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CNN Saturday Morning News

Man Arrested in Suicide Plan to Bomb U.S. Capitol; More Violence in Syria; Pope Picks 22 New Cardinals; 50th Anniversary of John Glenn Flight; Son Tries to Evict 98-Year Old Mother; Internet Scammers Capitalize on Whitney Houston's Death; Gingrich Campaigning in Georgia; Interview With Arista Records EVP David Linton; Rollerblades Heading For the Skies

Aired February 18, 2012 - 08:00   ET

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

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN ANCHOR: From CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. I'm 8:00 a.m. in Atlanta, 7:00 a.m. in Houston and 5:00 a.m. in San Diego. Wherever you may be, thank you very much for joining us today. And good morning. I'm Gary Tuchman.

A live look at Newark, New Jersey this morning. It's a sad day for family and friends of Whitney Houston. This is the New Hope Baptist Church. This is where the funeral for the pop star will be held beginning at 12:00 noon, four hours from now Eastern time. We'll take you there live and we'll hear from her closest friends.

Plus, a 29-year-old man is arrested for an alleged plot to blow up the U.S. Capitol and the FBI had been watching every single move he made. More on the would be suicide bomber coming up.

Just earlier this morning, Pope Benedict XVI added 22 new cardinals to the Catholic church. One of them, the U.S. archbishop from New York, Timothy Dolan.

In just a few hours, families and close friends of Whitney Houston will pack her home church in Newark, New Jersey to say good bye to a legendary entertainer.

My colleague Don Lemon is live right now in Newark.

Don, what are you seeing right now?

DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Gary.

We're seeing the media beginning to gather and also fans beginning to gather here. There you see the New Hope Baptist Church over my right shoulder and that's where the memorial service will be for Whitney Houston. You see the police are out trying to get their act together, get everything together. We saw a couple of police officers on horses. They were trying to figure out exactly where the crowds are going to be.

Gary, police just had a briefing just a short time ago. This community not really used to this sort of big affair when it comes to a world star like Whitney Houston. So we're all here, the media's here, lined up really for blocks here and people are starting to gather and getting ready for Whitney Houston's as they say going home celebration.

That's going to happen at noon. Our coverage is going to start at 11:00 a.m. here on CNN.

TUCHMAN: Don, how was the private viewing that was held yesterday?

LEMON: There was a private viewing. As they say in the community, it was really a viewing of Whitney Houston. They call it the viewing, the night before the wake.

Yesterday, her mother showed up, Cissy Houston, along with her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, or Krissy as they say, and also Clive Davis who was her mentor, showed up for that private viewing last night and other people who were within the family. And today, of course, the home going celebration will happen.

And there are going to be people from all over the world, stars from really all over the world, some of the biggest and brightest, of course, her godmother, Aretha Franklin is going to perform. Alicia Keys will perform. Stevie Wonder will perform and there are people who are on the guest list here from Donnie McClurkin to many, many others who are going to be here really celebrating Whitney Houston's talent, her life and then also of course mourning her tragic death in Los Angeles last week -- Gary.

TUCHMAN: Exactly a week ago today so tragic, she passed away seven days ago. But it will be very moving today, no doubt about it.

Whitney's friends and former leagues honor her, the NAACP Image Awards last night. How did that go?

LEMON: It was amazing to see. And I was not on the west coast. I was here on the East Coast, but I got a chance to see it. And Yolanda Adams, just really a stirring performance last night singing a song that Whitney Houston sang many times in her life, "I Love the Lord." It really brought the crowd to their feet last night. Not a dry eye in the house really when she did that. She was really the capper. It was the end of the celebration. She really, as they say in the music industry, she brought the house down.

And I felt like I was watching church. And I'm sure many people who were in the audience inside the auditorium in Los Angeles felt the same way. It was really a moving and very fitting tribute from Yolanda Adams to Whitney Houston.

TUCHMAN: This is going to be quite a day. Don Lemon, looking forward to talking to you through the day today.

Thank you so much.

Stay with us here on CNN as we speak to the people who knew Whitney Houston the best. One of those people is David Linton. He's a former vice president at Arista Records, who worked with the singer during the 1990s. He's coming up live this hour.

And our special coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral in Newark, New Jersey will begin at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time, a little shy of three hours from now.

Now for some of the other stories we are following this morning.

A man is in custody right now, this man, charged in connection with a plot to launch a suicide attack on the U.S. Capitol building. Amine El Khalifi is charged with trying to use a weapon of mass destruction. He's Moroccan and is in the country illegally. He had gone to a parking garage near the capitol where he got what he thought was a suicide vest, but it was a dummy vest. Agents had diffused the explosives. Authorities say the public was never in danger from this man.

President Obama is expected to sign the payroll tax holiday extension into law as early as today. The compromised bill passed by the House and Senate means you will get to keep an average of $1,000 more from your paycheck this year. The other part of the law extends unemployment benefits for the rest of the year, but also changes the cap for long-term benefits from 99 weeks which it used to be, to no more than 73 weeks.

Opposition activists in Syria say the military took shots at them during demonstrations and funerals in the capital city of Damascus today. The activists say as many as 61 people were killed yesterday in the ongoing government crackdown. We are also being told by one activist that the Syrian military is planning an all-out assault on one of the neighborhoods in the city of Homs today. Homs has been the epicenter of the anti-government uprising.

Pope Benedict XVI has officially added 22 new cardinals to the Roman Catholic church. Among them is New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan. When the time does eventually come, the majority of the so-called princes of the church, the cardinals, would be responsible for picking a new pope.

In Cape Canaveral, Florida, they are celebrating a major important anniversary this weekend. It is the 50th anniversary, half a century, of John Glenn's trip around the earth. It happened on February 20th, 1962. Glenn orbited the earth three times aboard the Friendship 7 capsule before coming back down. At an event yesterday, Glenn talked about one of the challenges he faced in that first flight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN GLENN, FORMER ASTRONAUT: When I was getting ready for that first flight back then, I thought, well what if we had to make an emergency reentry and come down. There were some places in the Namibian desert in Africa, Namibia in the Kalahari desert. There was the outback in Australia and there was this area up across Papua, New Guinea and those three areas still had aborigines. Well, how do you communicate? What if I had to make an emergency reentry and came down. You land and the side blows off and out steps this thing in a silver suit. You're going to either be elected god, king or dead pretty quick.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TUCHMAN: That's a great story, the god king John Glenn. Instead he became U.S. Senator John Glenn from the state of Ohio. That's a great story.

The Gulf Coast is on alert this morning as severe thunderstorms are expected throughout the region. Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf is monitoring developments.

That was a great story from John Glenn, wasn't it?

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Amazing story by John Glenn. I mean not only was he a great astronaut. A lot of people recall that he was actually a great fighter pilot in Korea and one thing that was amazing, he was always able to bring planes back from the battlefront that were just shot up to pieces and be able to really keep them in the air. He's an amazing pilot, no question.

Unfortunately, we've got some rough weather to be dealing with today. Anyone trying to fly around Houston or even any of the small regional airports along the Gulf coast, even into New Orleans, you're going to have a tough time. Biggest reason, some strong storms that may produce some flash flooding along the Gulf coast.

Second part of the equation, you may deal with some tornados into the afternoon. We're going to talk all about this coming up in just a few moments, Gary.

TUCHMAN: Thanks, Reynolds.

A 98-year old woman is served an eviction notice on her birthday and the eviction notice comes from her son. Why he wants her out of the home she's lived in for nearly six decades.

And before she became known world over for her music, Whitney Houston was known as a shy young model, the Whitney many fans didn't know coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TUCHMAN: From the moment she released her first album in 1985, 27 years ago and throughout her career, Whitney Houston reached new heights in the music world, setting records that stand today. Among her many milestones, Houston's self-titled first album is the biggest selling debut by a solo artist. She's also the only artist with seven consecutive number one hits. And her signature song, "I Will Always Love You" is the biggest selling commercial single in music history.

CNN has also obtained previously unpublished photos of a young Whitney Houston. The images released by photographer Jack Mitchell were taken when Whitney was just 18 years old. For more, to look at them, visit our website at CNN.com.

Whitney Houston also made her mark in gospel. The sound track for "The Preacher's Wife" is the top selling gospel album of all time. Coming up, more of my exclusive interview Pastor Donnie McClurkin. The three- time Grammy winner will sing at Houston's funeral today. Before that, he shares his thoughts on his close friend and her faith.

Let's take a look now at a few stories making news across country. In Maryland, the statehouse has approved same-sex marriage. The State Senate will vote next. The governor says he will sign the legislation. Opponents of same-sex marriage want the issue to go to a statewide referendum.

In Chicago, the halls and classrooms of Brian Piccolo elementary school are occupied by parents, students and activists.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want to hear from the mayor. Hear us. We are taxpayers. We have a right, we have a say so. These are our kids.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TUCHMAN: They're protesting the city's so-called turn around plans for the school. If approved, new management, teachers and staff will be brought in. Piccolo is one of 10 underperforming schools slated for turn around.

In Connecticut, this great-great grandmother was given the worst 98th birthday gift ever, an eviction notice from her son. Despite not seeing his mother in eight months, Peter Kantorowski says she's in no condition to live alone, but her younger son, Jack, disagrees.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACK KANTOROWSKI, 98-YEAR OLD WOMAN'S SON: I just don't understand him at all, what's happening with him. (INAUDIBLE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TUCHMAN: According to affiliate WTHN, the courts have ruled the 98- year-old is competent, but no decision yet if she'll get to stay in the house.

Back on home turf, Newt Gingrich returns here to the state of Georgia, trying to set things up for a super Tuesday triumph. We'll check in on the campaign. Plus, an oil spill shuts down part of the Mississippi River. We'll tell you how it happened next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TUCHMAN: A five-mile stretch of the Mississippi River has partially been reopened now following an oil spill. The Coast Guard says a crash between two barges ripped a 10-foot gash on the side of a tanker barge. It spilled about 10,000 gallons of crude oil near New Orleans, but officials say it does not pose a public threat. Nobody was injured in the incident.

It's now 14 minutes past the hour. Time for a check of weather with Reynolds Wolf and Reynolds, I'm still waiting for that northeast ski season to really begin.

(WEATHER REPORT) TUCHMAN: Scratch my head, because it's the middle of -- the dead of winter, the middle of February and I see 37 degrees for a high, Minneapolis, 47 in Billings, Montana. These are not numbers we're using to seeing this time.

WOLF: I know, time to break out the ukuleles and the Bermuda shorts and the Hawaiian shirts. I'm telling you, it's very warm this winter. Let's see if we get a few changes in the coming weeks.

TUCHMAN: Do you take a ukulele with you?

WOLF: Sometimes it's just one of the things you can't take with you everywhere you go.

TUCHMAN: (INAUDIBLE) Thanks Reynolds. Millions of people will be watching the funeral today of Whitney Houston. But if you're watching it online, hold off on clicking on that Whitney Houston link and that's because scams are flooding the Web, hoping to capitalize on her death, pitiful but true. More after this short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TUCHMAN: "I Look to You" one of her last big hits from 2009, Whitney Houston. Since she passed away one week ago, all her music sales have skyrocketed. Digital sales of her hit, "I Will Always Love You," that song along jumped more than 6,700 percent. That's according to Nielsen sound scan. Radio air play has increased 915 percent. The song now sits at number four on iTunes and number seven on "Billboard's" top 100.

But where there's money to be made, scammers are sure to try and cash in. Our tech guru, HLN digital lifestyle expert Mario Armstrong is here.

Mario, good morning to you. Thanks for joining us.

MARIO ARMSTRONG, CNN DIGITAL LIFESTYLE EXPERT: Thanks for having me.

TUCHMAN: It's nice having you here with us.

This is a sensitive conversation, but it's an important one. What are some of the scams that you're seeing online that people are trying to do?

ARMSTRONG: Yes, Gary, this happens when anyone of a major stature passes away. I mean, Amy Winehouse, Osama bin Laden. People are clamoring for news and they're looking for information and so they're seeing links to things that they think are legit and they're clicking on them.

The things that we're seeing right now are suggesting that there are secrets to be revealed from the autopsy that are being leaked. So that's been the main thing that's really, really going viral on the Web right now.

And it's taking people to a survey site. They're clicking on these links and they're filling out information and even in some cases downloading files that could be malicious malware and virus ware that you're putting on your computers.

TUCHMAN: People would do this, pitiful.

ARMSTRONG: Absolutely. They're taking advantage of individuals really looking for information. They're using the power of the Internet to do and they know this is a global story. So they're preying on folks right now and they need to be aware of it.

TUCHMAN: I think they're the worst, but how do we spot this? How do you know when something is not good for you to click on?

ARMSTRONG: It's hard to know because a time of times this comes from maybe another family friend or someone that you trust and you're getting it in an e-mail or something over Twitter. And you think, let me click on that link.

So the first thing is, if it really doesn't seem like it's legit or if it's not coming from a legitimate news source at this stage, don't click on it. Just go to the news source site. Go directly to CNN.com or hlntv.com and go to your favorite news source to get the information. Don't click on any links right now as it relates to any of the information around her death.

TUCHMAN: So you're saying, Mario, that we have seen this in other celebrity deaths though?

ARMSTRONG: Absolutely. We've seen this with Amy Winehouse, we've seen this with Osama bin Laden, but it's not really that. We've seen this also with natural disasters and major global events that when news starts to cover it, people are really just looking for information and they know the fastest place they can go is the Internet.

Unfortunately, so many other people can quickly claim that they know information and postings that look legit but aren't.

TUCHMAN: Now Whitney Houston's funeral is getting streamed online. Has this happened before?

ARMSTRONG: This is -- we should clarify. This is kind of kind of happened. People will say to me, well, Michael Jackson was the first to stream. That wasn't his funeral. That was his memorial service. We've seen James Brown, Heavy D. But the global artistry of Whitney and the global reach of Whitney, this will probably be the largest and the first actual funeral, not just a memorial, but a funeral that will be live streamed on the Web.

And I think this is a big deal, Gary because I started calling local funeral homes. We have one in Baltimore very innovative called March funeral homes. They're actually offering Web streaming as a service.

And I talked to families on my radio show and they said they loved this, if they can't travel or if they can't afford to travel to a funeral, that they can actually watch the funeral with other family members in their home, on the Web and still feel a part of that closure, on that ceremony.

TUCHMAN: I don't mean to get cynical or skeptical, but is there a concern that someone can try to set up like some fake streaming site and the same thing could happen like we've talked about before?

ARMSTRONG: Gary, I'm glad you brought that up. That's absolutely something that we need to be aware of and something that could absolutely happen and it's a real concern.

So we want to go, again, to reputable sites. You go back to CNN. You look for the live feed at 12:00 noon and you go to those locations. Don't click on any other links that are suggesting they have the live stream of the funeral.

TUCHMAN: And I am here to personally guarantee, you go on CNN.com, it comes with a Gary Tuchman guarantee (INAUDIBLE) the good housekeeping seal of approval from me.

Finally, one more thing for you. Do you have a favorite Whitney Houston song?

ARMSTRONG: Yes, absolutely. The Super Bowl performance was probably the best performance ever, but "The Greatest Love of All" is probably my favorite song. And within that song, she says, if I should fail, if I succeed, no matter how I lived or no matter how I lived, at least I'll have my dignity. And I hope that people throughout all of -- everything they know about Whitney and how they grew up with Whitney, that they trust in that, that she can be laid to rest with her dignity.

Unless you've experienced abuse and substance abuse within your family, you really have no idea how tough it is to get out of it. Ask Amy Winehouse and others that have also fell victim to it. But that should not take away the impact that she had as an artist and a human being that she cared about people.

TUCHMAN: Mario, I'm glad you picked that song because that's my favorite Whitney Houston, too.

ARMSTRONG: Is it really, that's great.

TUCHMAN: My favorite Whitney Houston song and that passage though, it was very applicable to today.

ARMSTRONG: Yes. It's the most inspirational one off of her first album. And a lot of people, they look to the big one from "The Bodyguard" soundtrack, but it's great that you and I have the same one.

TUCHMAN: Mario Armstrong, nice talking to you and have a great day.

ARMSTRONG: You too Gary.

TUCHMAN: I hope you'll join us every Saturday as our digital lifestyle expert Mario Armstrong gives up the latest scoop and the latest technology. Whitney Houston was known as the queen of pop. But she also had the top selling gospel album ever. Up next, gospel artist Donnie McClurkin who will perform at today's funeral, talks about Whitney's faith.

And American astronaut John Glenn celebrates a golden landmark. That's straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TUCHMAN: It's 29 minutes past the hour. Welcome back. I'm Gary Tuchman. Thanks for spending your weekend day with us.

Well, we're three and a half hours away from the memorial service for Whitney Houston in Newark, New Jersey. Newark is the town where she was born. She spent most of her years in East Orange, which is just to the west.

My colleague, Jason Carroll will be covering the funeral service today. And Jason has some new information about what's going to take place -- Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right, Gary. I literally just got off the phone with a friend who is very close to the Houston family. I spoke with him with how he is feeling this morning.

He also gave me the program so we have the rundown of exactly what will be happening at 12:00 noon when the service gets under way. Now I just want to go through the entire program if I may. It will open with a processional. The New Hope Mass Choir will sing along with the New Jersey Mass Choir. They will be singing "The Lord is My Shepherd". That will be followed by a scripture that will be read by Pastor Joe Carter at the New Hope Baptist Church.

That will be followed by a solo by Donnie McClurkin, he will be singing "Stand" and that will be followed by remarks by Tyler Perry, that will be followed by a song by Bebe Winans singing the song "Home".

Then what we will do is we will hear from Bishop Td Jakes. He will have some remarks and then we will hear from noted gospel singer Kim Burrell. We did an interview with her earlier this week. She will be singing the song "I Believe in You and Me." That was a song that was very close to Whitney Houston, that song Kim Burrell told me was actually chosen by Whitney Houston's family.

That will be followed by remarks by Kevin Costner; following Kevin Costner's remarks, we will hear from Aretha Franklin. And this is especially moving. She will be singing the Whitney Houston favorite, "Greatest Love of All". So following Aretha Franklin's version of that song, we will have remarks by Clive Davis. He was someone who was near and dear to Whitney's Houston heart, her mentor for many, many years.

After Clive Davis's remarks, we'll be hearing from Stevie Wonder. Stevie Wonder will be singing one of his great songs, "A Ribbon in the Sky". Following his rendition of that, we will have remarks from the Ricky Minor, the band leader. That will be followed by a melody by Alicia Keys. She'll be lending her voice to the service. That will be followed by a solo by R Kelly, he will be singing, "I Look to You".

And then Gary, we will hear from the family speak. We were told first it will be Patricia Houston. She is Whitney Houston's sister-in-law, her former manager for many, many years and following her speech we will be hearing from Dionne Warwick. Once again, the service is expected to get under way at about noon. They are hoping they say they may have to slide that a little bit because they're getting so many people in the services expected to last for three hours.

And we are hearing that Whitney Houston will be finally laid to rest tomorrow. So for the first time, Gary once again, we are hearing exactly who will be speaking and in what order during the service, which is schedule to take place around noon later today -- Gary.

TUCHMAN: Jason, what an incredible array of people participating. You were saying three hours, but based on what you were just reading and the songs and the things that people.

CARROLL: Yes.

TUCHMAN: I think it may end up going longer. Don't you think so?

CARROLL: Oh absolutely. And in fact, this family friend made it very clear that that's what they're going -- they're hoping three hours. They're hoping to start at noon. But when you hear that Aretha Franklin is going to be singing "The Greatest Love of All" you can imagine how there would be a dry eye in the house.

TUCHMAN: Right. Jason, I know you've spent a lot of hours covering this. You've done a great and very respectful job. So thanks. We look forward to talking to you as the day goes on.

CARROLL: Thanks.

TUCHMAN: Jason Carroll, reporting from Newark.

Well, it will be a day of tears in the state of New Jersey. Whitney's -- Whitney Houston's family and friends will gather at the church in Newark to say their final goodbyes. They'll focus on Whitney Houston's faith and also focus on her passion. And one of those will be there and Jason was just mentioning him, Pastor Donnie McClurkin will have to handle his own emotions motions because he will singing a final song for his close friend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TUCHMAN: Pastor McClurkin, thank you very much for joining us.

DONNIE MCCLURKIN, PASTOR: I'm glad to be here, Gary.

TUCHMAN: Tell me how you knew Whitney Houston. MCCLURKIN: Well, Whitney Houston became a family friend of ours when she took my sister, Olivia and they sang together for seven years. She was one of her background singers and -- and became one of the favorite ones.

So Whitney was at her wedding and Whitney loved my mother. And there was a love relationship between the Houston family and the McClurkin family.

TUCHMAN: What will you be singing at this funeral service?

MCCLURKIN: Well, I'm going to try to sing a song called "Stand", a song that I wrote some years ago. The Houston family loves it and I'm going to try to get through that because this is really an unexpected loss.

TUCHMAN: I mean, I would assume, Pastor, that that will be very difficult. I assume it's difficult whenever you sing a song like that on a sad occasion. But how do you get through it? How do you contain yourself to be able to finish it without your emotions getting the best of you?

MCCLURKIN: I really don't know because I -- that can't be a guarantee. Because a loss like this is something that is deep and it's really, really powerfully impacting us. Not only did the world know Whitney, but we knew her intimately and we knew her as a friend. It's a different scenario altogether. And trying to sing on top of the loss is going to be one of the most harrowing experiences but by praising God, we'll get through it.

MCCLURKIN: I spent part of this week in Newark and East Orange and talked with childhood friends of Whitney and I talked to her grade school principal. And people just can't believe it, they just can't believe this happened -- she was such a -- she was such a wonderful little girl and a wonderful star and inspired so many people. I mean are you still in a state of disbelief?

MCCLURKIN: Well, Whitney was more than just an icon. Whitney was a real person and she loved hard and whom she loved, she loved with all of her heart. She shared herself with the whole entire world but there was an intimate side of her that was so absolutely genuine that you felt like you knew her. Like all of our time of knowing her, it felt like she had been family to us.

And the way that she treated my sister, my mother, all of us in words, it's the way that she treated everybody. So it's going to be hard. People still haven't really registered yet that this is a real happening. But the loss is great and it's going to really take some time to get over this one.

TUCHMAN: Pastor, she was known as one of the greatest pop singers ever, but her start, her origins come from gospel. Tell me more about that.

MCCLURKIN: Well, you see, not just her start and her origin. Throughout all of her pop era she was still singing gospel, even in "The Preachers Wife" -- that's why -- that movie became so powerful because Whitney was doing what Whitney does. Gospel, everything that she sang even in the pop world, in the R&B world, she sang with the same gospel flare.

Because it was -- gospel is not just a music form. To her and to all of us, gospel is a lifestyle. And the one thing that you have to know about Whitney Houston is that she loved God and have portrayed it in the way she developed and even the way she portrayed her songs.

TUCHMAN: And how did faith touch her life Pastor?

TUCHMAN: Man, if you had to deal with some of the things that Whitney dealt with and we -- we always brought attention, to the addictions and the demons but the only way to get through that as she did was with her faith in God through prayer, through surrounding herself with people who would pray with her.

There would be times when we would be at an awards show. One in particular I remember. And she -- they pulled me into her dressing room. She was nervous and she was wrapped up in her night gown. And she was ready to go out but her nerves were so overwhelming to her and she just wanted me to pray with her. That's how she got through everything.

When we paint the picture of Whitney Houston, we can't paint it just with her struggles. But we have to understand that she overcame a lot of hurdles and the way she did so was with her faith in God.

TUCHMAN: Pastor McClurkin, I know this will be a sad day, but I also know you will be very inspiring. Thank you very much for joining us.

MCCLURKIN: Gary, thank you for having me. I appreciate this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TUCHMAN: And we would like to remind you that CNN will have special coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral in Newark, New Jersey. It comes your way about two and a half hours from now, 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

And then, join us tonight at 8:00 Eastern Time for a look back at the life of Whitney Houston. Her rise to fame, fall from super stardom and an investigation into her untimely death. CNN Presents, tonight, 8:00 Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TUCHMAN: Newt Gingrich is back home, right here in the state of Georgia. The Super Tuesday state is the key to his hopes of getting back on track.

CNN's political reporter Shawna Shepherd has been following the Gingrich campaign. She has been with them for weeks and weeks and weeks, right?

SHAWNA SHEPHERD, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Months, yes. TUCHMAN: Months, I mean, you know him the campaign very well. First of all, what did Newt Gingrich have to say about the three other GOP guys who were trying to get the nomination deciding they didn't want to be in the primary that we were supposed to hold here in Atlanta -- so the -- the debate, I'm saying --

(CROSSTALK)

SHEPHERD: Right.

TUCHMAN: -- the primary debate and we ended up canceling the debate because three quarters of the Republican candidates didn't want to be in it.

SHEPHERD: Exactly. There was a debate scheduled for March 1st just a few days or five days before the Super Tuesday. And I think Mitt Romney was the first person to say he was going to be campaigning elsewhere and then -- and then Rick Santorum and Ron Paul followed.

Obviously, you know Gingrich relies heavily on these debates. It's good free media. It's good exposure for him. And so he took a -- took hit both of his opponents for doing canceling. Well, we can a look at -- listen to the sound bite now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's kind of disappointing when they decided that maybe they didn't want to run the risk any more of being outside their advertising. But let me tell you, if you're afraid to debate Newt Gingrich, you sure can't debate Barack Obama.

So I'm going to ask them to reconsider and come to Georgia. It'll be just fine. We'll be hospitable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TUCHMAN: Now, now, I just saw a chicken. Did newt Gingrich arrange for a chicken to be in the audience?

SHEPHERD: Yes. It appeared to be a campaign sanctioned event there. There were two chickens, they were dressed up one was wearing a Mitt Romney T-shirt; another was wearing a Rick Santorum T-shirt. You see some of the video here and it was -- it was their way of making the point that -- that his opponents were too chicken to debate Newt Gingrich.

TUCHMAN: I see ok, we've seen at these events an elephant tried that a couple of times, elephant is the main character in Newt Gingrich's wife Calista's children book, correct?

SHEPHERD: Yes. "Ellis the Elephant".

TUCHMAN: What's the name of the elephant?

SHEPHERD: Ellis. TUCHMAN: "Ellis the Elephant", that's right. "Ellis the Elephant". So Calista Gingrich, is a -- you know when I was with you on a few other Gingrich stops she was by his side, but she was very quiet. But I understand she's speaking out more now.

SHEPHERD: Yes she's -- she's been doing -- doing, headlining more events on her own last weekend in southern California. She spoke at a couple of events on her own. And then she also did a reading. She read to the kids at Thousand Oaks. And today she's also going to be speaking to some kids -- speaking at a Republican Party in Atlanta.

So she's definitely stepping up her role. It will be interesting I mean wives tend to be very good surrogates for the campaign and for their husbands. So I think we'll be seeing a lot more of her.

TUCHMAN: Shawna Shepherd, it's nice seeing you in person.

SHEPHERD: Nice to see you too.

TUCHMAN: Thank for talking with me.

Well, there's only one debate left before Super Tuesday. The Atlanta one was cancelled but there is another one, that's coming up very soon, it's the Arizona Republican debate. It's this Wednesday night. Join my colleague John King as he welcomes the four remaining presidential candidates and no chickens are expected to be there. It's Wednesday, it begins at 8:00 Eastern Time.

She didn't act like a superstar. That's what one former executive from Whitney Houston's record company says. He joins us next with more on pop star most of us never saw.

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(WHITNEY HOUSTON'S "YOUR LOVE IS MY LOVE")

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TUCHMAN: "Your Love is My Love", another big hit from Whitney Houston. CNN will have special coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral. It begins -- our coverage at 11:00 this morning, that's about two hours and 15 minutes from now.

The funeral itself begins at 12:00 noon. And here's some of the performers who'll be at the funeral: Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder, R. Kelly, Kim Burrell and Donnie McClurkin who I interviewed a short time ago. He'll be singing at the ceremony today.

Now Whitney Houston, her first record, her first album came in 1985. She was signed by Arista Records. And joining me now is David Linton. He was in Arista for several years working with Whitney Houston. He's now the executive vice president for urban music; that's CO5 music.

David, thanks for joining us. DAVID LINTON, EVP FOR URBAN MUSIC, ARISTA RECORDS: Good morning, Gary.

TUCHMAN: Tell me what you did at Arista.

LINTON: I was the vice president of R&B promotions. My team was responsible for the promotion and marketing of the Whitney Houston project. I was there from 1995 to 1999 almost 2000. And so during that span, we had the great opportunity of delivering and working some of Whitney's great music.

TUCHMAN: So, tell me -- first of all, it's such a sad day. I really appreciate you being here because you knew her so well. How was she to work with?

LINTON: She was a joy. She was a professional and, you know, a perfectionist. She took her craft, you know, very seriously. But she also understood that her music was bringing joy to the world so she enjoyed that. And she wanted to make sure that she always delivered the best.

TUCHMAN: Now, you say that she used to make you blush. How is that?

LINTON: Well, the first very time I could say -- the very first time I met Whitney was actually on a video set. I had just got hired by Arista, Gene (INAUDIBLE) was the executive vice president of urban music at the label at the time and Clive Davis had just hired me.

And I went to meet Whitney because she was one of the first projects I'd be working with. And when she -- I walked in she looked at Gene and said, "Ooh, he's handsome." So for Whitney Houston to tell you that you're handsome, that really is something that I'll always remember.

TUCHMAN: You'll never forget that. That's a wonderful story.

LINTON: Yes.

TUCHMAN: When was the last time you saw Whitney?

LINTON: Well, actually, the last time I saw Whitney was probably about 2003. It's been a number of years. But I saw her at an industry function and, you know, we saw each other. We acknowledged each other. And it was, you know, short and brief, but it was a good moment, you know, definitely.

TUCHMAN: Now, outside of her telling you that you were handsome, what is your favorite memory of working with Whitney?

LINTON: Well, I think mine -- you know, was the "Waiting to Exhale" sound track when we did a listening party, a viewing party in Los Angeles and New York and for her to go and to interact with, you know, people in the industry and talk about that sound track, which was very dear to her the way (INAUDIBLE) because it celebrated women.

And the music in that sound track was so awesome. She had a hand in that and, of course, "The Preacher's Wife". And I think, you know, there are so many memories but those were some things when a new album was released and she would come to -- whenever the word that Whitney is in the building, she would come in to see Clive and they would talk about upcoming projects. It was that. But I think one of the things that sticks with me was her 35th birthday celebration at the China Club in New York.

TUCHMAN: That was about 13 years ago?

LINTON: Yes. It was a big event. And she was celebrating her 35th and it was a special night. We all had a great time and so that is the Whitney I'll always remember -- that bubbly and vivacious young lady.

TUCHMAN: I think we'll remember that, too, the bubbly and just what a hero she was and so inspirational to so many people.

LINTON: Yes, definitely.

TUCHMAN: Thank you, David Linton.

LINTON: Thank you Gary.

TUCHMAN: It was nice having you here. Thanks for joining us.

Remember, we'll have special coverage here on CNN Whitney Houston's funeral in Newark, New Jersey. The coverage will begin at 11:00 Eastern time.

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TUCHMAN: I am an avid rollerblader, so the following story is particularly interesting to me. The moving force behind rollerblades is now setting his sights on the sky, bringing exercise and transportation to new heights. Joe Carter takes a ride in this week's "Start Small, Think Big".

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JOE CARTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Inventor Scott Olson, the man behind rollerblades is on a mission to get people in motion. His latest innovation dubbed "Skyride" has been in the works for about 15 years.

SCOTT OLSON, INVENTED THE ROLLERBLADES: We're going now.

CARTER: The idea is simple. Skyriders can pedal or row themselves along a monorail.

OLSON: I love rowing. I wanted to take rowing to new heights and new speed.

CARTER: When I think of rowing, I think of being in a gym staring at a wall rowing and rowing and rowing and not going anywhere. This is quite opposite.

OLSON: Well, that the beauty of the Skyride. That's why I built it just to really give people another option.

CARTER: It's really up to me on how fast I want to go. That seems to be the beauty of this. Because you want to go fast, just row harder. If you want to enjoy the ride, just coast it out.

Olson hopes Skyride gains traction as a means of exercise, entertainment and transportation.

OLSON: We're not going to sell millions of sky tracks, you know, like we did millions of rollerblade. But we may get millions of people using it, 100 sky tracks around the country.

CARTER: For a man not afraid of heights, it's a dream within reach.

Joe Carter, CNN.

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TUCHMAN: Reynolds Wolf is now here with weather. And Reynolds, we have good weather to go on the sky ride today?

WOLF: Well, it depends where you happen to be. Northern Plains may be kind of cool but it's dry, Gulf Coast, just the opposite; we've got a lot of rain we're dealing with compliments of an area of low pressure that is just bringing it down like a sack of hammers across much of Louisiana, into even Mississippi, parts of Florida, in Alabama and Texas this hour.

This area of low pressure that is causing all this mess is not going to stay locked in place. It's not going to remain anchored to the ground. In fact, we do anticipate that it's going to pull its way to the northeast. In fact, as you make your way through the afternoon, it's going to pull its way into parts of Florida and Alabama, heavy rain on all I-65. Let's fast forward again into Sunday morning, Sunday mid day, even into Sunday night. That low begins to push out towards the Atlantic, back half of the system with that cold air coming through and the (INAUDIBLE) moisture means snow possible for the nation's capital and back into the Appalachians. We'll have more on that coming up.

Gary, let's toss it right back to you.

TUCHMAN: Thank you, Reynolds.

Saying good-bye to a legend -- at the top of the hour, we go live to New Jersey where music legend Whitney Houston is being laid to rest today.

Also ahead, I visit Whitney Houston's hometown and talk to those who knew her best. What they're remembering about their hometown hero.

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