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Grammy's Preparing Whitney Houston Tribute; A Day of Violent Rioting in the Streets of Athens, Greece

Aired February 12, 2012 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Video is surfacing of what is being called Whitney Houston's last performance. It's from just last Thursday night. Just two days before her death. Houston showed up at singer Kelly Price's pre-Grammy celebration and they sang a duet of "Yes, Jesus Loves Me."

So after the duet, Price told MTV the reports of Houston being, quote, "Anything but OK," were erroneous.

Joining us on the phone right now is Christopher Farley who followed Whitney Houston's career as a music critic for "TIME" magazine. He is now with "The Wall Street Journal."

All right, Christopher, you know, you followed her for a long time. And people have always written about the range of her voice. How she was able to be alto, soprano, all in one felled swoop. Did she kind of become that talent who was that measuring stick in the music industry when they were looking for the latest talent? Who could possibly replace her or be like her?

CHRIS FARLEY, MUSIC CRITIC: Yes, she really was Mount Rushmore, she's on the Mount Rushmore of singers. She was someone that people looked up to, wished they could some day be like, but you know didn't expected to ever be on Mount Rushmore alongside her. People like Christina Aguilera saw her work, wanted to be like her, emulated her in certain ways, just like Christina Aguilera emulated Etta James.

Whitney Houston was (INAUDIBLE) made radio for (INAUDIBLE) again. At a time when hip-hop was just coming into dominance, when people thought that perhaps R&B couldn't cross over and couldn't compete with rock 'n' roll and all the other stuff that was going on, she showed that, yes, people were interested in the human voice and tell stories in that way and succeeded on her own terms.

WHITFIELD: And then she was multitalented. It wasn't just the singing. She started out as a model for "Seventeen" magazine and you saw her kind of as a spokesmodel for a cosmetic company, then she was singing on a very public stage. And then acting as well. She was multidimensional. That made her unique.

FARLEY: It was actually very important because, you know, she got across her brand in a different way. Obviously "The Bodyguard" was a breakout hit for her. "The Preacher's Wife" was also a solid hit. And a soundtrack (inaudible) that really showed her range in gospel music. And, of course, "Waiting to Exhale" was a big hit at movie theaters and also as a soundtrack.

And she had another film coming out "Sparkle." Bishop T.D. Jakes sent out an alert today (ph) that she had completed her work on that. You know, one of my favorite films of hers and one of my -- one of the favorite films of my daughter, Emma, is her film of "Cinderella" that she did with a multiracial cast.

She produced it, and she showed a different vision of Cinderella, a fairy tale for little girls and little boys that wanted to watch. And I think that's really part of her legacy, she is someone who wasn't just a singer, who was really tried to expand her range of what performers could do in many different ways.

WHITFIELD: And what is your feeling, Christopher, that she really was kind of destined for greatness? I mean, here we're looking at still images when she's with, you know, Dionne Warwick, her mom, you know, Cissy Houston.

She was a backup singer when she was a teenager for Chaka Khan, and then tonight during the Grammy's apparently Chaka Khan, she says if emotionally she's able to do it will be part of that tribute for Whitney Houston.

FARLEY: Yes, you know, I don't think she was destined for greatness. I think it was something she had to work for. I mean, Clive Davis saw something when he saw her at that New York City --

WHITFIELD: At Carnegie Hall, yes.

(CROSSTALK)

FARLEY: -- (inaudible) and decided to take a chance on her, to try to make her into something, because you saw a lot of good raw material there. She certainly had the pedigree with Dionne Warwick being her cousin and Aretha Franklin being her godmother and Cissy Houston being her mom, but you know, her album was not a huge hit right out of the box.

It debuted at 166 on the Billboard chart. It took more than a year to reach number one. Today, (inaudible). You know, we don't have the time to make her into a hit. But he stayed with it. She kept doing the circuit, she kept performing, she kept pushing on radio.

In the end, she became the Whitney Houston we all know. But it was not destined for her to (inaudible). She really had to work at it, she had to show that she had the stuff to be the icon she became.

WHITFIELD: Well, that, too, is a beautiful lesson being underscored. Thanks so much, Christopher Farley of "The Wall Street Journal" now. Appreciate it.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

WHITFIELD: Also breaking news, we continue to follow now, this out of Athens, Greece. Thousands of protesters are fighting riot police in the streets, throwing rocks and setting buildings on fire while tear gas covers the city.

At least 15 people are hurt, but police officers and protesters. It is happening outside the Greek parliament where inside lawmakers are deciding how to further cut public wages and benefits in return for European bailout package. CNN's Matthew Chance is in Athens and we'll go live to Athens in a moment and check in with him.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

WHITFIELD: Now to the other top story we continue to follow. New information now about Whitney Houston's death. The Los Angeles coroner confirmed to CNN that an autopsy could happen as early as this afternoon. Police say there are no obvious signs of foul play.

TMZ, quoting informed sources says the singer was found unconscious in the bathtub of her hotel room in Beverly Hills. It says her bodyguard had attempted CPR and pills were found in her room. And these are some of the last photos of Houston, taken Thursday at a Hollywood nightclub.

Joining us now, live from Los Angeles, CNN's Casey Wian. So, Casey, there are reports also about Whitney Houston's daughter and that she, Bobbi Kristina, was rushed to the hospital. What can you tell us about both of those fronts?

CASEY WIAN, CNN REPORTER: That's right, Fredricka. The Beverly Hills police department confirms to me that, in fact, Bobbi Kristina Brown was taken to the hospital just before noon today, rushed to the hospital, Cedars-Sinai Hospital, here in Los Angeles, with what they're describing as a nonlife-threatening medical transport situation. They will not tell us any more details about her condition.

Obviously there are reports, though, that she was very distraught in the hours immediately after her mother was found dead in that hotel room in the Beverly Hilton Hotel, and apparently was not allowed to see her mother.

Spokesperson for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center saying that they will not confirm nor deny the fact that she is at the hospital, Whitney Houston's daughter, because of federal privacy laws. And as you mentioned, the autopsy of Whitney Houston, according to the Los Angeles coroner's office, could happen as early today. They're also telling us it could happen tomorrow.

We won't know until after that autopsy is performed whether they will release any preliminary information or if they will wait for possible several weeks or more until toxicology results are completed.

We do know that the Beverly Hills police department is no longer on scene at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. They will not say, though, whether that means they have completed their investigation at that site, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Casey Wian, thanks so much, in Los Angeles. Meantime, new video is surfacing of what is being called Whitney Houston's last performance. It's from Thursday night, just two days before her death. Houston showed up at singer Kelly Price's pre- Grammy celebration, and they sang a duet of yes, "Jesus Loves Me."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So after the duet, Price told MTV that reports of Houston being, quote, "anything but OK" were erroneous.

One of Whitney Houston's long-time friends, Chaka Khan, will pay tribute to her at tonight's Grammy awards. And you can hear the emotion in her voice, Chaka Khan, as she tells HLN about her last conversation with Houston.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHAKA KHAN, SINGER: I'm still in shock. I can't wrap my head around the fact that I won't be able to hug her and say, hey, any more, you know? That's the hardest thing for me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How difficult --

KHAN: I loved her very much. I loved her.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you say you love her, and you can hear it in your voice. You can hear how stunned you are. How difficult is it going to be for you tonight to put those emotions aside and give a proper tribute to Whitney at the Grammys?

KHAN: I don't know. I'm just going to pray that I can do what's asked of me for my little sister. She's (inaudible) me, and I don't know. I don't know how I'm going to do it. But I'm going to do that -- what I can.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When is the last time you spoke with Whitney Houston?

KHAN: It was, I think, the end of -- the end of last summer, I saw her. She came to -- Prince and I were working here in L.A., and she came to the gig. And she came up on stage with me and we sang together. And then afterwards we talked for, like, over an hour in my dressing room. And we had a wonderful talk. And, you know, it is so surreal. I mean, I just saw her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: It's going to be hard for Chaka Khan in that tribute this evening. Whitney Houston was in her teens when she sang backup for Chaka Khan.

All right. The Grammys start in about four hours. But the shock of Whitney Houston's death will hang over the event. Let's go now to Los Angeles. Kareen Wynter is joining us right now. So, Kareen, you can -- you can hear it in, you know, Chaka Khan's voice, it is going to be difficult, but, you know, she said she's got to do it. I mean, this was her friend, almost like her baby sister, she said.

KAREEN WYNTER, ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: And don't be surprised if Chaka Khan doesn't break down on stage, even Jennifer Hudson, she's going to be a part of this special tribute. And it is going to be really a big night for Jennifer, you know. Even before this devastating news happened yesterday, Fred, she shared how Whitney Houston was an idol to her.

Even as an 11-year-old girl, she would imagine sitting in a room that Whitney was across from her and they would be doing duets together. And what a lot of people may not remember is that Whitney actually presented Jennifer with her very first Grammy on stage in 2008. That was for best R&B album, Jennifer Hudson, back then.

And so it will be an emotional night for her. And she said at that time, Fred -- and this was so touching -- that meeting Whitney Houston back in 2008, it almost overshadowed the whole Grammy experience. So this is how much this woman meant to her, probably still means to her. And so she's going to give it her all when she hits that stage tonight.

I also want to share with you some of the statements that CNN has confirmed from a person who used to be married to Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown, of course, so broken up by what has happened.

And he confirmed with CNN in this statement, "I am deeply saddened at the passing of my ex-wife, Whitney Houston. At this time we ask for privacy, especially for my daughter Bobbi Kristina. I appreciate all of the condolences that have been directed towards my family and I at this most difficult time."

Also, a statement from Whitney Houston's family, "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."

Friends I keep talking to -- and I just contacted someone very close to Bobby Brown and also Whitney Houston, their agent, she was very gracious on the phone, but just so incredibly and understandably upset over everything that happened.

I tried to ask her how Bobby Brown is reacting to, you know, this news that his daughter is not doing well, she's been hospitalized again, and she was so broken up, she really couldn't even put the words together to have a conversation right now on the phone with me. So it just gives you a glimmer of what so many people here are grappling with right now. And it will continue for days to come, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Kareen Wynter, thanks so much. And keep us posted on the evening's events at the Grammys. Thank you.

All right, meantime, the other big story we continue to follow, this in Greece, breaking news coming out of Athens. A massive crowd of protesters is faced off against riot police near the Greek parliament. Let's go to Athens now and CNN's senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance. What more can you tell us, Matthew?

MATTHEW CHANCE, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, within the past few minutes the large crowds of thousands of protesters that have been thronging this square outside the Greek parliament seem to have, you know, dissipated somewhat.

We're hearing reports there are some isolated incidents elsewhere in the city, but essentially the main protest there, which saw tens of thousands of people outside the parliament here in Athens, many of them clashing with riot police, seems to have gone away for the moment.

Many of them were protesting, all of them, in fact, were protesting against the austerity measures that are currently being debated in the building right behind me, the Greek parliament.

They're debating these austerity measures that are being essentially imposed on Greece by the European Union's International Monetary Fund, so they can get the bailout funds that it needs to avoid bankruptcy next month.

Many of these people, though, have endured two years of austerity measures already. The country is in deep recession, and the last thing they want are more cuts to their public services, their jobs, their wages.

That's why there is so much anger on the streets of Athens this evening. And that's why the government here is in a very difficult position indeed. It is going to have to pass these measures. It looks like they will do that. But it is going to have to face public anger afterwards, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And so how are, you know, first responders able to kind of contain the situation in Athens, filled with historic buildings?

CHANCE: Well, obviously, some of those buildings as well have been affected by these riots this evening. We had reports of various cafes, cinemas, that have been attacked and, in some instances, torched by the protesters as they clash with police in these running street battles through central Athens.

None of the great monuments of antiquity, like the Acropolis or anything like that, have been affected by this, although earlier in the day, protesters did drape a banner from the Acropolis, which overlooks the whole of Athens basically, voicing their opposition to the austerity cuts. But, you know, this is something that has been contained to the relatively modern center of the Greek capital.

WHITFIELD: Matthew Chance, thanks so much for that report from Athens.

Back in the U.S. now, stars are remembering Whitney Houston. Stay with us to hear how the late pop star helped singer Jennifer Holliday through hard times.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER HOLLIDAY, SINGER: I wanted to be like her, I always wanted to sing like that, never could, though. But you know, she was a wonderful person, always giving of herself. But, you know, her music will live forever. She will forever be a superstar, forever.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And she was. She was a super --

HOLLIDAY: Superstar, yes. They don't make them like that anymore.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEVIN HUGHES, CAPITAL FM ENTERTAINMENT: To lose Whitney Houston some seven months after we lost Amy Winehouse, and the weekend that we were celebrating anyone that's at the Grammy awards, their father has flown to the States to be part of that celebration, a month after we lose Etta James, another legend, to think there are three iconic singers in, hopefully, a better place is just such a sad loss to the music industry and a sad loss to the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So among those being tributed (sic) this evening, Whitney Houston. And actress and singer Jennifer Holliday was actually a very good friend of Whitney Houston's. She spoke to CNN earlier about how much Whitney helped her when she hit hard times.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOLLIDAY: Whitney was one of the most down -- just so down-home and just nice and kind-hearted. And I had met her early on, because I knew so many of the same people that she knew, Michael Jackson, all these people that I knew, of course, through "Dreamgirls" and then Aretha Franklin and singers and stuff.

So I got to know her just as a nice person. And she was always very kind-hearted. And when I had fallen upon hard times, and had lost my home and trying to get my career back together, she kind of stepped in to try to figure out, OK, so how you going to get work and how you going to do.

And she would offer me jobs. And one time she offered -- she had a birthday party, she said, well, I can book you to sing for that. And she and I were label mates briefly. I was with Arista Records; I did one album for them, and I also sang for the Clive Davis party, which she was always at.

And she personally took me around to people, introduced me and personally saw after -- she was always just trying to show that she cared about people. She was also that same way with her musicians early on. And that's -- I learned from her how to treat musicians, you know, just in terms of -- that she -- her piano player, who was a musical director, she loved them.

And his death was one of her first tragic deaths, of the loss of the piano player, and how she cared for them and the family. So she's always been a very caring person. And I think that it got all mixed up because she didn't have a lot to say about a lot of things, I mean, like I'm very deep and analytical about a lot of stuff.

She, you didn't feel darkness from her. And you know you can get that from some people, some artists, they feel dark, they feel secretive and whatever. You didn't feel that. You always felt a light from her. She was always uplifting and trying to help people, you know, by connecting them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Well, much more on the investigation surrounding Whitney Houston's death.

Also straight ahead, presidential politics, where do the candidates stand?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney heads into the next set of primaries with another victory in his column. He won the main caucuses narrowly, beating Ron Paul by just three percentage points.

Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich didn't actively compete in the state. They came in third and fourth place, respectively. The main caucuses are nonbinding, which means the 21 delegates at stake will be handed out at a convention come May.

Romney is also the candidate of choice of CPAC, the Conservative Politic Action Conference. He won the conference straw poll this weekend, finishing seven points ahead of his closest rival, Rick Santorum. Newt Gingrich came in third and Ron Paul finished last with 12 percent of the vote.

Mitt Romney's GOP presidential rivals say they still have a chance to win the nomination.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FORMER SEN. RICK SANTORUM, R-PA., PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We feel very, very good going into Michigan and Arizona. We're going to compete, obviously, heavily in Michigan. We're going to compete in Arizona.

And we think this is a two-person race right now, and we're just focused on making sure that folks know we're the best alternative to Barack Obama and we have the best chance of beating him.

REP. RON PAUL, R-TEXAS, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He does have the money and the organization. He just doesn't have the enthusiasm, I think, we are able to get in our crowd, you know, really excited about what he believes in. I think that's his biggest problem.

But I would say, yes, he's out in front and people keep picking away at him, but, you know, he lost a few, but, you know, he picked up a little steam today. So you got to give him credit for that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: We'll have more on presidential politics later on.

Turning back to Whitney Houston and the investigation surrounding her death, she got the world's attention, not just with her voice, but also with her looks. Cover girl, 1981, and many times after that on "Seventeen" magazine. I'll talk to the editor of "Seventeen," coming up. But first, singer India Arie remembers Whitney.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

INDIA ARIE, SINGER: I didn't know her that well, but she was extraordinarily loving and kind towards me. It was amazing. The first year I came out, I got nominated for seven Grammys, and I had a song on my album, called "Heading in the Right Direction." And she sent me flowers and a card that said, "You're headed in the right direction."

So when I went to the Grammys, I had the card in my bag, like, Whitney Houston knows who I am.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GLADYS KNIGHT, SINGER: I've known her for 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.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got that rare privilege to be front and center with Whitney Houston, the race horse, and it is just shocking. It is just beyond.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Tonight's Grammy awards show will go on, despite the death of singer Whitney Houston. And authorities will not release information about the death investigation until tomorrow. The pop star died yesterday in a Beverly Hills hotel. She burst into the music industry's consciousness in the early 1980s as a phenomenal church singer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: From this start at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, Houston went on to record breaking -- a record-breaking career as a recording artist and movie star. But, in between that, she was a model, too.

Singer Jennifer Hudson will be part of tonight's last-second tribute at the Grammy awards. CNN entertainment correspondent Nischelle Turner is at L.A.'s Staples Center, where tonight's ceremony is sure to be a real tearjerker. I know people have already been contemplating all day long how they would best pay tribute to Whitney Houston.

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Yes, definitely, Fred. And you know, I have to tell you, honestly, this has been a very odd red carpet so far. It has been open for about an hour.

And you can tell there is just kind of this heaviness in the air here, a lot of people already talking about Whitney Houston, what she meant to them, no matter what genre of music they have been in.

You talked about Jennifer Hudson paying tribute to Whitney Houston on the Grammy stage tonight. And let me tell you, I can tell you that we have learned Jennifer Hudson will be singing "I Will Always Love You," and we do know that in her rehearsals this afternoon, it was very, very emotional for her. She did have a hard time getting through the song at one point.

We also spoke with, just a few minutes ago, the musical director for the show, "Glee." And his name is Adam Anders. And he was telling me and reconfirming to me what we heard from Matthew Morrison last night, that Amber Riley will be singing "I Will Always Love You" on this week's episode of "Glee," which is their Valentine's episode. This was preplanned and taped weeks ago.

He said he was texting back and forth with Amber last night and she was extremely nervous, even more so now because she just wants to make sure she does the song justice for Whitney's sake. Fred, back to you.

WHITFIELD: Oh, boy. And so are they revealing any more about how the tribute will unfold? Will it be, you know, sprinkled various tributes sprinkled kind of throughout the program, or do they have plans to kind of cluster it in one location of the Grammy program for this evening?

TURNER: You know what; we haven't really gotten all of that information yet. Earlier this morning on our air, Chaka Khan did say that she had planned to take part in a tribute for Whitney. She didn't really know how it was going to play out or what she would sing, but she did plan to take part as well. And I did speak with the president of the recording academy last night, what he told me is he felt like this was just so new and so fresh and so raw, he didn't want to do this big over the top kind of grandiose type of tribute. He wanted to do something very appropriate, very sweet and very respectful to Whitney and her family.

WHITFIELD: All right. Nischelle Turner thanks so much for keeping us posted. We'll check back with you.

TURNER: Sure. WHITFIELD: All right. Just one indication of Houston's appeal. She broke records, held by the Beetles and the BGs. We'll look back at the other highlights from her amazing career.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIANA ROSS, SINGER: She just had an incredible voice and such a beautiful face. I remember the first time I saw her first on records, just a beautiful girl.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Great memories of a great talent in Whitney Houston. We're also getting a statement now by Whitney Houston's family, reading, quote, "We're 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." This statement from her ex-husband, Bobby Brown, saying "I am deeply saddened at the passing of my ex-wife. At this time we ask for privacy, especially for my daughter Bobbi- Kristina, I appreciate all of the condolences that have been directed toward my family and I at this most difficult time."

And, again, we received confirmation that Bobbi-Kristina, the daughter of Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston had earlier this afternoon been rushed to Cedars-Sinai Hospital. It is unclear what her condition is, but our reporting says that it is a non-life threatening event that sent her to the hospital. We'll keep you posted on Bobbi-Kristina as well.

Overall, the music industry and fans all over the world are mourning the passing of Whitney Houston. The pop queen ruled the charts for a decade and a half. Here is a look back at her golden years.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHITNEY HOUSTON: Because the greatest --

WHITFIELD (voice over): Her's was a voice instantly recognized by millions worldwide, legendary recording artist Whitney Houston sold more than 170 billion albums, with hits including "Saving all my Love for You," and "The Greatest Love of All."

HOUSTON: And I --

WHITFIELD: 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 Aristae Records in 1983. Her first two albums brought seven consecutive number one hits, surpassing a record set by the Beatles and the BGs.

HOUSTON: I want to dance with somebody -- WHITFIELD: 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 Grammy's, 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 leased her first studio album in seven years. It debuted at number one on the billboard charts.

HOUSTON: It humbled me and it kind of, like, kind of, like, said, OK, 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 says 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.

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

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Whitney Houston was more than a singer and actress. She was a trailblazer in 1981; she appeared on the cover of "Seventeen" Magazine. She was the first black model to grace the cover of "Seventeen." Earlier today I talked with the current editor in chief of "Seventeen" about that history-making moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNE SHOKET, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "SEVENTEEN MAGAZINE:" 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 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. In fact, the other girl that is 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 incredibly iconic cover for "Seventeen" Magazine, really important all around.

WHITFIELD: Was the feeling perhaps at "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 have seen pictures of her as a fitness model. She was regularly a fashion model for the magazine. 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, well I must be pretty too. It is a feeling that we try to have at "Seventeen" Magazine all the time for all girls that there is this incredible embracing of diversity.

WHITFIELD: Yes. You know, I can attest to that. 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 admire. But when it was Whitney Houston that came on the cover or whether it was 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 -- but then she went on from there and then there was, you know, Cover Girl Makeup that also endorsed her as kind of 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 well I know -- 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 that wanted to look like Whitney Houston. I can imagine it so vividly. I went out and bought the eyeliner just like her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Everyone did that. All right. That was my conversation earlier today with the current editor in chief of "Seventeen" Magazine.

Other news, breaking tonight overseas, it is in Athens, Greece where an angry protest march turned violent. People are hurt. We'll take you there live in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: This hour's breaking news, a day of violent rioting in the streets of Athens, Greece. Let's check in again with CNN senior international correspondent Matthew Chance. It is late at night there now. Have things calmed at all?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They have. They have calmed quite a lot since we last spoke. There is not really any protesters on the streets at least here in the center of Athens at the moment. What hasn't changed is the Parliamentians are still inside that building behind me, still debating the austerity measures that caused so much anger here. We saw some credible scenes earlier on this evening, Fredricka. Buildings burning, clashes and running battles between police and thousands of protesters throwing actual bombs and rocks that they hacked off the side of pavement here.

And those big stun grenades making a dramatic noise, turning the place into something that resembled a war zone here in the center of the Greek capital as well. As I said at the moment, things have calmed down a great deal. But that's not to say they're not going to flare up again once the parliament passes these measures as it is expected to do within the next few hours. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So what is the feeling about business being conducted in this workweek, the start of a new workweek? Is there a feeling this will be very disruptive? Are people staying inside if they're not out demonstrating? Do they feel like they cannot go on with business as usual as it pertains to their work?

CHANCE: This has been a one day protest. Unions called a general strike; there has been a strike here for the past 48 hours in the run up for this parliamentary vote. But tomorrow is a normal workday and, you know, the fact is over the course of the last several months, and over the course of the past several years, Athenians have gotten used to the idea that their city comes to a complete stand still and is ravaged by protesters. This isn't fist time this has happened.

The last two years very unpopular historically measures, Athenians, Greeks all over the country, have protested again and again against these austerity measures being passed. They're doing it again; they have done it again tonight. But the government is stuck between a rock and a hard place. It just doesn't have any option, it says, but to bend to these demands by the European Union and International Monetary Fund to, you know, impose these austerity measures. Otherwise, it will simply go bankrupt and that will be much more chaotic than say anything the austerity measures will deliver.

WHITFIELD: Matthew Chance, thank you from Athens.

One iconic singer remembers how Whitney brought together people of different racial backgrounds. Tom Jones is next.

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TOM JONES, SINGER: Whitney Houston was my favorite singer. I thought she had the best natural female voice that I had ever heard before or since, you know. So it is -- the one good thing is that she recorded so many great records so that means she lives forever, you know? Amy Winehouse, god bless her, but she had only done two albums. She was very young. But Whitney recorded so many great things so -- but it is still a shame that 48 years old, I mean, god, that's a shame.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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MELANIE AMARO, "X FACTOR USA" WINNER: I know my voice can never compare to hers, ever. It could never be as close. I sing because I try to, you know, follow in her footsteps and she's the reason why I sing the way I do, as strong as I do today.

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WHITFIELD: That was Melanie Amaro, winner of the X Factor USA Talent Show.

So Whitney Houston, she transcended race in her popularity. But she really struck a cord with young African-American girls, many of whom were first inspired by Whitney after she graced the cover of "Seventeen" Magazine back in 1981. Joining me right now, a blogger who says she too was touched by Whitney's talent. LaToya Peterson joining us now from San Francisco. So LaToya you often you know blog about race and pop culture. What were you inspired to write over the last under 24 hours now?

LATOYA PETERSON, RACIALICIOUS.COM: At this point we haven't written anything because it is so shocking. I mean I don't think any of us expected to lose Whitney Houston at the age of 48. But when we look at her legacy I think it is really important for us to look at the boundaries she broke in terms of race and in terms of gender and what particularly black women could expect to see and do in the pop culture space in America.

WHITFIELD: She really did touch so many young girls, you know, from a very early start, whether it was in her church, at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, where, you know, at 11 years old she was a solo singer with the junior choir there. So she made an indelible impression right there in the community and that just simply blossomed as she became one on the national stage.

PETERSON: Definitely. I mean she is -- she was iconic. I mean a lot of people said the "Seventeen" Magazine cover, I was a little bit too young to have experienced that type of awakening to Whitney Houston. I remember her always established as this huge star. I think I was coming of age when "The Bodyguard" was popular. When she was dominating all the pop charts and so it was amazing to see this tall, glamorous woman, almost kind of like the Lena Horne of our era and to see her just coming and commanding such stage presence and see her everywhere, see her on MTV, to see her on B.E.T. in a time when a lot of black stars didn't necessarily have the same type of ability to cross over. It seemed like Whitney could do anything that she wanted to.

WHITFIELD: Even though there was quite a bit of press on her tumultuous relationship with her ex-husband Bobby Brown, did that in any way kind of jade or change your view of her?

PETERSON: You know, it was just sad. I was reading some old articles, when I was prepping the piece, and there was one in "Salon" by Rebecca Chaseter where she was quoting from Danielle Smith who said that Whitney story wasn't necessarily the bad girl who was just going out of control, this was really like the good girl, the princess who had had taken this tumble and we were all kind of waiting for her to come out of it. I personally was kind of hoping for a Tina Turner style turn around, where she gets rid of that man and gets her life clean and comes back triumphant. That seemed to be the path that she was on, so I think that's why this tragedy is striking so deeply.

WHITFIELD: If you felt that there was a message sort of in her image, did you ever feel like there was a message, a common thread message in her music? PETERSON: I felt like her music was all about trying to find, particularly for girls, who they are within. Because at first she sang a lot about love and trying to find love and looking for love. And then later she started talking about how she was fine on her own, how she could stand on her own two feet. So I felt like Whitney was really urging people to look and be more reflective.

WHITFIELD: Blogger LaToya Peterson, thanks so much for being with us and reflecting on your thoughts and memories of Whitney Houston.

PETERSON: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: The man who people credit with discovering Whitney talks about her next.

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WHITNEY HOUSTON, SINGER: "I will always love you."

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WHITFIELD: Hands down, so many agree. "I will always Love You" one of Whitney Houston's greatest hits, spending 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. This 1993 ballad was considered Houston's real signature song. So Whitney Houston died just hours before she was to attend last night's pre-Grammy party hosted by her mentor music executive Clive Davis. Here's part of what Davis had to say last night.

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CLIVE DAVIS, MUSIC EXECUTIVE: By now, sadly, you've all learned of the unspeakably tragic news of our beloved Whitney's passing. I don't have to mask my emotions. Not in front of this room, full of so many dear friends. I do have a very heavy heart and I am personally devastated by the loss of someone who has meant so much to me for so many years. Whitney was so full of life. She was so looking forward to tonight. She was not scheduled to perform. She loved music. And she loved this night that celebrates music.

My heart goes out to her daughter, Bobbi-Kristina, to her mother, Cissy, to all of the relatives and to so many of you here tonight, her extended family, who loved and cherished her and cherished her spirit. Whitney was a beautiful person and she had a talent beyond compare. She graced this stage with her regal presence. So many times, giving so many memorable performances here over the years. So simply put Whitney would have wanted to --

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WHITFIELD: All right. That was Clive Davis there famously discovering Whitney Houston and signing her to Aristae Records when she was just a teenager.