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CNN Sunday Morning

The Best of CNN Weekend Mornings

Aired January 03, 2010 - 06:00   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Hello, everybody. It's January 3. I'm Betty Nguyen.

RICHARD LUI, CNN ANCHOR: Yes.

NGUYEN: Hey there, Richard. How you doing?

LUI: Good morning to you. I do it every morning, right?

NGUYEN: Right out of the gate.

LUI: I'm always, like, ready to go.

I'm Richard Lui in for T.J. Holmes this week, and perhaps a little bit too anxious this day.

NGUYEN: That's all right. We like for you to be ready to go.

LUI: It's a good Sunday. Thanks for starting your day with us.

NGUYEN: Yes, it is.

OK, so this morning, we have a special treat for you. As we begin the year, we wanted to reflect on some of the best interviews and memories of 2009. Our morning team got a chance to report on some really remarkable stories, and for the next hour, we are going to take a look back.

But first, here's a check of the morning's headlines.

We do have some breaking news out of Yemen to tell you about. The U.S. Embassy is closed there after threats from al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to attack American interests. Just yesterday, top U.S. military commander General Petraeus met the Yemeni president to attack antiterrorism strategy, according to a senior U.S. government source.

Now, that meeting came on the same day President Obama made his strongest statement linking the failed Christmas Day plane bombing directly to al Qaeda in Yemen. We are told Yemen pledged more support for U.S. counterterrorism strikes inside Yemen. It is also offering assistance with the investigation into the attempted bombing.

LUI: And Florida police have arrested a suspect in the Thanksgiving murders. Paul Merhige, seen in this surveillance tape you see here, was taken into custody at a model about 200 miles from the crime scene last night after a tip from someone who had seen the story on "America's Most Wanted."

Now, Merhige is accused of killing four family members, including his own 6-year-old cousin. Relatives were relieved when they heard the news of his arrest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM SITTON, MCKAYALAN'S DAD: It means I'll be able to sleep a little better tonight, and I won't be patrolling the inside of my house with my shotgun the way - you know, thinking that the monster is right around the - the corner. I've been in protective mode. And now that he's captured, at least - you know, my family, we can even - even begun - begin the healing process.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LUI: Well, Merhige faces four counts of first-degree murder and at least one count of attempted first-degree murder.

NGUYEN: The deadly mudslides in Brazil - crews hoping to find survivors yesterday found nothing but bodies, after a huge piece of mountain collapsed on a seaside tourist resort. At least 60 people have died from the slides and torrential flooding on the southeastern coast of the country.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Want to take a look back now at some of our best interviews and memories from 2009. We'll have more of the morning's top stories at 6:20 a.m.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well, good morning, and thanks for joining us. I'm Betty Nguyen, with T.J. Holmes and Reynolds Wolf. And this morning, we're doing something a little bit different. We're going to take a look back at the year in review, some of the biggest stories of the year. Also, some of the stories that we enjoyed covering.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Some of the biggest - I guess the biggest, no doubt about it, President Obama, the first black president of the U.S., inaugurated in January. A lot of coverage dedicated to that.

But we covered the big stories, but there were a lot of stories big and small that we just enjoyed. We're going to be sharing those during this hour here as well.

NGUYEN: Yes, because we went across the nation, into different countries this year covering stories.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Like Mexico.

NGUYEN: Like Mexico, weather-related story.

WOLF: Yes, I mean, it was a really quiet hurricane season, but you had the opportunity to go to Mexico and cover Hurricane Jimena.

And, you know, while you were on assignment there, I was actually in Southern California covering the Station Fire.

NGUYEN: The wildfires.

WOLF: Yes, one of the - the most damaging fires in Southern California history. I mean, widespread damage. And - and we're going to take you back to that scene.

NGUYEN: But another big story that we cannot forget about this year, of course, was Michael Jackson, the death of Michael Jackson.

HOLMES: That was certainly another one of the biggest stories in the country. This network, certainly - all of us in some way, form or fashion were a part of that coverage.

But I got the opportunity to go to Harlem, New York, the Apollo Theatre, this historic place - that is actually where Michael Jackson got his start. The Jackson 5, just a wee little - little guy was up there singing on stage when the world first got to see Michael Jackson's talent.

They had a big memorial service there for him, thousands of people lining the streets of Harlem to try to get into that. But two people who were there, they were fans as well as friends of Michael Jackson: Al Sharpton - the Rev. Al Sharpton, and also Spike Lee, the famous filmmaker.

I caught up with both of those guys. Take a look back at the scene.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SPIKE LEE, DIRECTOR: Everybody's here to celebrate the life, the brilliance of Michael Jackson.

HOLMES: And - and this is what - and, you know, before I move on to another question, what - what got into you all up there on stage?

THE REV. AL SHARPTON, CIVIL-RIGHTS LEADER: Well, we just - you know, it's a celebration. We're not here to mourn. We're here to celebrate. We're here to let the world know how Michael made us feel.

And all of us grew up in the same generation with Michael. So we went back to the days when we grew up. They started playing "ABC." Spike and I remember them days.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: So guys, that scene was unbelievable.

NGUYEN: Yes.

HOLMES: Literally, thousands of people. It was a hot, hot day in Harlem that day. NGUYEN: And they lined up for hours.

HOLMES: For hours, down the block, some 10 blocks down the street. But to get inside, just to dance to some Michael Jackson music for - for just a few minutes, pay their respects and get on out of there.

NGUYEN: Well, while Michael Jackson was making news, I was actually down in Houston - Houston, Galveston area covering a look back at Hurricane Ike. You know, so much devastation was caused by that hurricane.

Well, how ironic it was that I was covering that story when I got a call to go cover yet another hurricane that was really brewing at the time. And they said, 'Hey, you want to go to Cabo?' As a journalist...

HOLMES: Sounds great.

NGUYEN: ...you think, 'This is a great - it's a work vacation.'

Uh, no, not really. It was a Category 5 hurricane in the beginning. It weakened by the time it made landfall. But when I got to Cabo, we realized - you know what? It's pretty much going to miss making a direct hit on Cabo. You were watching it as well.

So we had to go up to Constitucion, Mexico, where there indeed was some damage once Hurricane Jimena came ashore.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: (INAUDIBLE) because there are some 2,000 people that the government is hoping to evacuate.

I wasn't expecting to spend my birthday in Cabo covering a monster hurricane. But yet here we are, and the rains are really coming down now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN (voice-over): A lot of people thought this was going to be a Category 4, bordering on a Category 5.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN (voice-over): Hurricane Jimena tour through Constitucion, Mexico, knocking out power and littering the streets with debris.

(on camera): The roof just ripped all the way off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's (INAUDIBLE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF: You know what's ironic about that, is while you were dealing with that hurricane, I was about 1,000 miles north, up in California, covering some of the wildfires.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF: A hundred thousand acres continues to burn. About five percent contained at this time. Lives have already been lost battling this blaze, and it looks like with the weather conditions, with very low humidity and of course, high temperatures, this is going to be a battle that could last for quite some time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF: But when you're dealing with terrain like this, mountainous conditions in the San Gabriel Mountains - my gosh, man, I mean, how do you fight this thing?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF: But I tell you, the thing that made this fire so incredibly different is just - just the sheer size.

HOLMES: A - a lot of heavy stuff, serious stuff we, of course, have to cover in - in any - on all those news cycles we deal with.

NGUYEN: Yes. Oh yes.

HOLMES: But of course, on the weekend, you all are - we're a little family here, and we like to do some lighter stuff. And we have done some lighter stuff.

And - including, Reynolds, we - we send you swimming with the fishes sometimes.

NGUYEN: Not just the fishes, but the sharks.

WOLF: I know. Face to face.

NGUYEN: We're going to put you in jeopardy on this one.

WOLF: I had a chance to hop in the tank over at the Georgia Aquarium with - with these creatures that are really unchanged for - for millions of years, basically swimming with 40-foot-long dinosaurs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF: That - that was cool.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: I got to hop in - hop in the water with something far less intimidating, Dara Torres. And we see we - we had our feet in the water by the pool, and we were worried whether or not we were going to be able - if she was going to be OK doing that. We didn't know how she was going to show up dressed, quite frankly.

Sending her text messages before she got here, 'Hey, what are you wearing?' Sounds kind of crazy to be asking her what she's wearing, but...

NGUYEN: Yes.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: ....she said a miniskirt. And I thought she was joking. Sure enough, she shows up in a miniskirt. So the - the shoot went just fine.

NGUYEN: And many times when we're covering stories, we can set things up, you know, with your text messages or whatnot, phone calls.

But sometimes, they just happen while we're at work. And - and that's what happened when Dolly Parton graced us with her presence. She was here at CNN doing some interviews.

We caught wind of it, rushed down to her. And now we have a new theme song for CNN "SATURDAY" and SUNDAY mornings.

Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (voice-over): You're watching the best of CNN weekend mornings, and there's plenty more to come.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Hello again. Welcome back. Along with my partners here, we're taking a look back at the year, some of the biggest news stories.

Of course, we said here at the top, no doubt, the biggest story of the year was the inauguration of Barack Obama, this country's first black president. CNN - I mean, we dedicated so many of our - I'd probably say all of our resources on this.

NGUYEN: We even had holograms dedicated to our coverage...

HOLMES: We had holograms.

NGUYEN: ...of President Barack Obama. And, you know, it all really culminated in that night of the many inaugural balls. I can't even remember how many there were. There were...

HOLMES: At least 10.

WOLF: I think 10.

HOLMES: At least 10.

NGUYEN: Yes, at least 10. And - and everyone wanted to know what Michelle Obama was going to be wearing.

And the dress that she unveiled that night was made by a designer called Jason Wu. That is his name.

And actually, I got to catch up with him in New York at Fashion Week.

Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Jason, you know, after dressing Michelle Obama for the inaugural balls, this has been a big year for you.

Did you feel any added pressure for this particular fashion show?

JASON WU, FASHION DESIGNER: You know, every - you know, it's nerves and it's a lot of anticipation and a lot of non-stop work for that 10-minute space. I'll work it, you know, for (INAUDIBLE) coming down the runway (INAUDIBLE) and looking exactly the way I dreamed.

So yes, you know, this is good for me. You know, I'm really excited.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. And how chaotic were those last few hours, few days before today's show?

WU: I was sewing up until the last (INAUDIBLE)

NGUYEN: Are you serious?

WU: So it was pretty chaotic.

I sculpted each dress. And I - they sculpt it. And, you know, it was inspired by (INAUDIBLE). And I wanted to - in the spirit of sculpting, I wanted to create these dresses that looked like sculptures. And, you know, each (INAUDIBLE) has to be individual to the girls that were created them (ph).

NGIUYEN: So during a recession, which we're all in right now, are you catering at all to those who maybe may not have as much change to spend on wonderful designs?

WU: Well, you know, if you can pick one thing to look (INAUDIBLE) - one thing that you can desire and want to hold on - have it for a long time. And it's worth it, a long-term investment.

NGUYEN: An investment piece.

WU: It's quality (INAUDIBLE).

NGUYEN: Got you.

One last thing: After designing for the first lady, where do you go from there? Who else do you want to fit?

WU: Well, (INAUDIBLE), you know, I - I keep challenging myself as a designer. I think it's important. And, you know, it's really never enough for me. I always want to do more.

And, you know, that's - when (INAUDIBLE) comes back, I'm on the road. I'm going to China. I'm going to London. I'm going to Paris and (INAUDIBLE). And it's Jason International (ph) now.

NGUYEN: Taking over the whole world, huh?

WU: Yes, it's world domination.

(LAUGHTER)

NGUYEN: I love it. So nice meeting you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Twenty-six years old. But that dress has made such a difference in his career. Now he's one of the hottest designers out there.

HOLMES: And I remember, that was up in New York. A lot was going on when you interviewed him. And you - she didn't drag you - she actually dragged me to a fashion show.

NGUYEN: To a fashion show.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: It was my first.

WOLF: Lucky guy. There you go.

NGUYEN: You liked it though, didn't you? You're not complaining.

HOLMES: It was - it was - it was fun.

And I dragged you to the U.S. Open.

NGUYEN: U.S. Open, which I love.

HOLMES: Which you loved.

NGUYEN: My first time there.

HOLMES: Yes, that was a good time.

But also, not just their playing, did some work there as well. Got to talk to the widow of Arthur Ashe. He - I mean, he left an imprint on the game of tennis that is still there to this day.

And his widow, Mrs. Ashe, is still carrying on that legacy.

Take a look to our conversation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Why haven't we, since your husband, seen another black man in Wimbledon, the U.S. Open or the Australian Open? Why not?

JEANNE MOUTOUSSAMY-ASHE, WIDOW OF ARTHUR ASHE: Well, you know, I think that it's going to happen. I don't know when.

I think that, you know, maybe because we are such a me-oriented society today that it's all -- always all about yourself or you that you have less deep-down-inside purpose to be able to accomplish these gigantic goals.

But I still think it's coming. It's coming. I mean, Arthur used to say that. It's coming.

He said, 'They're not going to look like me, they're not going to walk like me and they're not going to talk like me, but it's coming.' And he was right.

MOUTOUSSAMY-ASHE: It's really important that kids understand from a grass-roots level, that they're not going to be in the top -- not all of them are going to be in the top 10.

Getting in the top 10 -- you know, that's pretty significant. But what they must understand is that playing a game, having that commitment, learning the lessons, let it be a hook to changing your approach to how you conduct yourself in the public, how you -- how well you perform in school; how you treat your siblings, your friends and your parents.

HOLMES: There's a culture now in professional sports, often times with these guys, that we know of -- it's not all of them, but still, it's all about me, self, selfish, narcissistic, egomaniacal, whatever you want to call it.

Does it drive you nuts giving what we saw with your husband and given what you know and still to this day, his legacy of giving back, still exists -- does it drive you crazy to see some of these young knuckleheads just squander what are wonderful opportunities?

MOUTOUSSAMY-ASHE: Well, I - you know, I -- can't say it that strongly.

But what I can - but what I can say is that we have a void. And not having Arthur's voice is a tremendous void, not just in sports, but just as, you know, a hero to kids. I know athletes don't like to hear that. People don't like to have to play the role as -- the role of a role model.

But, you know, it comes with the territory.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: She didn't mind saying, some of these guys out there, some of these knuckleheads, they could use a talking-to, some of these athletes who are not giving back, who don't have that same sense of - of selfless behavior like her husband has.

NGUYEN: Yes, she was kind of nudging them as well.

HOLMES: Oh yes. See if - see if she can - she might have to nudge a little more with some of that.

NGUYEN: We'll see if it works.

But - so, you know, we had a great time in New York covering fashion and sports and...

WOLF: Absolutely.

NGUYEN: ...you got behind a lawnmower.

WOLF: Yes, I did. Got to - got to use a little bit of elbow grease working at the world's busiest airport, cutting the grass out at Hartsfield-Jackson.

At the same time, got a chance to go to Austin, Texas, and see the world's largest bat colony, and had a chance to meet an amazing American who has an incredible front office.

HOLMES (voice-over): You're watching the best of CNN weekend mornings, and there's plenty more to come.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Good morning, everybody. Here are some of the top stories that we are following from overnight.

The U.S. Embassy in Yemen is closed today in response to ongoing threats from al-Qaeda to attack American interests in the country. Officials are not saying when they will reopen the embassy.

Now, this announcement comes just a day after President Obama linked the Christmas Day bombing suspect to an al-Qaeda group in Yemen.

LUI: Federal authorities in Mexico say they have captured a suspected drug lord. Carlos Beltran Leyva was taken into custody after using a known alias on Wednesday. His arrest comes just two weeks after his brother died in a shootout with Mexican troops. NGUYEN: And an ultimatum from Iran: They are demanding that the West renegotiate a U.N.-backed deal aimed at keeping enriched uranium out of Iran, or the Islamic republic will go ahead and enrich nuclear fuel on its own.

The West has until the end of January to accept this proposal.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: And we'll have more of our best interviews and memories from 2009 right after this quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Good morning, everybody. We're taking a look back at some of the stories that we covered this year, the big stories, including - I don't know - politicians, celebrities, newsmakers and then some of the other folks that really had a profound effect on us as we were out there covering the stories, including a guy who's pretty much seen it all.

WOLF: Absolutely.

You're talking about a guy named - by the name of Sam Holbrook, who has been at Yellowstone National Park for decades. In fact, if you've been there in the last 43 years, chances are, you've met the guy.

He's an amazing guy, and here's his story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF (voice-over): It's the reaction you hear nearly every 90 minutes at Yellowstone National Park. And after 43 summers at the Old Faithful geyser, Sam Holbrook still finds it equally inspiring.

As a park ranger, he observes each eruption, takes notes and explains the phenomena to the thousands visiting each and every day.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How long does the eruption last?

SAM HOLBROOK, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK RANGER: Each eruption lasts about four minutes generally, but one minute up high at about 130 feet, and then -- it starts down, the last three minutes it's coming back down.

WOLF: And for Sam, there are lots of questions.

HOLBROOK: Seven-oh-five, plus or minus 10 minutes, so you've got about an hour.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Thank you.

WOLF (on camera): About how many times are you going to get that question each day? How often does it happen?

HOLBROOK: You're out here roving for about two hours at a time, and - and -- and people stand and watch me answer that question.

WOLF: Right.

HOLBROOK: They say, you should put a sign on your chest, you know? And don't you get tired of that?

No, I never do. I just -- you're talking to people and -and that question comes up and then right after that, two or three more questions. And so ...

WOLF: Let me guess. It's, 'When does the geyser erupt?' The second is...

HOLBROOK: Where's the bathroom?

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many gallons of water does it squirt out?

HOLBROOK: How many gallons of water? Eight thousand gallons of boiling water every hour and a half.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow.

WOLF (voice-over): Sharing that information is all natural for this former science teacher.

HOLBROOK: Where else can you find a job where you get to be outdoors, talk to people, see the light turn on in their face, give them some information. They're so excited about it

I am thrilled to be here. People say, 'How do you get a job like that?' I'm not going to tell you.

Grab you a seat here, folks, because it's going to fill up.

WOLF: And while he calls it a job, he definitely doesn't think of this as work.

HOLBROOK: And I'm 77 years old, so how much longer have I got to work a 40-hour week?

I don't have to work a 40-hour week, but I love it here. This is not work. I'd probably do this for nothing, but don't tell the Park Service that.

WOLF: Fitting words from a man who's as true to this park as the Old Faithful geyser itself.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: I have to tell you, that was one of my favorite stories of the year... NGUYEN: Yes.

HOLMES: ...that you did.

WOLF: Amazing guy.

HOLMES: We love that story.

One of my favorite stories -- a lot of people, you all recognize her -- a lot of people will recognize...

NGUYEN: Fantasia.

HOLMES: ...know that face right there. And of course, she made a -- really, her debut on the "American Idol" stage. But now she's taking to a different stage where audiences are checking her out.

I got to talk to her, and that was one of my favorite stories of the year.

NGUYEN: And one of mine was Usher, another person who knows how to sing a little bit. Shall we say, five-time Grammy winner? He pretty much took me to the studio and gave me a lesson in dancing, of all things.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

USHER, SINGER: Do you know how to tap?

NGUYEN: No.

USHER: You don't do that?

NGUYEN: Yes. That's all? That's all?

Yes, I can't hang with that, Usher.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (voice-over): You're watching the best of CNN weekend mornings, and there's plenty more to come.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Hello again. And welcome back. We are, of course, our weekend team here, taking a look back at an interesting year, a fun year. Things we're looking back on now, I guess we could call this our Grammy winner block?

NGUYEN: Might as well be. HOLMES: Our singer block we're about to talk about here?

NGUYEN: Because I got a chance to interview five-time Grammy winner Usher. He was inducted this summer into the Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame. Not only for the tremendous work that he does around the nation, but also for the fact that is where he grew up. He grew up in the Boys & Girls Club of America. That's where he found a home as a young child and it instilled in him, really, a drive that has made him part of who he is today.

Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

USHER, SINGER: It did motivate me. And that's what I think these clubs are really all about.

NGUYEN (on camera): Inducted into the Boys & Girls Club of America Hall of Fame. What does that mean to someone like you who has come so far?

USHER: I have to attribute a lot of my success to the fact that I was motivated to do something positive, as a child, through the Boys & Girls Club, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

But to now be recognized for it, you know, I have to thank my mother. One, for you know paying the admission for me to be there. But more than anything, all of the counselors that I worked with, all the people that I met, you know, it teaches you communication skills, everything. It's just such a positive place to be.

But I now -- to be amongst all of the alumni who have been elected to be in the Hall of Fame, it's like something to be proud of.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Not only is he a great guy, fantastic performer, but really invested in giving back. So it was great to see him inducted into the Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame.

HOLMES: It's cool to see this side of folks. I said at the beginning, this is the singer block here, because you talk to Usher, also talked to Alicia Keys, we did. Also talked to Fantasia. But on Alicia Keys, you talk about the work usher did and giving back. She's doing the same thing. Helped found an organization called Keep A Child Alive. Dedicated, literally, to trying to save lives in Africa. All those kids.

NGUYEN: She's gone back several times.

HOLMES: She has gone back several times. She's focused on South Africa now. But also wants to expand her work to India, as well. So it's really a treat, so many of these folks we've been fans of in a lot of way, with their music to meet them and to know that they are good folks.

NGUYEN: See them using that celebrity to propel something that is really a plus.

(CROSS TALK)

HOLMES: Using it for a good reason.

Also Fantasia. We all know her from "American Idol" fame, but a lot of other audiences are getting to know her because she is on Broadway. She is doing some stage stuff. "The Color Purple" is on Broadway. Got to catch up with her, learned a lot, including a serious health issue that threatened her very livelihood, that singing career. The last thing any singer wants to hear is there is a problem with her throat. Found out about that and a whole lot more.

Take a look back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FANTASIA: I have to admit Celie, she's a part of me. I think after my first week I knew, oh, my God. This ain't no joke. It's not. And it's different from the first time I did it in New York for a year. And I think when I was doing before I had so much baggage of my own that it was hard for me. It was like a pull.

HOLMES (on camera): As we say now, you are back. Everybody wondered where'd you go?

FANTASIA: There is a lot going on. I actually had tumors, had to have a surgery. And I was just tired. I didn't understand why I was so tired. I would go from "The Color Purple" and go get IVs because they would say I was dehydrated. But it wasn't that. I had two tumors that was draining everything out of me.

HOLMES (voice over): For Fantasia getting news about tumors was bad enough, but they were in her throat of all places. The worst news given that she's a woman without a high school diploma, whose success has been almost solely based on her ability to sing.

FANTASIA: It is a trying time for me, let's say that. Because after having surgery, I couldn't speak for six weeks. So I'm like -- everything at the time was just going wrong. I can't even speak, or talk, can't work for six weeks. I work to pay -- I have to pay my bills. And I have to take care of my whole family.

HOLMES (On camera): You fully recovered now?

FANTASIA: Fully recovered.

HOLMES: How are the vocal chords?

FANTASIA: Stronger than ever.

The only thing I have to do is I have to get somebody to a work with me because my talking they say, is worse than my singing. Never heard that before.

HOLMES: What does that mean? FANTASIA: I don't know. Everybody's always, do you really talk like that? I'm like, yeah. But my doctor says my talking is worse than my singing.

HOLMES (voice over): While the speaking voice may need some work, the singing voice, judge for yourself.

(FANTASIA SINGING)

HOLMES: Fantasia's health scare prompted her to get a backup plan, an education.

(On camera): You want to go back and get your diploma?

FANTASIA: Uh-huh.

HOLMES: That is going on now? How is it going?

FANTASIA: It's hard?

HOLMES: Is it really?

FANTASIA: Yeah, it's been a long time. I dropped out of school in the ninth grade. But I'm going it because I have an eight-year-old daughter, and a 16-year-old brother. And I'm so hard on them about school. I'm so hard on them. And I'm like, how about this? Watch your sister go, I'm getting my diploma, and I'm still cool.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Really some scary stuff there. Someone who depends on that voice to make a living, to hear that you have an issue, your singing career could be threatened with scary stuff. She, of course, takes it in stride. Huge personality on Fantasia, so it was a treat to get to hang with her a bit.

NGUYEN: Looking forward to what's to come with Fantasia. A lot of those singer, celebrities, people, newsmakers, essentially, come through Atlanta. We saw a lot of that this year.

WOLF: Yeah, if I'm not mistaken, I think a fellow named Kid' N Play actually did do that. I think so.

HOLMES: Was it Kid or was it Play? Which one was he?

NGUYEN: It was Kid.

HOLMES: It was Kid.

NGUYEN: Christopher Reid.

HOLMES: This was funny.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Betty Nguyen, man, man, I better not catch you on payday. Come on, now. Betty Nguyen. I'm trying to win.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: You're watching the best of CNN WEEKEND MORNINGS. And there is plenty more to come.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Welcome back again, everybody. We're taking a look back at the big stories of the year, our favorite stories of the year. Our favorite stories, our favorite interviews. This is our part, this is our team. We don't do this on our own.

NGUYEN: By our selves, no. There's a lot of people that contribute to this. We have our tech guy, Mario Armstrong, our sports guy, Rick Horrow, our housing guy Clyde Anderson. I could go on and on and on. But we would be missed if we didn't mention Josh Levs.

WOLF: Home slice.

NGUYEN: Josh Levs, (INAUDIBLE) look out.

WOLF: Josh, what has been your favorite story of 2009? Is there anything that kind of stands out to you?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a fun exercise. Think about it, right. This is the one we chose I feel really good about this. We did a story called the YouTube symphony. And the reason we loved it so much, that I love it so much, is that in end it was about taking people who had kind of given up on their dreams, and finally out of nowhere helping those dreams come true.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, I am Foster (ph), and I play the classical guitar.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I started playing the violin when I was five years old.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, I'm Tito from Romania and I play violin.

LEVS (voice over): They're coming from all over the world to live out a dream.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming to Carnegie Hall all the way from Bermuda (ph).

LEVS: 3,000 people submitted audition videos on YouTube.

Music professionals chose 200 finalists, then YouTube users voted. And 96 people from 30 countries will get to fill these seats.

JENNIFER LINDSAY, YOUTUBE SYMPHONY: I'm 28 years old. I work as a systems engineer for a government contractor out in Los Angeles.

There's no other way that someone like me, who is not even a professional musician, would've ever made it to Carnegie Hall.

LEVS: Bass player Kurt Hinterbichler is working on a Ph.D. in physics, he pulled his bass out of the closet.

KURT HINTERBICLER, YOUTUBE SYMPHONY: There was a lot of rust there, but I had practiced many years in college and high school before that. Carnegie Hall is still sort of the unofficial pinnacle of achievement for the classical music world. Once you've made it to Carnegie Hall, you've really made it.

LEVS: YouTube's idea mixing classical music with the power of the Internet and a little bit of "American Idol."

ED SANDERS, PRODUCT MARKETING MGR., YOUTUBE: The classical music world was always something that strives for perfection and was probably seen as a something that was traditional, and even outdated and somewhat elitist. But I think this project is going to show that's not actually the case. And we hope this is game changing in a sense that it redefines the audition space that brings people closer together, and lets them collaborate, transcending geographical and linguistic boundaries.

LEVS: Google, which owns YouTube , is covering the cost of travel for the winning musicians to come to New York. Now is their moment to shine. They know they'd better be ready.

LINDSAY: Yes, yeah, for the past few weeks my schedule has been work, eat, practice, and sleep. Pretty much around the clock.

LEVS (On camera): People flying from all over the world, only have a couple of days to become a fantastic orchestra together. Do you think that'll be done?

LINDSAY: Oh, absolutely. Do not underestimate the motivational power of playing at Carnegie Hall.

LEVS (voice over): They also have another incentive, the chance to be led by one of the world's most respected conductors. Michael Tilson Thomas, who had final say on whether they made the cut.

MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS, CONDUCTOR, YOUTUBE SYMPHONY: Get those notes, get those rhythms inside your body. Any minute we'll be together and I know it'll be a really good time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: And now that symphony, itself, you can see online. Guys, I took a look today and I see that tens of millions of people are looking at that web site. They're watching the entire symphony. So, these people who were total unknowns, who have gone on to other careers, suddenly having their dreams.

NGUYEN: That's great.

(CROSS TALK)

WOLF: Great tunes, good music. Hey, speaking of tunes, I guess Steve Harvey has people singing a new tune, doesn't he?

NGUYEN: Yes, he does. And it's called "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man". We got some relationship advice.

HOLMES: You got some relationship advice.

NGUYEN: Why are you pointing the finger at me?

HOLMES: Yes, right here. Stay with us. We'll find out if she learned how to act like a lady, but think like a man.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Well, welcome back. Once again, we are taking a look back at some of the biggest stories of the year and some of our favorite stories of the year. We've been all over this country in the past year.

NGUYEN: Done all kinds of stories. Especially for a sports fan and we all are, you got to cover really interesting ones this year.

WOLF: Well, it's a story about sports, but at the same time, Betty and T.J., it's a story about second chances. We're talking about the 1993 teams of Easton Pennsylvania High School and also Phillipsburg, New Jersey, that a played a game in 1993. The game ended in a tie, and the same players, same teams, everyone came back and played a rematch all these years later.

And here's that story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF (voice over): It's one of America's most-heated high school rivalries; the Stateliners of Phillipsburg, New Jersey and the Red Rovers of Easton, Pennsylvania. For more than a century the two teams have battled on Thanksgiving Day. In 1993 Bruce Lebitz was one of the tri-captions of the Stateliner team, the underdogs of that year's match-up.

BRUCE LEBITZ, PHILLIPSBURG FOOTBALL PLAYER: I was the defensive player of this game, I a big stop (ph) on the goal line that prevented them from scoring in the first half.

WOLF: The game ended in a 7-7 tie. While it was an unexpected showing from the Phillipsburg team, the players still left the field frustrated without a win.

LEBITZ: I didn't know how to feel after stopping my -- the end of my high school career being on a tie. I didn't want it to end like that.

WOLF: Fast forward 15 years, Gatorade is organizing a replay. Same players, same field, same rivalry; 10,000 tickets sold between these two communities in a matter of 90 minutes.

Now a family man in his early 30s, Bruce weighed 302 pounds and was taking medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol. Not wanting to let his teammates down, Bruce decided to do whatever it took to get ready for this game.

LEBITZ: Basically, I would work out for an hour and a half every morning doing my cardio. And then I would go back, and go back in the afternoon and do my weight training. Just a huge change in my diet, eating short meals throughout the day, very high protein, a lot of fruits, vegetables.

WOLF: In just three months he lost nearly 60 pounds, and no longer needs his medication. It's a common theme among many of the players preparing for this rematch.

JOHN STOFAN, GATORADE SPORTS SCIENCE INSTITUTE: The inspiration is really hearing some of these guys going, you know, what? This has made a difference in my life. You taught what I should to doing from a hydration standpoint. You taught me what I should be doing from a nutrition standpoint. I'm going to apply this. I'm going to change my behavior. This is a lifestyle now.

WOLF: While this is an opportunity to settle the score between these two bitter rivals once and for all, Bruce also sees this as an opportunity for life.

(On camera): Now, is this the decision you're going to try to keep to for the rest of your life?

LEBITZ: Absolutely. Thing is a second chance in a lot of ways.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF: Now, unfortunately, the game itself was not quite as exciting as everything leading up to it. Phillipsburg did win the game, they did beat Easton in the rematch. But just the amazing idea of having a chance to travel back in time and play that game again, off the charts.

HOLMES: That's tough all of those years later, everybody getting in football shape.

NGUYEN: Bet they're still feeling it today.

HOLMES: More than likely.

We're talking about some of our favorite stories. We love that one. But one you and I had a great time doing.

NGUYEN: Oh, man.

HOLMES: Talking to Steve Harvey, who always had something to say. But he put something out there for women. He had a book out that was telling women to "Act Like A Lady But Think Like A Man". This was that huge book. Just about every woman I know around Atlanta was reading that book at some point.

NGUYEN: Oh, I read it from cover to cover. It was great. His advice, you know, you wouldn't think going to a comedian for relationship advice, right? Well, take a listen to some of the stuff he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Steve, in your book you talk about there are five things that women need to know about men. What are those five things?

STEVE HARVEY, COMEDIAN: Well, it's five questions that a woman should ask a man when they meet, because a lot of women have been sold a bad bill of goods. We've created this thing that if you ask us too many questions, if you're too inquisitive that you're encroaching on our privacy. And that we won't have anything to do with you. Well, that's not the truth. You have every right to know what you're getting into.

NGUYEN: So stop messing around and just find out what you need to know to either keep them or let them go.

HARVEY: You know, it is in your best interest. You know what I'm saying? You have got to stop -- women have got to empower themselves. That's what the book is for. So you can empower yourself. You've got to stop being at a man's beck and call. You have every right to know whether he wants to marry you or not. You have every right to know when this marriage is going to occur. This is your future we're talking about. You really need to know if he's into your kids.

HOLMES: A lot of guys, a lot of people follow you. And the fellas might say, why aren't you talking to us? Why are you not giving us some relationship advice?

HARVEY: Well, that'd be great, but they don't buy books. Let's just tell the truth. I really don't care what you think.

No, really, but you know -- the first three chapters in the book, what drives a man, what that man needs, and how a man loves, is absolutely the best part of the book, because it actually helps a man in his relationship. Because a lot of women really don't know, as the title of the book, they don't know how we think.

Our love is different. We don't love the same. You all are great communicator, you are very nurturing, you encompass a lot of things in your love. A man's love is shown three ways. I call it the three Ps. We profess it, we provide, and we protect. HOLMES: We sit here and we're laughing, we're cracking up, having a good time and what not. But are people going to be disappointed? Maybe you got some reaction already. People pick up the book, they see your face, and they see your name, they expect to open up this book and laugh.

NGUYEN: Right.

HOLMES: This ain't funny.

HARVEY: No, it's not. And I'm sorry. But I've got enough stuff out there on tape that's funny. This book isn't a clinical study. You know, because most women aren't married to Dr. Phil, anyway. You're married to a regular guy. You are dating a guy that's got a job somewhere that you're trying to figure it out.

I took all of my talks with T.J., who is a friend of mine, guys that play ball, guys that are TV stars, guys that drive trucks, guys that I worked in a factory with. And I put all of this and I'm 52 -- I put all of this information together, of how we really think and it's done purely to just empower women.

NGUYEN: So for all of the ladies out there, answer me one question. Why do men cheat?

HARVEY: Well, that's $1 million question, no matter how I answer it, it's going to be a $10 answer. But I will tell you this, number one, I try to teach women to release themselves from blame. You know, as soon as a guy cheats, a woman tries to find out what's wrong with her. It has nothing to do with you, often times. It's just an inadequacy in your man that makes us go outside, because we're constantly trying to feed our ego. Trying to feel better about ourselves

HOLMES: A lot of this in the book can be applied to all men and women. But speaking particularly to black men and women, here, is there a new standard and example for all black men and women, and couples, to follow given what we see in the White House now?

HARVENY: The book is written for everybody. But there is a new mandate here. Obama is the president. We got to do better than this. And that's just the tone that's out there in the country for a lot of people.

There have been other beautiful families in the White House. Nobody's knocking that. I think George Bush, I liked the guy, personally. I thought he was a good family man, a good father, you know. But this is special for a lot of people, especially in the African-American community. And everybody's got to kind of understand that.

NGUYEN: We appreciate your time, Steve. Thank you so much.

HARVEY: Best interview I've ever done.

(END VIDEO CLIP) NGUYEN: What I love about Steve Harvey is he puts it out there plain and simple when it comes to relationship advice. Now, applying it, ladies, may be a little difficult. But it'll work out. Think like a lady, act like a man.

HOLMES: What else does he have to do? He gave you a manual? What else do you want?

NGUYEN: A road map?

WOLF: It is difficult to figure out.

NGUYEN: Yes, right, I don't want to hear it.

HOLMES: It is not that complicated.

NGUYEN: Although, while you are a bit difficult to figure out, you've been great to work with.

HOLMES: Well, it has been good working with you. Really, we have a blast on the air. Hopefully you all notice we are a team and a family, quite literally.

(CROSSTALK)

HOLMES: Hopefully you all know that and it's been great having you stick around with us for the year. Hopefully you'll stick around with us next year.

NGUYEN: We hope so. Thanks for joining us. There is much more to come right here on CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)