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CNN Saturday Morning News

New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, Prepares for Whitney Houston's Funeral; Interview with Donnie McClurkin; Interview with Whitney Houston's Elementary School Principal

Aired February 18, 2012 - 10:00   ET

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

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. Right now Whitney Houston's family and friends are arriving at a Newark, New Jersey, church, getting ready to remember the singing legend. We have just learned who will perform at the funeral. We'll share that with you in just a moment. And we'll talk with Chilli from the group TLC. Other musical artists, and also Whitney Houston's, Whitney, that is, her elementary school principal. We'll talk with him also. He's tell what the famous singer was really like.

From the CNN center in Atlanta, this is CNN Saturday morning. I'm Gary Tuchman.

Well, Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, and Stevie Wonder are just a few of the people who will sing at Whitney Houston's funeral today. We're two hours from the expected start. So let's check in with our Jason Carroll who is there in Newark, New Jersey, right now. Jason, what else can you tell us about the program that will be taking place today?

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, a friend of the family gave me a rundown on what we can expect to hear and see when the funeral gets underway. That expected time, 12:00 noon. So let's start off from the very beginning just to let you know. First it will start off with the New Hope mass choir and the New Jersey mass choir. Today they'll be singing "The Lord is my Shepherd." Following that will be Pastor Joe Carter. I spoke to him earlier this week. He will be reading a scripture. He told me, look, we'll be acknowledging the hurt, there'll be a lot of tears, but we will also be celebrating the musical life that was Whitney Houston.

That will be followed by a solo by Donnie McClurkin who will be singing "Stand." Then there will be remarks by filmmaker Tyler Perry, a friend of Whitney Houston and the Houston family. That will be followed by a solo by Bebe Winans singing "Home," followed by remarks by Bishop T.D. Jakes.

Then we will hear from Kim Burrell. She has known Whitney Houston for some 13 friends. Kim Burrell well known in the gospel community. She will be singing "I Believe in You and Me." And, Gary, that was a song actually chosen by the Houston family.

Then we will hear remarks from Kevin Costner, "Bodyguard" co-star. Many know the actor Kevin Costner. Then we will hear from the queen of soul herself. Aretha Franklin will be singing "The Greatest Love of All." Then we'll be hearing remarks from Clive Davis. Obviously a lot of folks know that name in the music industry. He was mentor for Whitney Houston for many, many years.

Then there will be a solo from Stevie Wonder. And Stevie Wonder will be singing "A Ribbon in the Sky." Then there will be remarks by Ricky Minor, the band leader, a medley from Alicia Keys. That will be followed by a solely by R. Kelly. He will be singing "I Look to You."

Then I'm told we'll be hearing from Houston's family. First up will be Patricia Houston, Whitney Houston's sister-in-law. And then we'll be hearing from Dionne Warwick. She'll be giving the closing remarks.

So a lot of emotional highs and lows we'll be hearing about when the service gets underway. It's expected to last about three hours, and I'm told Whitney Houston will finally be laid to rest tomorrow. Gary?

TUCHMAN: Jason, thank you very much. There is a lot of movement right now around the New Hope Baptist Church. CNN's Don Lemon also joins us live with the latest from his vantage point. Don?

DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I just want to show you people are starting to arrive here. This is the ground shot. They're arriving in this parking lot and they walk in. Some of them who are high- profile guests will get out on the other side of the church there.

And I want to bring in someone here, the reverend DeForest Soaries, who -- I think it's important. People underestimate how well you knew the family, how much you know about this community, how well you knew Whitney Houston. She was -- you're very close to her family. And today is really a tough day not only for you, not only for the family, but for people here in the Newark, New Jersey, area.

DEFOREST SOARIES, FAMILY FRIEND: Well, first of all, don, this whole family has meant so much to this community. First African-American mayor of Newark was elected in 1970. John Houston, Whitney's dad, was a part of that movement. He worked in his administration. He worked in community development. And that's how I met the family. But then Dionne Warwick is around icon, and her father started a gospel record company right here in this community and they attended that church right there.

This family and this community inextricably linked, so as a young activist, even before I was a preacher, I came to know the Houstons as just good folks. I grew up two miles away from where she lived in East Orange. And as her talent emerged, we saw a star in the making.

LEMON: Look this way. Is this surreal to you standing here? We've got the media and the satellite trucks. There's the abandoned housing projects behind you, and in front of us, we're standing here looking -- let's go over this way -- at the New Hope Baptist Church where Whitney Houston sage, her mom was a choir director -- they're getting some dignitaries through here. For you to stand here and look at this, can you believe that this is happening?

SOARIES: No. I told my wife this morning I don't want to go. I can't believe what's happening. This church is so significant to this community. This is one of the first churches to begin building affordable housing for low income people. This church right in this building had a job training program.

LEMON: This big building here.

SOARIES: After the riots. This church was one of the first churches in America to have jobs for people in the neighborhood.

LEMON: Newark riots.

SOARIES: In 1967. This pastor of this church was one of the first ministers in the area, mainline church, to be on the radio. Every Sunday at 12:00 New Hope Baptist Church came on the radio.

LEMON: Is that why it was so important for the Houstons to belong to this church?

SOARIES: There were four or five Baptist churches. Most African- American churches in New Jersey are Baptist. There were four or five churches, Metropolitan Baptist church, Zion Baptist church, and this church. This New Hope Baptist church is really foundational to black people not only around New Jersey but around the country. The former pastor of this church who really built it, C.E. Thomas, was on the board of SELC. When Dr. King came to Newark, he would come to this church.

The undertaker is the founder of New Jersey's only black bank, City National Bank. And these two families go back to the 1960s.

LEMON: And the Houstons were part of that -- John Houston, Cissy Houston, Dionne Warwick.

SOARIES: Yes, all of that history comes out of this church. Then of course you had Lawrence Roberts who was not from this church but connected to the family. He now is deceased, the pastor of First Baptist Church of Nutley. He helped Cissy and Dionne with their music. Doris Duke belonged to his church. The wealthiest woman in America belonged to a black Baptist church.

LEMON: Here's the interesting thing. Everybody is saying, reverend, no Prudential Center, I can't believe they're not going to have fans, because they feel that Whitney Houston was part of them as well and they feel ownership. Now you've given us context in why Cissy Houston said her home-going is going to be at this church, and I don't give a darn. We're going to send Whitney home, Nippy home, from this church which means so much to this church and this community.

SOARIES: Well, it's about being able to control the spiritual and cultural depth of the moment. The Prudential Center would be an event, a spectacle, but it would not be consistent with the values of this family, this tradition, and the values of Whitney herself. This was the best way to articulate within the cultural and religious context how we feel about Whitney Houston.

LEMON: Take us forward, please. What are we going to see? We're going to see some crying, some sadness, but we're going to see some shouting and happiness and celebration.

SOARIES: We're going see worship, first of all. Worship is a human expression to the divine. And so this is not a performance. This is a worship experience. And Pastor Carter with whom I just spoke is determined to lead a worship experience to ensure that god is pleased with the celebration of one of his children. And then we're going to see praise that hopefully will bring some comfort to the family. There is an unusual level of pain. But praise can overcome pain.

LEMON: Reverend, thank you for putting that into context. As we stand in front of the New Hope missionary Baptist church where Whitney Houston will be memorialized and have, as they say, a home going.

SOARIES: Not homecoming, home going.

LEMON: And be laid to rest tomorrow. Back to you, Gary.

TUCHMAN: Don, thank you. Thank the reverend for us, and thank you to you also.

We do want to mention that while Don was talking we got our first live look inside the church. People are starting to go inside the church, and we saw the casket of Whitney Houston that was already garnished with flowers in front of the church.

One other point I wanted to make about Newark, they were talking about the history of the Newark area. Fascinating city. It lost 40 percent of its city between 1970 and 1990, and that came after the 1967 civil rights riots. But between 1990 and now it's actually gained some of its population back. About 275,000 people live there. It's New Jersey's largest city.

And our coverage of Houston's funeral will continue throughout the morning. Soledad O'Brien and Piers Morgan will anchor our special report that begins 50 minutes from now at 11:00 a.m.

We have great stories to share about Whitney Houston. Coming up next, the pop queen's former elementary school principle joins me live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TUCHMAN: Today will be a day of tears in New Jersey, throughout the United States, and throughout the world. Whitney Houston's family and friends are gathering at this church. You're looking at a live picture of the church in Newark, the New Hope Baptist Church, to say their final goodbyes.

During the funeral the focus on Whitney Houston's faith and her passion. One of those who will be there will be Pastor Donnie McClurkin will who have to handle his own emotions as he sings the final song for his close friend. Pastor McClurkin, thank you very much for joining us.

DONNIE MCCLURKIN, SINGING AT WHITNEY HOUSTON FUNERAL: 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 sisters Olivia and they sang together for seven years. She was one of her background singers and became one of the favorite ones. So Whitney was at her wedding. And Whitney loved my mother. There was a love relationship between the Houston family and the McClurkin family.

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

MCCLURKIN: Oh, I'm going to try to sing a song called "Stand," a song that I wrote some years ago.

(MUSIC)

MCCLURKIN: The Houston family loves it. I'm going to try to get through that because this is an unexpected loss, really.

LEMON: I would assume, pastor, that will be very difficult. I assume it's difficult whenever you sing a song like that at a sad occasion. How do you get through it? How do you contain yourself to get through it without your emotions getting the best of you?

MCCLURKIN: I really don't know, because that can't be 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 when you knew her intimately and as friend, it's a different scenario all together. And trying to sing on top of the loss is going to be one of the most harrowing experiences. But by faith in god, we'll get through it.

LEMON: I spent part of this weekend in Newark, in East Orange, and talked with childhood friends of Whitney and I talked to her grade school principal. And people just can't believe it happened. She was such a wonderful little girl and star and inspired so many people. 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's been family to us. And the way that she treated my sister and my mother, all of us, it was -- it's the way that she treated everybody. So it's going to be hard. People still haven't really registered yesterday 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.

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

MCCLURKIN: You see, not just her start and origin. Throughout all of her pop, she was still singing gospel. Even in "The Preacher's Wife," that's why that movie became so powerful, because Whitney was doing what Whitney does -- gospel. Everything she sang in the pop world, the R&B world, she sang with the same gospel flare. Gospel is not just a music form. It's a lifestyle. And the one thing you have to know about Whitney Houston is she loved god and it portrayed in the way she developed and the way she portrayed herself.

TUCHMAN: And how did faith touch her life, pastor?

MCCLURKIN: Well, man, if you had to deal with some of the things that Whitney dealt with, and 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 award 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 nightgown 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 struggle, but we have to understand 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 very sad day but I also know you will be inspiring. Thank you very much for joining us.

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

TUCHMAN: A who's who list of some of the biggest names in music will be among the mourners at Whitney Houston's funeral today. You are looking right now at live pictures from outside the church. We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TUCHMAN: This is a sad day for a lot of people today. This is live look at the church where the funeral service will be held for Whitney Houston. It's scheduled to begin 12:00 eastern time. So that's about an hour and 40 minutes from now. Balloons, flowers, they've been there for days, but the people, the celebrities, the mourners, those who loved Whitney Houston are just arriving at the church to pay tribute to her today, her funeral today.

Houston's godmother Aretha Franklin will sing "The Greatest Love of All." Stevie Wonder will sing a ribbon in the sky. Alicia Keys plans to do a medley. Kim Burrell will sing "I believe in You and Me," and Grammy gospel singer Donnie McClurkin will sing his song "Stand," which was a Houston family favorite.

From the moment she released her first album back in 1985, it was 27 years ago, more than a quarter century ago. And throughout her career Whitney Houston reached new heights in the music world, setting records that still stand this very day. Among her many milestones, Whitney Houston's self-titled first album is a biggest selling debut by a solo artist ever. She's 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 single in music history.

CNN has obtained previously unpublished photos of a young Whitney Houston. This is from 1982. She was 18 years old. The images by photographer Jack Mitchell were taken all that time ago. You can see more by visiting our website at CNN.com.

Coming up next, we will hear more about Whitney Houston's early years. Her elementary school teacher is on his way to the funeral, and he will talk to us before he goes in.

And remember, CNN will have special coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral with Soledad O'Brien and Piers Morgan from Newark, New Jersey. That special coverage comes your way about 37 minutes from now at 11:00 eastern time. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TUCHMAN: It's 26 minutes past the hour. Welcome back. I'm Gary Tuchman. Thank you very much for starting your day with us.

Let's get a check of some of the other news going on this morning. A 29-year-old Moroccan man is under arrest, charged with trying to bomb the U.S. capitol in Washington, D.C. He allegedly received items from undercover law enforcement, including a vest that the suspect thought -- and we emphasize thought -- contained explosives. If convicted he could go to 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.

Pope Benedict officially inducting 22 new cardinals in a ceremony in the Vatican City this morning. The cardinals hail from all over the world. One of them, New York archbishop Timothy Dolan. The College of Cardinals advises the Pope. Ultimately the College of Cardinals selects his successor.

Mourners are gathering as we speak at this hour for Whitney Houston's funeral. We will go there live with an update coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TUCHMAN: We're now about 90 minutes away from Whitney Houston's funeral at this, her home church, in Newark, New Jersey. Around 1,500 mourners are expected to attend. A short time ago the hearse arrived at the church. The casket containing Whitney Houston's body is now inside the sanctuary. And even more fans will be lining the streets to say goodbye to Whitney Houston. My friend and CNN national correspondent Jason Carroll is there in Newark. Jason, what's the latest?

CARROLL: Well, I guess we're getting closer to the final moments, aren't we, Gary, when folks will be coming down to the New Hope Baptist church to say their final good-byes. And this morning I spoke with a friend of the Houston family who was able to share with me the details of what exactly we can expect during the service.

It will open with the New Hope mass choir singing along with the New Jersey mass choir. They will be singing "The Lord is my Shepherd." Following that Pastor Joe Carter will be reading a scripture. I spoke to Joe Carter earlier this week, Gary, and he told me, yes, we will be acknowledging the hurt, there will be tears, but we will also be celebrating the music life that was Whitney Houston.

A solo then will be performed by Donnie McClurkin. He will be singing "Stand." That will be followed by remarks by noted filmmaker Tyler Perry, who was a friend of the Houston family. That will be followed by a solo by Bebe Winans singing "Home." Then we will hear remarks by Bishop T.D. Jakes. That will be followed by soloist Kim Burrell. She is noted in the gospel community. She's been friends with Whitney Houston for 13 years. She'll be singing a song called "I Believe in You and Me." Apparently that was one of Whitney Houston's favorites.

That will be followed by remarks by Kevin Costner. And then we will hear from the queen of soul herself. She will be singing "The Greatest Love of All." That will be followed by remarks from Clive Davis, remarks from him, Whitney Houston's mentor for many, many years.

Then Stevie Wonder will lend his voice. He will be singing "A Ribbon in the Sky," one of his favorites. Also remarks by Rickey Minor, the band leader. Then a medley by Alicia Keys. Then R. Kelly will stand up, and he will be singing "I Look to You."

And finally, Gary, we will hear from members of White Houston's family members. We know first of will be Patricia Houston, Whitney Houston's sister-in-law. And the finally member to speak, Dionne Warwick.

A long list of notables there. We're told, Gary, the entire service may last more than three hours. It may start a little after the noon hour simply because 1,500 guests are expected there. You've got to get them all there and seated. A family friend telling me it may start a little after that. But we're coming now to the final moments when people will be coming to say their final goodbyes.

TUCHMAN: Jason, we're looking at the other side of the screen where some of those 1,500 people will arrive. It will be a very poignant service but also very elaborate. It's like a production with so many personalities and people and important music and people talking. How hard has this been to set up?

CARROLL: Well, you know, it's noted that this person I spoke to was actually involved in trying to arrange some of the things you just mentioned. When you think of someone like a Whitney Houston, not only did she touch those in the musical community, but there's so many in the community of Newark that knew her and wanted to share in this moment as well. So that's why you've got such a huge invite list of some 1,500 people. So he told me that as soon as the word went out that they were invited to come and share in this moment, people were hopping on planes and rushing down just to be here and be near Whitney Houston's family and share in these final moments.

TUCHMAN: Jason Carroll, thank you for your report. We'll come back to you a little bit later.

CARROLL: Stories from the road. Coming up next, we'll hear from Chilli from the group TLC. They toured with Whitney Houston in the 1990s. We'll hear what that was all about and what it was like, coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TUCHMAN: We go back to the New Hope Baptist Church where my colleague Don Lemon is now standing. And he's standing with a special guest. He's standing with man who was a very important man in Whitney Houston's life, her grade school principal. He was there for 41 years and he was brand new when Whitney Houston was a little girl in grade school.

LEMON: Yes. It's Henry Hamilton. He's standing here. You said today this was a celebration of life. You're celebrating Whitney Houston.

HENRY HAMILTON, PRINCIPAL OF SCHOOL NAMED AFTER HOUSTON: You'd better believe it, you know. There's only one day here that the sun is shining like this. It's a beautiful day, and as I just mentioned before, the sun is shining, she's up there. She said this will be Whitney's day, and I appreciate that. Someone asked me for whether we should have it at this place, that place. This is where the family wanted it. This is where it should being right here where she grew up singing.

LEMON: I want to show this to our viewers. This is the invitation to the home going ceremony. She's beautiful on this picture, right?

HAMILTON: She's always been that way.

LEMON: It says "With heartfelt gratitude the Houston family requests the honor of your presence at the home going service for Whitney Elizabeth Houston, New Hope Baptist Church, 106 Sussex Avenue, Newark, New Jersey, Saturday, February 18 at 12:00 noon." Did you ever think in a million years you would be here principal that you would be here with this invitation doing this? I'm sure not.

HAMILTON: Definitely not. Definitely not. And, again, I'm proud of the fact that I have the opportunity to be here. How many people can say that they were the principal of Whitney Houston, elementary principal? Not too many people can say about that. I'm proud of her. I have bragged about her and I'll continue to brag about her after the day.

LEMON: Yes. There are so many people around. There's the church. You say it's fitting it should be here and not some big venue like the Prudential Center.

HAMILTON: I said it's up to the family. If they want have it in a big place, OK. If they wanted her here where she grew up sing or what have you, I will support the family. Others can see it on TV. Out here it's still a positive occasion for Whitney Houston.

LEMON: Yes. And the school -- when Whitney went to school there, when Whitney went to school, the name of the school was?

HAMILTON: Franklin.

LEMON: Franklin. And now?

HAMILTON: Whitney E. Houston Academy of Creative and Performing Arts.

LEMON: That is an accomplishment.

HAMILTON: Nippy. Beautiful person.

LEMON: You've been calling her Nippy all this life, and that's what she is to her family and loved ones.

HAMILTON: If you look at her license plate number, "Nippy Inc. 1," "Nippy Inc. 2." But whether it's Nippy or Whitney, beautiful person.

LEMON: Your heart is heavy?

HAMILTON: My heart is heavy. I've been crying, not sleeping, you what I'm saying. But today I feel good. You know why I feel good? Because so many people are recognizing the things she has done. That in itself is beautiful. They're not talking about negative things or this or that. They're talking about the true Whitney, and that has helped me overcome the grief that I had.

LEMON: Amen, principal. I think there's a time and place for everything, and I don't think there needs to be mention of that. This is, what you said, negativity. This is what we do when we send people home. We honor them and we think about and celebrate the good times in their lives and what they meant to us and what they brought to the world and just their presence. We'll miss their presence, but we still have them in spirit. And fortunately for Whitney Houston, we'll still have her in music.

HAMILTON: You're good at that. You should have been a preacher too. That's beautiful. I like those words.

LEMON: You agree with that.

HAMILTON: Totally.

LEMON Why?

HAMILTON: Because of the fact this was Whitney. This is what they should do of people who do well. Let's continue to push for the good things of everyone.

LEMON: That said, is there a lesson in this for the world?

HAMILTON: Let's continue to strive for nothing but the best. There's a whole lot of harsh criticism taking place all over the world. But if we accentuate the positives, I think we're better off as a community, as the world.

LEMON: Does this represent her, this photograph? She's smiling, she looks very happy, beautiful.

HAMILTON: Vivacious, electrifying, beautiful in many ways. I have to leave now.

LEMON: Gary Tuchman back in Atlanta is anchoring, he wants to ask you a question.

TUCHMAN: Pass on to Henry, ask him this question. Tell him to tell you the story about how modest she was, how he found out kind of haphazardly that she was a model. Ask him about that.

LEMON: Her modesty, he said you told him a story about how you found out haphazardly that she was a model.

HAMILTON: Yes. When she was 15 I was going down Dodge Street and she stopped me and wanted me to show me her portfolio. Portfolio for what? She opened the book and it's all these pictures of her modeling. I said I didn't know you were a model. And then shortly thereafter I saw on the cover "Teddy Pendergrass." I said what is this? She became a big-time singer. I never knew it. I told other people Gary, her brother, is a big-time singer. In terms of Whitney, never.

LEMON: You said "I missed that one."

HAMILTON: I'm pretty good in calling it. But Gary became the backup singer and Whitney became the greatest singer in the world, believe me. Do you agree? Tell me someone who sings better.

LEMON: I agree. Listen, I spoke to her voice coach. He said some people have a great tone to their voice, they sound well. Some people have the musculature to sing really loudly in a big booming voice. And he said -- an athletic singer he called her. He said she could do it all. She could very softly and sound well. She could sing in a big booming voice.

And when she did the "National Anthem," she could have done everything where you go up and down the register, but there was restraint. And then she sang very quietly, and then she did one athletic thing when she in the end "the land of the free." She goes up and that's it. She restrained herself, and not every singer can do that. She knew when to do it.

HAMILTON: I agree. I forgot about the Super Bowl. That was my Super Bowl right there.

LEMON: I'm listening, Gary. Go ahead. TUCHMAN: Don, tell Henry one more thing. When we were at her school the other day, I mean, everyone loves that school. He's been there 41 years and that man is a beloved principal, so hats off to him.

LEMON: He said, listen, you were beloved 41 years at that school you've been there, so hats off to you.

HAMILTON: Its 43.

LEMON: Oh, Gary, it's 43.

HAMILTON: And 51 years in education.

LEMON: Thank you. Thank you.

HAMILTON: I'm only a teenager.

LEMON: Here, take this invitation.

HAMILTON: Thank you.

LEMON: Thank you very much. And we appreciate you.

So, Gary, as we go, of course, always the crush of media comes in, and they've been very respectful actually about our live shots.

But there you go. That's his son over there being interviewed now. As we've been saying, this is a home going, a home going. And we say it, home going celebration. That's what we call it at least in the Baptist church. And that church right over my shoulder, and people are starting to arrive there. And for those who couldn't come here, we're going to bring you here on CNN. You can rely on me. I'm going to bring the viewers right to the very spot where Whitney Houston is going to be memorialized. We're going do it respectfully and honor her and her family.

TUCHMAN: Don Lemon, very nice work. And that was a very nice interview with Henry, the principal. Thank you very much.

And Don will be back as he joins Soledad O'Brien and Piers Morgan for our special coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral. It begins 15 minutes from now at 11:00 eastern.

Next coming up we'll hear from Chilli from the group TLC. TLC toured with Whitney in the '90s. We'll hear what that us with like, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TUCHMAN: Whitney Houston is being remembered as many things -- the voice, a diva, and, of course, a superstar. But how did she see herself? This is Whitney Houston in her own words.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITNEY HOUSTON, SINGER: When we started, it was about what would fit with my voice, what song. And when Clive heard me sing "The Greatest Love," which was the first song, he kind of grasped onto it and said that's where we're going to go. We've got somebody who can sing great ballads.

(SINGING)

HOUSTON: So I am proud to carry that torch, you know what I'm saying?

You give the best you got. I worked really hard, you know. And I gave it all I had, and that's all you can expect. I feel humbled. I feel blessed to have, you know, received all of this -- these accolades. I mean -- I don't know. That's the way I feel.

I fell in love with great man, and I thought, hmm, I think I'll have his baby.

(LAUGHTER)

HOUSTON: I'm only kidding. But, no, I did fall in love with a great man and decided I'd like to have some kids. I don't know. I thought it would be nice to have somebody to carry me on.

It's not a comeback for me. I've been here. I just took break, you know, which sometimes you have to. You have to know when to slow that train down and kind of sit back and just relax for a minute. I just wanted time to be -- my daughter to look in my eyes and to know that I was mommy and not the lady on TV. You know what I'm saying? That was very important to me.

My mother used to always tell me above all to thine own self be true. That's kind of what I want to teach Bobbi Kristina, be true to herself. You can fool people and others, but you can't fool yourself. At night you've got to go home and be straight up with you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TUCHMAN: It gives you a lump in your throat when you hear her talk about Bobbi Kris who will be in the church today for the funeral service of her mother. The music legend sold more than 170 million albums before her death. Her first came in 1985 with Arista records. Earlier I asked former Arista executive David Linton what it was like to with her.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID LINTON, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT AT ARISTA RECORDS: She was a joy. She was a professional and a perfectionist. She took her craft very seriously but she was also, she also understood her music was bringing joy to the world. She wanted to make sure she always delivered the best.

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

LINTON: Well, the very first time -- I can say this. The very first time I met Whitney was actually on a video set. I had just got hired by Arista. The executive vice president at the label at the time and Clive Davis had just hired me, and I went to meet Whitney. She was one of the first projects I would be working with. When I walked in, she looked at Gene and she said, ooh, he's handsome.

(LAUGHTER)

LINTON: So for Whitney Houston to tell you you're handsome, that really is something 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: The last time I saw Whitney was probably about 2003. It's been a number of years. It was at an industry function. We saw each other, acknowledged each other. It was very brief, but it was a good moment.

TUCHMAN: Yes.

LINTON: Definitely.

TUCHMAN: Outside of her telling you were handsome, what was one of your favorite memories?

LINTON: What sticks with me is my 35th birthday celebration at the China Club. It was a big event, and she was celebrating her 35th, and it was a special night, and we all had great time. And it was -- that's the Whitney I'll always remember, that bubbly and vivacious young lady.

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

LINTON: Yes, definitely.

TUCHMAN: Thank you, David.

LINTON: Thank you, Gary.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TUCHMAN: Just in, we've heard some upsetting news, Aretha Franklin the queen of soul and Whitney Houston's godmother, a very important person in her life, will not be performing. She apparently is ill. We're not quite sure she'll be attending the service, but we do know for sure she will not be performing. That was expected to be an emotional highlight of the service. But once again, Aretha Franklin, the godmother of Whitney, will not be performing at the service.

Mourners are filing into the Newark, New Jersey, church where the funeral will be held. And they're saying good-bye to a superstar with a voice, and that voice will live on forever. More of our coverage and Whitney Houston's funeral coverage coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) TUCHMAN: Whitney Houston's music touched the world and her voice will live on for years to come. Take a listen to last night's "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT" as students from a fifth grade chorus paid tribute to the pop queen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TUCHMAN: That's absolutely beautiful.

That's all from me this morning. Thank you very much for joining us today. We now join Piers Morgan, Soledad O'Brien, and Don Lemon for CNN's special coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral. That starts right now.

(SINGING)