things you should check out. One of them is a photo spread we have now that has some really classic images of Whitney from throughout the years.

If you go to the main page of cnn.com right now, you will be able to see this. It will also while you're there, take you over to our I- Report assignment and you'll have the chance to weigh in with your thoughts. Whatever it is that you wish to say about the loss of Whitney Houston there. We look forward to hearing from you. Fred, I'll have some of those responses for you next hour.

WHITFIELD: OK, thanks so much, Josh. Of course, we're going to be talking to more people who are in the music industry who knew her well and others who wrote about her extensively and have followed her career from the very beginning and have some very poignant thoughts to share.

Meantime, we're also following other breaking news taking place around the world. On to Greece where protests have turned deadly there. This as the parliament debates austerity measures, several buildings in Athens are on fire and police say emergency crews could not reach the buildings because protesters were blocking the streets.

So our Matthew Chance is there to give us a bird's eye view of what's taking place. Matthew, what can you tell us?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, it's like a war zone in the streets of Athens in the center square here in the Greek capital this evening. You can see there are thousands of protesters that continue to clash with riot police. They are stun grenades exploding, actual bombs have been thrown, tear gas, the air is thick with this really acrid smoke, which up until a few minutes ago, I couldn't come out on to this balcony and speak and do the reporting that I needed to do.

But I can tell you it's an absolutely chaotic situation down there. People are hacking up bits of the marble pavement into chunks to throw them at the riot police. It's this running street battle, open fires, kiosks have been vandalized. Shops are being destroyed.

There are fires in at least five buildings in Athens as well you can hear that, an enormous stun grenade fired by the police in an attempt to disperse the protesters. What are they protesting against?

The austerity measures being debated in the building behind me. That's the Greek parliament. MPs are there at the moment debating these austerity measures being imposed on them by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to get cuts so they will get access to the bailout funds they need to prevent the country from going bankrupt next month.

Awful lot of pressure being put on the Greek government to accept those conditions, but, obviously, you can see on the streets this evening, the absolute chaos with these thousands of protesters, possibly as many as hundred thousands we're having reports of estimates according to various sources.

Running riots on the streets tonight. A lot of pressure on the authorities not to pass those measures -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Matthew Chance, thanks for that report from Athens. We'll check in with you again to keep us posted.

And we're going to have much more of the NEWSROOM right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: This just in to CNN. A statement now by Whitney Houston's family, it reads, quote, "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Whitney. This is an unimaginable tragedy and we will miss her terribly. We appreciate the outpouring of love and support from her fans and friends," end quote.

Again, the body of Whitney Houston found yesterday in the Beverly Hilton at about 3:43 local time. She was to be going to a pre-Grammy party that evening, but now a number of her family and friends are expressing their sentiment and their sadness upon her loss.

Some of the music world's biggest names are, in fact, reacting in this way. Here's how they're remembering the woman who will forever be known as the voice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIANA ROSS, SINGER: She just had such an incredible voice and, you know, she just was a beautiful, beautiful face. I remember the first time I saw her, for Arista Records, beautiful girl.

GLADYS KNIGHT, SINGER: I've known her from a little girl up, you know, and her family, of course, and I'm venturing out to say this and may get some flack, but there will never be another voice like that.

SMOKEY ROBINSON, SINGER (via telephone): Whit was one of the greatest singers to ever open her mouth to sing, and I know that Whit would want the world to remember her that way.

I know that she would want people to remember her profound talent and to think of her in a positive light. Whit was a sweetie pie. You know, she was a nice person and I know that she would want to be remembered that way.

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WHITFIELD: And still undetermined the cause of death. We'll keep you posted on the investigation.

Meantime overseas, turmoil in Greece as protesters and police clash over austerity measures. That is -- those are live pictures right now. We'll have much more on the reporting from Athens and all that's unfolding right after this.

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WHITFIELD: Look at our top stories now. In Greece, riot police launched stunned grenades and tear gas into crowds of protesters in Athens today. Live pictures right now of the melay taking place.

Eight protesters and seven officers were injured in the clashes and authorities detained at least 20 people. People in Greece are furious about the government's plans to cut wages and benefits.

The prime minister says without the cuts and a bailout from the euro zone, Greece will go bankrupt and descend into chaos.

Politics in this country, GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney got some wins this weekend. He swept the caucus in Maine with 39 percent of the vote.

And the straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference in D.C., with 38 percent of the vote. Also, Gallup's latest poll shows Romney at the top of the heap with 34 percent followed by Rick Santorum at 24 percent.

Time now for travel insider. CNN reporters and producers can often get the inside scoop on great places to go. Reynolds Wolf traveled about an hour north of Atlanta to Delonaga, Georgia, where he found one of the oldest gold mines in the country.

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REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: The first impression, you see this beautiful building here in the parking lot. But it's what's below ground that really captures the imagination. You know this wasn't dug just yesterday. It's been around since 1898 and this is Dathan "D" Harbert, the general manager of the mine. How long have people been digging for gold in this part of the world?

DATHAN "D" HARBERT, MANAGER, CONSOLIDATED GOLD MINE: Well, gold was first discovered in 1828 and in just one year over 15,000 people showed up all looking for gold. It became the first major U.S. gold rush.

WOLF: What type of mining is this?

HARBERT: This is hard rock gold mining.

WOLF: But there are types too --

HARBERT: Absolutely. We'll grab a gold pan and head out to the rivers and streams.

WOLF: All right, show me how this is done.

HARBERT: Fill that with water, heavy gold just fall into the bottom. You do your job right and you should find right there.

WOLF: Gold. Check it out and I've got sand.

HARBERT: You better keep your day job.

WOLF: Unbelievable. D, thanks for your time.

HARBERT: Thanks for coming.

WOLF: All right, we're going to hit the road.

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