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CNN Saturday Morning News
Funeral For Whitney Houston; Pope Inducts New Cardinals; Syria Crackdown; Special Coverage of Whitney Houston's Funeral; Interview With Reverend Jesse Jackson
Aired February 18, 2012 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN ANCHOR: It's 59 minutes after the hour. I'm Gary Tuchman. Thank you for joining us today.
Checking the top stories: in just a few hours friends and family will say good-bye to the six-time Grammy award winning legend, Whitney Houston. New Hope Baptist Church -- You're looking at a live picture of the New Hope Baptist Church where there will be a celebration of Whitney Houston's life. It will begin at noon Eastern time -- three hours from now.
Some performance tributes include the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin, Cissy Winans and Stevie Wonder. CNN will begin our live special coverage from the service beginning at 11:00 Eastern time.
A 29-year-old Moroccan man is charged with attempting to bomb the U.S. Capitol building. Amine El Khalifi was arrested yesterday after prosecutors say he received what he thought was a suicide vest, but alas, it was not. It was fake. It came from the legal authorities and if convicted, he faces the possibility of life in prison.
Pope Benedict XVI has added new cardinals to the Catholic Church, 22 of them. Among them, New York archbishop Timothy Dolan. When the time comes the majority of the cardinals, they're called the princes of the church, will be responsible for picking a new pope.
Here are some of the celebrities who will be paying tribute to Whitney Houston at her funeral today. Whitney Houston's godmother, Aretha Franklin, will sing the "Greatest Love of All." Stevie Wonder will sing "A Ribbon in the Sky." Alicia Keys will also be there. She plans to do a medley. Kim Burrell will sing "I Believe In You And Me." And Grammy Gospel singer (INAUDIBLE) will sing "Stand" which was a Houston family favorite.
An estimated 1,500 people are expected to be at the New Hope Baptist Church in New Jersey today. Fifteen hundred people inside that church. Originally they were talking about having this service at the Prudential Center which is a stadium not far from the church which would fit 19,000. The family preferred to do it this way and it certainly makes sense because this was Whitney Houston's church as a little girl.
Our colleague, Don Lemon, has been covering this. He was in Los Angeles for the beginning of this when Whitney Houston died last week, exactly a week ago today. And now he's in Newark at the service. Don, it's good seeing you. Are you starting to see people arrive three hours before it all begins?
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are starting to see people arrive here, Gary. And it's very interesting. Police just had a meeting, I guess, about an hour ago and they're trying to figure out themselves exactly what they're going to do.
They've been discouraging people from showing up here. Not a ton of people, but it looks like some of her fans are beginning to come out and probably as we get closer to the time for the memorial, it's about three hours away. We will see more people.
Fans can get as well as the media about a block, maybe two blocks away from the church which is right over my shoulder.
And you're also looking at a live picture there from above the church. And you see all the balloons that are outside of the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church here in Newark, New Jersey. We're also being told that the hearse -- is there some movement? The hearse has been covered and they are on the move. So I would imagine that they are bringing Whitney Houston's body here from the (INAUDIBLE) funeral home which is not far from this location.
And, again, the balloons, everyone getting ready here and it's -- you know, Newark is not used to this sort of event. They do have the Prudential Center, as you said, and they expected to have that service there. At least it was reported that Prudential Center seats about almost 20,000 people and they thought it would be in the vein of Michael Jackson's Staple Center.
But Cissy Houston and the family decided they wanted a real down home, homecoming for the loved one that they know, as Nippy rather than Whitney Houston. It's understandable, Gary, because any mother would want the same thing and anyone's mother would want the same thing. I grew up in a church family, Whitney Houston grew up in the church family singing in the choir. And that's the way they want to send you home is the way that you grew up, singing, being in the church with your church family, going to Sunday Bible school, vacation bible school in the summer.
And so I understand exactly the sort of way they want to send her off. I understand exactly the -- how she grew up in the church because it was basically the same way that I grew up. You go to church and you're there all day on Sunday for about three or four hours starting at sunrise service at seven in the morning and then you're there until noon. And then afterwards, you have breakfast and then everyone comes over to hang out at your house and then have lunch and you barbecue or what have you.
Church is an all-day affair for many families in the African-American community. And I think it was probably -- I know it's the same way for Whitney Houston's family. No big event. We don't want a big event. We want to send our girl home in a home going. What usually happens, especially as a southern Baptist, as a Baptist, what usually happens -- they have a viewing the night before, which they did last night. Cissy Houston showed up. Bobbi Kristina showed up. Clive Davis, her mentor showed up and probably others that we didn't get on camera.
So you have a viewing. It starts at the funeral home. Everyone comes over. You smile and say hello and you just sit there with the family. You don't have to say a word. And you just sort of reminisce and remember the person. And people sit in there and they watch. Some people come in and they cry and you sort of start to get the emotions out.
And then after that, you have dinner, usually at the family's house. An aunt or a cousin and then the next day you have -- which is a home going, what we call a wake where everybody comes, the preacher comes, the person does the eulogy. You basically have church. It's a full church service and then, you know, you shout and you sing and anyone can, most of the time, there is a program. But if you want to stand up and say, you know, "I love you, Whitney, and god be with you," everyone accepts that. Nothing is off limits usually, you know, except you do it in a respectful way. And you get those emotions out. Then at point during the ceremony, family members will just come up, just go up to the casket and they'll either touch the loved one or kiss the loved one on the cheek.
And so it's really a way of paying tribute to the person that you lost. As a matter of fact, celebrating their life. And then usually after the wake or the home going, sometimes immediately after, sometimes it's the next day is what they call the funeral or the burial. And so -- but after the wake, again, go back to the family's house. You celebrate a little bit. You laugh, you cry. Sometimes there's, you know, food and even drinks. And it's a celebration is what they call it.
And then after the funeral, same thing. The funeral, you lay the person in the ground and usually the family just sort of sits there for a while. And just mourners and the family and the loved ones throw the dirt in first as they do throw roses and flowers down into the grave site and then they lower the casket and the family and the mom, I would imagine, will just sit there for a while and everyone else will leave. And then you say your private good-byes.
And after that, that is it. You go back to the home and then you remember your loved one. So that is how it's starting here today. And we're going to be here all day for the coverage of Whitney Houston. You reeled off the names of the people who are going to be here. We're hearing "The Greatest Love of All" will be sang by -- will be sung by her godmother, the great Aretha Franklin.
And Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston really rivaled in popularity. You know, both are equally as popular and equally as known all around the world. Stevie Wonder is going to sing "Ribbon in the Sky." "There's a ribbon in the sky for our love." And then also Alicia Keys is going to perform, a whole bunch of people. The interesting thing is we heard about all of the people, Gary, who are going to be here, supposedly going to be here and those are the confirmed people. They're going to be so many stars who we have not heard from who are going to be here.
As a matter of fact, I haven't seen them on the guest list anywhere, but I know that he's going to be here with his wife, L.A. Reed. I took the red eye with L.A. Reed back from L.A. to New York. So I know he's going to be here. I know other stars who have not confirmed like Elton John (INAUDIBLE), Jay-Z, Beyonce. We don't know for sure. But I would imagine a lot of people are going to show up that we don't know about and it's all going to start on CNN in full in just a little bit.
But we're going to carry the entire coverage for you. And again, the interesting thing is who is going to be here who we haven't heard from already. Gary.
TUCHMAN: You know, Don, what I keep thinking about, there are literally tens of millions of people throughout the world mourning Whitney Houston's death and who are so saddened by this. But I keep thinking about her mother, Cissy Houston and her daughter, Bobbi Kristina and how they're handling this at this time. Do you have any idea what they're going through?
LEMON: You can't imagine. The thing is, though, I have to tell you, yes, they are grieving. But they have a huge support system around them. Let me tell you, when something like this happens, I know for black families, every single person you know comes out to support you. They just sit there with you. And so I can't imagine what they're going through right now, but they do have a lot of support, a lot of support. And I just want to tell you information, the first processional, the new hope mass choir and New Jersey mass choir are going to sing "The Lord is my Shepherd" and it's going to be followed by scripture.
So just getting more information on how the services are going to go here (INAUDIBLE). There's going to be a solo by Donnie McClarkin. And he's going to sing "Stand" and we're also hearing there's going to be remarks by Tyler Perry, a solo by (INAUDIBLE), remarks by the Bishop T.D. Jake. A solo by Kim Burrell singing "I Believe in You and Me" and then remarks by Kevin Costner and so on -- Aretha Franklin. So back to you Gary.
TUCHMAN: Don Lemon, thank you very much for painting that very poignant portrait.
And a reminder, a special coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral in Newark, New Jersey, begins at 11:00 Eastern time.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: For the moment, she released her first album in 1985 and throughout her career, Whitney Houston reached new heights in the music world, setting records that still stand to this very day. Among her many milestones, Whitney Houston's first titled debut album is the biggest selling debut by a solo artist ever. She is also the only artist with seven consecutive number one hits. And one of her signature songs, "I Will Always Love You" is the biggest selling commercial sale in music history.
CNN has also obtained previously unpublished photos of a young Whitney Houston. The images released by photographers Jack Mitchell were taken when the singer was just 18 years old. It was 1982. For more, visit our Web site at cnn.com.
Just a kid from East Orange, New Jersey, with the voice of an angel. So how is Whitney Houston remembered in her hometown? Find out, coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: Let's take a look now at a few stories making news cross country.
In Maryland, the statehouse has approved same-sex marriage. The Senate will vote next. The governor says he will sign the legislation. Opponents of same-sex marriage want the issues to go to a state wide referendum.
In Chicago, the halls and classrooms of Brian Piccolo Elementary School are occupied by the 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 turnaround plan for the school. If approved, new management teachers and staff will be brought in. Piccolo is one of 10 under performing schools slated for turn around.
And in Connecticut, this great, great grandmother was given the worst 98th birthday gift ever, an eviction notice from her son. Despite not seeing her mother in eight months, Peter Kantorowski says she's in no condition to live alone. Her younger son, Jack, disagrees.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK KANTOROWSKI, 98-YEAR-OLD WOMAN'S SON: I can't understand him at all. What's happening with him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: According to affiliate WTNH, the courts have ruled the 98- year-old as competent. But no decision yet if she'll get to stay in the house.
Whitney Houston is being laid to rest in New Jersey today. New Jersey was her childhood home, where she went to school, where she had friends and where she grew up. But she was far from just an ordinary girl.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN (voice-over): Franklin Elementary School in East Orange, New Jersey, where Whitney Houston went to school from first to fifth grade.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good afternoon, Whitney Houston Academy, Mrs. Patrick speaking. May I help you?
TUCHMAN: But in 1997, it was renamed the Whitney E. Houston Academy of Creative and Performing Arts. The principal is Henry Hamilton, the same man that was principal when Whitney was there as a little girl.
HENRY HAMILTON, PRINCIPAL, WHITNEY E. HOUSTON ACADEMY: Was I proud of her? You better believe it. Yes, I was.
TUCHMAN: This is the enrolment document from Whitney Houston's days at the school. It showed she entered in 1969 and went on to middle school in 1974. In the principal's office, pictures of him with Whitney and lots of other pictures of Whitney after she became famous.
HAMILTON: She was a beautiful little girl, very quiet. Not a talkative person, but she was a well respected, never came to my office for discipline problems, well behaved.
TUCHMAN: Raymond Shepherd used to teach at the school. He reminisces about when Whitney, the niece of Dionne Warwick and the goddaughter of Aretha Franklin was about to make it big.
RAYMOND SHEPPARD, FORMER TEACHER: When she was leaving to go to California to be with Dionne Warwick, she came to the local store and the owner, John, said I'm so glad to see you going. I wish you the best. And he gave her a $100 bill. He said, here, this is to help you on your way.
TUCHMAN: The Houston family home was the center of activity in the summertime because it was the only house in the area that had a built in swimming pool. So young Whitney had a lot of friends who came over. Erica Taylor, the same age as Whitney was one of those friends.
ERICA TAYLOR, CHILDHOOD FRIEND: We would talk about boys and what we did over -- we're doing over the summer and how it was so fun to be in the pool.
TUCHMAN: And after they would be done swimming in the pool behind the house, they would all watch Whitney hit tennis balls against a wall.
(on camera): How come none of you would play tennis with her?
TAYLOR: We would rather talk to her. We wanted to know -- what me and my girlfriend was talking about it the other day and we were actually asking each other like, remember how she would played tennis? And how was it to meet Michael Jackson because of her aunt, Dionne.
TUCHMAN: Because of Dionne Warwick. You knew she had celebrity connections.
TAYLOR: Right. Right.
TUCHMAN: And she was just a kid then.
TAYLOR: But she still knew the people. Her aunt was Dionne. Her godmother was Aretha. So she would meet the stars when we were kids.
ANCHOR (voice-over): Many who knew Whitney realized her voice was special from her early days singing at church. But some remember her belting out tunes even earlier.
DR. ALEASE GRIFFITH, RETIRED EAST ORANGE PRINCIPAL: The first time I met Whitney, and we called her Nippy back then. She was about five years old.
TUCHMAN: Alease Griffith is a retired principal from another East Orange Elementary School but was a friend who attended a Houston Christmas party more than 40 years ago.
GRIFFITH: One of the back rooms, Nippy had her cousins surrounded by her. And she jumped up on the coffee table and started singing.
TUCHMAN: Back at the Whitney Houston Academy in room 109, one of Whitney's classrooms -
(on camera): Is Whitney Houston your hero?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
TUCHMAN(voice-over): The pride from current students is unmistakable.
CIARA ALLEN, STUDENT, WHITNEY E. HOUSTON ACADEMY: With all of her accomplishments, I know that I want to be just like her when I grow up.
HAMILTON: They tell me I'm the (INAUDIBLE) of all the youngsters here and I take that role.
TUCHMAN (on camera): So you do consider her a daughter?
HAMILTON: I consider her a daughter. You better believe it. A daughter forever. Our lost daughter.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN: You heard a little from principal Henry Hamilton there. You can hear more from him when he joins me live in our 10:00 Eastern time hour to talk about Whitney and to talk about her early years.
Remember CNN will have her special coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral in Newark, New Jersey. Our coverage comes your way about an hour and 40 minutes from now, 11:00 Eastern time.
A plan to attack the capitol building in Washington. But instead of terrorists preparing a suicide bomb. It was federal agents. We'll learn more about the suspect and his plan. Plus, see the Harvard grad turned New York Knickerbocker starter the talk of the NBA. How did Jeremy Lin perform on the court last night? Details, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: We take you to Newark, New Jersey. This is the hearse. Whitney Houston's body is in that hearse right now, pulling up at the New Hope Baptist Church. You can see the camera crews running towards the hearse.
The funeral service begins at 12 noon Eastern time which is about two and a half hours from now. We did expect in this hour for people to start arriving for the ceremony but you are now looking at what we believe is the hearse carrying Whitney Houston's body.
This is Newark, New Jersey. It's the largest city in New Jersey. Population 277,000. It was a much bigger city when she was born there in 1960s but after the 1967 riots in Newark, many people left. There were more than 220,000 people in Newark then. Her family ended up leaving nearby East Orange, New Jersey which is just west of Newark.
But this was her church her whole life. She was a little girl who sang her. This is a very special place for her. And it where her family thought it was apropos to have the funeral service today. Thousands of people, the neighborhood to see things like the hearse arriving, to see celebrities who arrive and to pay respect to Whitney Houston, one of the most famous and amazing pop singers in the world.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: The hearse containing the body of Whitney Houston is on its way to the church, the New Hope Baptist Church where her funeral service will be held beginning at 12:00 Eastern time about two and a half hours from now.
This is a shot of when it first left on the way to the church. This church a very important part of Whitney Houston's life. We've been showing videotape over the last few days of Whitney Houston as a little girl. She was about 12 or 13 years old singing, Gospel singing inside that very church where her funeral service will be held today.
Initially the talk was there was some speculation that the service would be held at the Prudential Center. That's a brand new stadium in downtown Newark. That is where the New Jersey Mets NBA team plays. It fits about 19,000 people. That was the speculation. But it's understandable, the family decided to have a more personal service. You can see on the side of the hearse, there appears to be a picture of Whitney Houston on the side door, on the side window there.
The family made the decision to have this very important part of their life and Whitney Houston's life, the New Hope Baptist Church. There will be many celebrities singing, praying, laughing and crying. You can see the media chasing the cars, it doesn't seem particularly respectful. That's the way things work sometimes with the police escort in front. But this is Newark, New Jersey, where Whitney Houston was born. She grew up for many years in East Orange, New Jersey, right next to Newark. And that's where she went to elementary school. But Newark is where she was born. Newark is where she went to church and that is where she's returning now. The body of Whitney Houston going to the church. The funeral service begins 12:00 Eastern time. We'll have more right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: It's time for a check of the top stories.
A 29-year-old Moroccan man is under arrest this morning charged with trying to bomb the U.S. Capitol building. He allegedly received items from undercover law enforcement including a vest the suspect thought contained explosives. It did not. If convicted, he could go on prison for life.
In Syria activists are staging a massive protest and joint funeral near the palace of President Bashar al-Assad as they rally against the ongoing government crackdown. The funeral is for people killed by Syrian security forces. Opposition groups say at least eight people have been killed today.
And Pope Benedict officially inducting 22 cardinals at a ceremony at the Vatican this morning. The cardinals hail from all around the world and include New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan. The College of Cardinals advises the Pope and eventually selects the successor.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
TUCHMAN: It's a sad day for millions around the world. You're looking at a live picture of the funeral procession, on the way to the New Hope Baptist Church, and the hearse containing the body of Whitney Houston who died a week ago today.
Our national correspondent Jason Carroll is near that procession right now. He's in Newark, New Jersey, where services will begin 21/2 hours from now.
Jason, I understand you have some new information about what's going to take place today.
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I do, Gary. I spoke to a friend of the Houston family, who gave me in all detail exactly what we will be hearing, what we will be seeing when the -- when the service takes place.
It's scheduled for about noon, but this family friend telling me so many people are going to be packing into the New Hope Baptist Church, they might have to slide it back just a little bit. But let's go over the program with you.
It will begin with the processional. The New Hope mass choir along with the New Jersey mass choir will be jointly singing "The Lord Is My Shepherd," and so that's how things will open. That will be followed by a scripture read by Pastor Joe Carter.
And when I spoke to Pastor Carter a little earlier this week, he told me, yes, there will be tears, but this will also be a musical celebration of Whitney Houston's life. And you'll be hearing about that to follow.
Next will be a solo by Donnie McClurkin, singing "Stand," followed by remarks by filmmaker Tyler Perry, who was close to Whitney Houston and the Houston family. That will be followed by a solo by Bebe Winans singing "Home."
Then we will hear from Bishop T.D. Jakes. He will be giving his remarks. That will be followed by a solo by gospel singer Kim Burrell. I spoke to Kim Burrell also earlier this week. She told me she will be singing "I Believe In You and Me." Gary, that is the song that was actually chosen by Houston's family.
That will be followed by remarks by Kevin Costner. Everyone knows that he, of course, was Whitney Houston's costar in "Bodyguard."
And then we will hear from Aretha Franklin. She will be singing a solo. She will be singing "Greatest Love of All." Of course, Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, also happened to be Whitney Houston's godmother. Then we will hear from Clive Davis, who was Whitney Houston's mentor for many, many years throughout her musical career.
Then Stevie Wonder will lend his voice, and we will be hearing him sing "A Ribbon in the Sky." Also remarks by Rickey Minor, the band leader; and then after he gives his remarks, Alicia Keys will lend her voice. We're told she will be singing a medley of songs. That will be followed by R. Kelly. He will stand up and he will sing, "I Look to You."
And then, finally, Gary, we will hear from Whitney Houston's family. We know that Patricia Houston, her sister-in-law, will lend her voice, and final words will come from Dionne Warwick. The entire service is expected to last a little more than three hours, and we were told Whitney Houston will finally be laid to rest tomorrow -- Gary.
TUCHMAN: Yes, we understand she's being laid to rest in Westfield, New Jersey, which is about 25 minutes south of Newark at a cemetery there. Jason, I don't know if you can see the pictures that we're looking at right now, but the hearse has pulled up to the church.
But what's interesting about that area, it's two different cities that she grew up in, Newark and East Orange, but they're very close to each other. This church is about 15 minutes to the west of a house that she spent many years in, the middle class home in East Orange, New Jersey, where she spent her grade school years.
So it's just -- it's just so sad to watch, and so emotional when you know that this church was such an important part of her life and her family's life. And now as we speak, this very moment -- it almost gives you a chill thinking about it, because it's so sad -- but at this very moment, this hearse with her body is pulling up to this church for this -- for such a sad day. Tell me how people are reacting that you're talking to, Jason, who knew her or who are so proud that they lived in the same area that she grew up in.
CARROLL: Well, you know, you touched on part of it that -- you know, there, Gary. When you speak to people out here in this community, Whitney Houston grew up here and became a superstar, but she never forgot her roots. And in fact, at the New Hope Baptist Church, it wasn't unusual for Whitney Houston to come back on holidays and lend her voice and sing or just attend church.
A number of people here knew of her family, may have known Cissy, may have known some of the other Houstons in the area. And so she never left her roots here. People still felt connected to her. They may not have known her personally, but they were personally affected by her, because she kept such close ties to her community.
You know, I spoke to one man who came up from South Carolina. And he said, you know, Cissy Houston taught me in the choir. I knew the Houston family. I wanted to come up and pay my respects. This is a woman who never forgot where her heart was -- Gary.
TUCHMAN: Jason, one more thing. How many people are expected inside the church? And do we expect thousands of people outside, too?
CARROLL: Well, Pastor Carter told me that the church seats about 1,500. He said he expects it to be packed. In terms of the number of people who -- fans who might be showing up outside and in the surrounding area, as you know, the area around New Hope Baptist Church has been blocked off.
The closest fans who do show up who might be able to get into the area would be at least two blocks away. So there might be a sprinkling of fans in and around the church, in and around the area. The police are suggesting it's best to stay home and watch the service on television.
TUCHMAN: The body of Whitney Houston has arrived at her church. Jason Carroll, thank you very much for your report.
She didn't act like a superstar. That's what one former executive from Whitney Houston's record company says about her. We'll hear from him, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: We take you live to the New Hope Baptist Church, where about two hours and 20 minutes from now, the funeral service for Whitney Houston is scheduled to begin. You can see the balloons and the flowers. They've been there for days.
But what's been there just for a few seconds, or precisely a few minutes, actually, is the hearse containing the body of Whitney Houston. The hearse arrived a short time ago, a funeral procession down the streets of Newark, New Jersey, from the funeral home to the church where the service is being held. We expect about 1,500 people to be inside the church, thousands of people outside in the two-block area where it's cordoned off, to watch all the goings-on. The pictures you're looking at right now are when the hearse left the funeral home on the way, about a 15-minute ride from the funeral home to the church.
Originally, there were many people who thought that that the Prudential Center Stadium, which is the stadium in downtown Newark where the NBA team, the New Jersey Nets play, was going to be the site of this funeral service, because so many people, obviously, would want to go and be a part of this.
But the family made a very understandable decision to hold the funeral service just about 10 minutes away from the stadium, but in a very important place in their lives, the New Hope Baptist Church, which is where Whitney Houston sang as a child.
My colleague, Don Lemon, is with us live right now and I understand, Mr. Lemon, that you are with the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
LEMON: The Reverend Jesse Jackson, Reverend Deforest Soaries, both who are very good friends with the family here, thank you both for joining us. Were you at the funeral home this morning, Reverend?
REVEREND JESSE JACKSON: We were earlier today. You know, we feel such awesome pain and yet joy. The pain is the suddenness of Whitney's transition, and yet she lived to be 48. She covered as much ground in 48 years as many people cover in 96. Martin King left us at 39, Malcolm at 39, Donny Hathaway and Jesus lived 33.
So we have to -- can't go after what we did have (ph). We had an awful lot. Cissy is doing better. She was so traumatized. She thought that Whitney was in recovery and doing quite well and preparing to perform again.
We must know that her first music teacher was her mother. Her first choir director was her mother. And people really must appreciate that while her mother never made it to the stage that Whitney made it to, tremendous singer in her own right, a sweet inspiration.
She sang with Aretha Franklin, with Elvis Presley. And so she gave her both birth and an environment out of which Whitney rose to these unfathomable heights of greatness.
LEMON: Yes.
Reverend Sam (ph), I want to talk to you also, Deforest Soaries, a very good friend of the family's. You mentioned Cissy, the mother, also Krissy (ph), the daughter. And it's time now to be respectful to the family, as we have been saying in the media, and to pay tribute to Whitney Houston and her mother, and her daughter, and the entire family, what they're dealing with.
REVEREND DEFOREST SOARIES, FAMILY FRIEND: Well, nobody can imagine the pain of losing a child unless they've lost a child, or losing a mother unless they've lost a mother. And so our complete focus all week has been on praying for and holding hands with and comforting the family. The fact is joy comes in the morning, but the morning may not come quickly. And so we are here to affirm the fact that God has a place for each of us when our burdens are over on this side.
LEMON: Yes. And explain to everyone saying -- I was trying to explain, too, because people are watching us from all over the world, what a home-going ceremony means, especially in the black community. That means we are sending you off. We are sad, but we are also celebrating the life that you did live.
SOARIES: Well, that's exactly right. I heard a fellow on a network this morning call this a homecoming. This is a homegoing, assuming that life is like a hotel. We check in and we check out. Some check out early and some check out late, but we all check out. And when we check out late, we go home.
JACKSON: This is a transition from the temporary to the eternal. We have -- we have a sense of it. This is highly spiritual occasion. For those who have been unmercifully critical, I would say to those -- that obtain mercy, be merciful. Judge not lest you be judged.
We know we reveal our successes; in our hearts we conceal our pain. We have no idea of this death. But God knows and we leave that to the realm of God to handle that mystery. But today, we pause, we preach, we praise, we celebrate.
LEMON: And Reverend Jesse Jackson, you're known all over the world. Reverend Deforest Soaries, you're known here.
SOARIES: All over the neighborhood.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: All over the -- you're known all over the United States. But we know that you are a reverend here and you're a very good friend of the family's. Explain to our viewers globally your relationship to the Houston family and this community.
SOARIES: Well, Whitney's dad, John Houston, helped usher in the era of black politics in Newark. And as a college student, I came here to help Kenny Gibson become mayor.
And that's how I met her father, John Houston, and her mother, Emily Houston, who we call Cissy, was a choir director, as Jesse said, in the church behind us. And so I've known them for over 40 years. When she was 14 years old, she was the lead singer at a choir rehearsal we put together.
LEMON: Nippy, you called her.
SOARIES: Nippy, for the Hawkins (ph) singers to come in (ph). She sang Tramaine's (ph) part. And so I've known her since she was wearing plaid skirts going to Catholic school. And she's been a friend and a sister. We've prayed for her, we've celebrated with her. And so I feel like I've lost a family member today.
JACKSON: Also, Reverend Thomas, who was her pastor, was on Dr. King's board. Dr. King frequented this church, as well. She comes out of a tremendous sense of social justice background. So many of us thought the parallels, Aretha -- we heard Aretha at 12 years old, and "I'll Never Grow Old" out of her father's church.
We hear, Nippy, as it were, coming out of --
LEMON: And she was -- she was -- she was named -- nicknamed Nippy by her dad from -- it's a cartoon character -- when she was a baby, a cartoon character that always got into trouble. So she was always into something. She was a precocious kid, as many --
JACKSON: She was always, you know, but she always had that extra. You can tell when some kids have that -- what we call a special anointing. Aretha had that special something at around 14. You could just kind of see it and hear it. And Whitney had that special something. And Whitney was -- she cultivated it and took it to a very high level.
LEMON: Reverend, hang on -- hang on one second. Reverend Soaries, we're standing here in the middle of a street -- we're live, so thank you.
So we're here in the middle of the street standing in Newark, New Jersey, a community that Whitney left, but she never forgot. She always came home, and when her stardom started, she would come back to school here to be around regular kids, and she would come back to church and even sing.
SOARIES: You know, about two miles from here, there was a place called the Peppermint Lounge. And Whitney, even at the peak of her fame, would dress up in baggy pants, and put a hat on and sweatshirt to come hear new talent right here in Newark, New Jersey. So she never lost her touch, she never left her roots.
That's why in East Orange there's a school named after her. There are people around this community who benefited from her. And she was a global personality, but with a local touch.
JACKSON: And even if she grappled with life's challenges, which are often unforeseen, her last song, "Jesus Loves Me" takes on great meaning for her own sense of struggle, spirituality to -- in conscious search of the unconditional love and all that means.
LEMON: Yes. What does this day mean to you? What does it mean to the family and to her fans around the world?
JACKSON: Well, I think that this is just a step along the long journey that the family must now recover from. This is a lot to lose, but the good news is there's an awful lot left, and the members are so powerful and the music will be with us forever. And "I Will Always Love You," the greatest; "The Star-Spangled Banner" and it just keeps on rising. We have to a lot to rejoice about.
LEMON: Reverend?
SOARIES: Today is a celebration that will help them get through it, even if they never get over it.
LEMON: Yes. Thank you both. We appreciate you joining us live. And come back during -- after the service. We'd love to have you here, and you be strong. Thank you so much.
And as we're going to move out here a little bit and show you exactly what's going -- let's back up a little bit. Look at the media horde around us. There are literally dozens and dozens of reporters and cameras. We'll move out here and so look at -- see how they're moving in here? Dozens and dozens of cameras.
Let's go here so we can actually show them, the people who are crowded around the Reverend Soaries and Reverend Jackson. And right down this street that you see, right in front of us, this is the street where the New Hope Church is, right over the side of those -- over the top of those reporters and photographers right there.
And if you bear to the right here, we'll show you, this is -- you see Newark in the background. You see where the platform, where the media are and then you see the Newark, New Jersey, police department, their command center.
And just to show you how this community is sort of really ravaged by crime, ravaged by the drugs in the '80s and '90s, if you can turn this way, there's an empty project right in the shadow of the church here. And but this community where Whitney Houston grew up, she left Newark for East Orange when she was 4 years old.
But this is where she grew up and started, and but moved to East Orange, which was a neighborhood that was on the rise and people there were a little bit more well off.
But, again, never forgetting here, staying at the church just over my shoulder here, her family staying at this church, the New Hope Baptist Church, where her mom became the choir director. And then she went on to the choir as well.
And, you know, that's how she started and developed her voice as a gospel singer, which many believed was why people felt her because -- and where there was so much emotion in her voice, because she came from the church.
And, Gary, talking to her vocal instructor, her voice coach, she said, very rarely, if he can ever remember, usually singers have -- you either have a great tone to your voice, a great voice that sounds -- just sounds well, or you have the very muscular voice where you can sing big. Usually you have one or the other. He said Whitney Houston had both, and that was an amazing combination.
But let me show you more of the crowd here. You can see -- so let's walk through some of this stuff. This is -- these are the reporters. Look at all of them lined up here. We're still on live. Are we on? Can you still see us in the control room? Great. They can still us. We're good. We're having -- we're -- we have -- we may run out of battery. If we do, you just take it back. But this is -- look at all the crowd here. Back over, if you go this way, turn to the right, you can see the balloons. That's where people will be arriving, and you see the mounted police officers there. Also --
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TUCHMAN: I think we ran out of battery, just like Don was saying.
But to finish up the thoughts that Don was making, they were talking about Nippy, how she got her nickname. Her dad thought she got into a little trouble, like a cartoon character. But I should stress, after spending time in Newark and East Orange this week, and talking to her friends and her principal, this is a girl who never got into any serious trouble whatsoever.
She was actually quite shy and very modest and never bragged. She became a model, and she really didn't even tell anybody about it. Her friends were like shocked when they saw her picture in "Seventeen" magazine.
And she one of the most popular people in the school, because her family home in East Orange, New Jersey, was the only home in the area that had a built-in swimming pool. So all summer long, it was the social center of East Orange. Her friends would come over, they would swim with Whitney Houston.
And then one of her friends said, then we liked to run around the neighborhood a little bit and have a little fun. But Whitney was too shy and quiet, and she stayed home. She stayed in the swimming pool in East Orange, New Jersey. More in a minute.
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TUCHMAN: Our special coverage does begin at 11:00 Eastern. The funeral service itself for Whitney Houston is scheduled to begin at 12:00 noon Eastern. Just a short time ago we were talking with my colleague, Don Lemon, who said there was a possibility that the battery in the camera might die while he was giving us a very interesting look at what was going on outside the church.
Indeed, the battery did die, but they have a new battery, and that means we have a new Don Lemon with us. Don?
LEMON: Yes, and we want to -- I want to show you what's going on, because I think the police are encouraging people to stay home, Whitney Houston's fans. So if you're at home watching this, then we want to show you what's going on. This is a place that you'll be able to watch it. And this community -- let's show over here.
This community says so much about who Whitney Houston is and was, someone who stayed grounded. You're looking at the pictures now. This is about as close as you're going to get to the church. It's about a block away. You can see all the balloons and flowers and candles that have been placed in front of the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark.
On the sign in front, you can't -- you can't see it, but it has "Whitney Houston," and then it says "The Queen of Pop." Beyond that you see command trucks for the Newark police, on the other side, a barrier. And then across the street, a parking lot to your right is where the people will be parking in, and also some of them walking through.
About 1,500 people have been invited. As so move around here to the right, you can see that they have blocked off the streets. There's some mounted officers here, and then they set up a barrier for the media on this side. And it's really media from all over the world here. I don't know if you get a sense of how many people are here.
And, you know, I'm talking to the people at home, the people who would like to have come here. This is what you would see if you were coming through and walking here, and as far as you'd be able to get up to the barricades, if you're just even a fan of Whitney Houston. You'd probably have to, you know, make your way past some of the media.
And then around to our right -- and, again, we're doing this because people have been discouraged to come out, from the Newark police department. This is a little bit further down the street where -- from the church.
And then you see the police command center. And to the right, among all those satellite trucks, obviously, which are usually not here, it just shows you what this city that Whitney Houston came from had to -- has gone through with crime, especially with drugs, an abandoned housing project here.
Right in front -- isn't it weird, the juxtaposition of this -- right in front of this abandoned housing project, you see the platform for national media here for the memorial service for Whitney Houston.
And then, just in front of them, to our left, more media, a parking lot here, an empty lot, and then, of course, the New Hope Baptist Church, from this venue, from this level where we're looking at, where Whitney Houston will be memorialized today by so many loving family members, and also members of the music community, the most prominent members of the music community, from all over the world, Gary.
TUCHMAN: Don, we're looking right now at another live picture that you may not be able to see. The hearse has just left the church. It arrived there about 15 minutes ago. We see it right now going past the balloons and flowers in front of the church.
So we do expect, I imagine, most of the guests to start arriving, probably, any minute, is that correct? They were supposed to arrive by 10 or 11 o'clock Eastern time?
LEMON: Yes. And we did see some guests arrive earlier. And I could see over my shoulder here the hearse, the gold hearse that's carrying Whitney Houston's body. And it is either going to stay parked in front until the services are over or it'll go away and then come back. And I was explaining to our viewers earlier, some people were wondering, well, why the -- why you have the homegoing ceremony today and then the funeral -- the actual burial tomorrow. And in the African-American community, quite honestly, here in the United States, that's how we do it. Sometimes you go right to the funeral home -- I mean, right to the burial.
But for the most part, you wait a day, you take your time with it, and then you lay your loved ones to rest. And then you can see people are starting to arrive. Let's go over here just real quickly.
People, when you asked me about guests starting to arrive, Gary, these are our guests who are starting to arrive here at the New Hope Church in the parking lot. So they're starting to arrive. And it's going to be -- it's going to be about a 3-, 31/2-hour service. But we're going to carry it all for you live. And because the police are discouraging people not to come out, you can watch all of it here on CNN, Gary.
TUCHMAN: All right, Don. Thank you. We do see traffic building up on the right side of the screen right there.
Don Lemon, thank you very much. The special coverage on CNN begins at 11:00 Eastern time, about one hour from now; the service scheduled to begin at 12:00 noon Eastern time, two hours from now. We'll be right back.
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