family and her mother, sissy, and dion. it's just a tremendous tragedy for all of us. this young girl who had this extra special voice. she was what we considered and i consider the gold standard and really broke all barriers and really, you know, set the goal for everyone to achieve. >> tommy, is it right to talk about this as a massive shock or were people in the industry fearing the worse after all the stories we read about whitney over the last few years, what is the sense amongst people that there was a horrible inevitability to this? >> well, you know, one can never say what happens behind closed doors, and the pressures of this industry, as we all know, and

we've seen some of the tragedies over the last couple of years with michael and amy winehouse, that one never knows what happens in people's personal lives and how the media and the pressures affect someone. but certainly, and i remember when whitney was a teenager and clive davis invited me to see her before he had even made records with her and listening to that golden voice, and one day in my office at sony when someone had brought me "i will always love you" before it had been released and i put it on and i nearly fell out of my chair saying this could be one of the greatest records of all time. it's just a sin, it's a tragedy of such a beautiful treasure to be lost like that.

>> tommy, where do you think she will rank, whitney houston, in terms of her pure talent as a singer? >> well, once again, you know, i've had an incredible opportunity to be able to work with barbra streisand and celine dion and mariah, and whitney broke barriers more than any other singers and she set a gold standard because she had this absolutely incredible style and so fluid with her vocals. unlike any other singer. so we all looked up to whitney, no matter two it was. >> tommy, you've been in the business a very long time and have worked with some of the greatest stars for decades. has it got harder? simon cowell touched on this, and lionel richie, that it's got harder and harder to be a

superstar in the music business because of the ferocious attention from the media, from the internet and so on. do you feel that? do you sense that it's becoming ever more pressurized, that environment to try and stay at the top? >> well, it's ever more pressurized and the thought of having a body of work that's compelling that somebody wants versus one song that somebody wants to download or if the star is made from one of the music competition shows is quite different than when whitney arrived on the scene and how whitney made it into the star making process. so now with all of the media and the internet and twitter and all of the television exposure of all the music competitions, the pressure is outrageously enormous. outrageously enormous. so you've really got to stand

out from the fray in a big way. and then be able to survive everything else that's going to come at you. >> tommy, you knew whitney well. what kind of woman was she? because most people only knew the caricature from the newspapers, the magazines and so on. what was she really like? >> well, you know, i remember whitney. the whitney i remember was this stunningly beautiful young girl with this golden voice, smiling, laughing all the time. basically a church girl who came out of the choir singing with her mother, sissy, and learning -- and emulating and looking up to all the greats like aretha, who was her god mother and her cousin, dionne warwick. so she had all these role models. she was a very happy go lucky soul. and that's the whitney that i knew. and then, of course, there was a

lot of personal tragedy that she's been going through over the last few years, which i'm sure has created so much stress for her. >> how important is it when you're somebody of this fame, that you have a network of people that can protect you from all the problems and issues that come with that status? >> well, it's critical, it's critical. because, you know, there are always a tremendous amount of people in the entourage that are quick to say yes in anybody's career. to it's a critical thing for someone to look you straight in the eye and to tell you what's right and what's wrong. but don't forget she's not a child, so she can make her open decisions. certainly she had clive as her guardian angel her entire career. he looked over her, but he couldn't be with her 24 hours a

day. so, again, going through everything that happens in the media and everything that happened in her personal life, i'm sure it took its toll on her. it's just so sad to actually be looking at this tonight and it's unbelievable for me. it's not real. >> obviously the timing of the grammys form night, and the p pregrammy party clive davis was hosting. >> i'm sure she was there tonight to share the joy with clive. but hopefully tomorrow night there will be a big tribute for her. >> yeah. very, very sad night, tommy. thank you very much indeed for joining us this evening. we greatly appreciate it on this desperately tragic night, the

death of whitney houston at 48 years old. i'm going back to don lemon in atlanta who will bring us up to date. >> it's unbelievable. and we are waiting for clive davis, you're going to speak to him as soon as he calls in. >> we're hoping to. it is chaotic down there. clive davis has had to make decisions about whether to go ahead with this event. he may make a statement. i'm sure he doesn't know what to do that would be appropriate. this whereas the greatest star that he ever created, no doubt about that. i think the fact that she died today on the day of his event, my heart goes out to him. if we can't talk to him, it will be because he's immersed in what will be an extremely sad and moving occasion down there. >> if anyone knows, the man you were talking to nose what it is to find someone and shepherd them into the music business.

yeah, you're right, it's chaotic and some of the people we've been speaking to, we've had trouble getting them. i want to update you, because the viewers are watching from around the world. i'm don lemon. you're looking at piers morgan in los angeles. some sad news to report. breaking news tonight, whitney houston, one of the greatest voices of her generation, dead at the age of 48. truly a legendary singer and talent. ♪ if i should stay i would only be in your way ♪ ♪ so i'll go but i know i'll think of you ♪ >> gives you chills, doesn't it?

her talent, amazing talent. she had some turmoil in her personal life. more than 170 million albums sold. seven straight bill board number one hits in the '80s. i almost hate coming in and interrupting that beautiful sound. "saving all my love for you," the list goes on and on. just before 4:00 p.m. pacific time, whitney houston was pronounced dead at the beverly hilton hotel. she was staying there for a pregrammy party this evening. you're looking at live pictures of the beverly hilton hotel where that party is being held. is that the beverly hilton? yes, where that party is being held. just on the fourth floor. at the time, police do not know the cause of death. houston's career soared in the 1980s, 1990s, but a tumultuous

marriage to bobby brown and her struggle with drugs, but he loved whitney and we wanted her to come back. she died as a legend. we hoped she would pull her life together, and just go back to the point where she was. one of the world's greatest singers, no doubt. again, that's what's going on now in california. that's not the beverly hilton, that's at the nokia theater we're looking at. piers morgan, feel free to jump in. smoky robinson joining us. i read your reaction earlier, your statement that you sent and truly the world has lost a treasure here. >> absolutely. i mean, no question about it. i am shocked. i mean, i've had so many of these shocks lately, it's just been incredible for me.

just the other day we lost don cornelius, and now this is happening. it's just really -- i mean, i can't tell you how shocked i am about this. it's the last thing i expected to hear today, you know? >> the last time i talked to you with michael jackson, i asked you what would you sing? and you staid "never say goodbye" and i think that's appropriate. and "i will always love you" that's what we would all sing to her because she's an amazing talent. >> absolutely. she was like family to me. i've known her family and her forever. it's just -- i mean, it's rough. i know that she's going to be remembered well. i just hope that people think of the positive things about her and not too much is played upon

about her problems, you know, because everybody has problems. >> right. >> and she seemed that she was coming out of them and it's just a tragic thing to lose her this way. and i know that she was looking so forward to being at xlooifcl party this evening. that's why she was at the hotel in the first place. >> have you had a chance to speak to her mother, sissy? >> you know, i reached out to her today, but getting through is practically impossible today, because everybody is trying to get to her. so i haven't been able to speak to her as yet. but in the next day or so, i'm sure i will speak with her. and get a chance to give her my love and give her my hugs, because that's what she -- >> smokey, it's piers morgan here in los angeles. we're getting some extraordinary

tributes being paid to whitney tonight. what do you think she would wish her legacy to be? >> well, knowing whit, she would wish her legacy to be, you know, whit was one of the greatest singers to ever open her mouth to sing. i know whit would want the world to remember her that way. she would want people to remember her profound talent and to think of her in a positive light. whit was a sweetie pie. she's a nice person. i know that she would want to be remembered that way. like i said earlier to don, rather than being remembered for her problems, you know, which through -- i have to say through media coverage of when that was going on like that, people may

keep that in mind about her. but i just high pressure that they remember her talent and their positiveness before they think of that part of her life. >> smokey you touched on earlier the fact that whitney had this amazing talent, she had all these problems, but she was actually beginning to come through them and to recover for want of a better phrase, which makes this particularly sat. you obviously knew the family well. did you really feel that she was on the verge of a proper comeback? >> you know, piers, the last time i saw her i did. i saw her -- we were both at a rehearsal studio in los angeles, and i saw her and we just laughed and talked and she seemed like she was in such a great place and that she was on the road to recovery and to coming back and enjoying her life again. and i'm just so saddened by

this, because we had such a great conversation. i just felt so good about seeing her that way. >> what do you think was the biggest misconception about whitney houston? you knew her as well as anybody. what do you think was the thing that people just didn't get about her? >> you know, piers, i don't know what people -- what the biggest misconception about her was. i think by -- see, we live in a world where the negative is always portrayed. we live in a world where the negative gets the attention. the negative is the squeak in the wheel that gets oiled all the time. i think we hear so much negativity all the time about everything and everybody until we're geared up to hear the negative. when that happens like that, i just wish that there was stations in every city and every

town in the world that could give nothing but good news. but when that happens, and especially to a person who's already in the public's eye, a person who is in the entertainment world, you live under this microscope any way. and everything that you do, the average person who is not an entertainer, who has an average job, who is just a person who goes about their average life every day and they have their homes and their kids and whatever they're doing and their jobs that are not in the public eye, can do the exact same thing that somebody who is in the entertainment world does and the person in the entertainment world is blown way out of proportion. like it's somebody that nobody in life has ever done and that nobody does except for people in the entertainment world and so it's hard, especially when you go through a period of your life

whereas there's negativity involved. then it's talked about and it's put out there so much and on a constant basis. so people forget that you're just a human being and that you're going to have your faults and have your downs and your ups and your ins and your outs. but it's just publicized so much. it's just magnified. so i think that's what happened with whit. i mean, her -- when she was going through her problems in her life, they were magnified so much. i was listening and lionel was talking about the same thing, it's hard to grow up on the stage and pretend like that never happened and nobody knows. it's hard to do that. it's hard to be in the position whereas you're out front and every day, all day long people

are seeing and hearing about you and something negative goes on in your life and it's just pushed out there and magnified. and yet you have to go back and face the public. >> hey, smokey, i think the thing is you hit the nail on the head there. many ordinary members of the public have the same issues as whitney houston or amy winehouse or michael jackson, they're just not as famous or so it doesn't get speculated over. thank you for the time to call in. >> hey, piers, before we let smokey go, can i ask something? you said you want to focus on the positive, and i think you're right with that. what will you always love about whitney houston? >> well, like i said, don, whitney was family to me. i will always love whitney about whitney, because whitney was family to me. so i will always love her, and she is one of the greatest

voices in the history of music. so that's what i say. >> thank you. piers, thank you for letting me jump in. we're going to go to break. >> thank you, guys. >> thank you, smokey. we'll be back after this break. ♪ i love the lord he's earned my trust ♪ [ male announcer ] southwest airlines is committed

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reaction is coming in, as well. what are you hearing, paul? >> reporter: well, don, i'm right here at staples and los angeles shuts down, this whole downtown area when it comes to the grammys. i want to bring in a couple of fans. they work in the area and can characterize for us what it was like when they first heard this news. you were in a hotel and what did you hear? >> well, we heard -- it was a message that came to us via text that did you hear whitney houston died? and then about that time we heard a gasp throughout the hotel and everybody stopped to look at the television shows that were showing that whitney houston had passed. >> reporter: and you work close to here. you're a huge whitney houston fan. what did she mean to you? >> oh, the '80s. absolutely the '80s. if anything doesn't know anything about her gospel music, "the preacher's wife," she's

very inspirational. i've gotten through a lot of nights through her gospel music. >> i appreciate your taking time out. in a moment we'll talk to the executive producer of the grammys. so i'll toss it back to you and when you're ready we'll come back and talk to ken. >> paul, thank you very much. as we look at these live pictures, piers, there they are from the streets right at the beverly hilton hotel where whitney houston was found earlier today, it still -- having reported on this for almost four hours now, i'm still in shock that this has happened and we've lost this woman and these festivities still going on at the clive davis party and you spoke with clive davis just yesterday. >> yeah. i mean, it's hard to imagine what will be going through his mind. he's one of the greatest figures

in the music industry. he's created some of the biggest stars we've ever heard, and whitney was the biggest. we talked literally yesterday, he was in the studio, he was with jennifer hudson, who many compare to whitney houston, and she was really touched by the comparison, but said i cannot live up to that. when she was young, she said she used to mimic doi ining duets w she was 7 or 8 with whitney. whitney houston was her heroine. i can imagine the atmosphere at this party will be extremely sad. i'm being joined by emcee light, the l.a. chapter president of the grammys. thank you very much for joining me. >> thank you. >> obviously the grammys tomorrow. this is a horrible coincidence

that whitney, one of the great grammy winners in history, has died on the eve of the grammys. how is everyone reacting to this horrible news? >> it is not good. you know, it's not good. it's shocking at this point. i've talked with several people at this point, kelly price, as well as misty elliott, who have both worked with whitney and was very good friends. we're just all going to miss her so, so much. and my heart goes out to hear daughter and her close family and her mom. just countless people whose lives are deeply affected by this. i just hope that we're able to recover, you know. i'm speechless.

>> obviously whitney went through a lot of problems in her life in the latter years. everybody knows that. it's not appropriate to rake over those details tonight. >> absolutely not. >> it's much more appropriate to focus on the sublime talent. people have been talking about her being one of the greatest singers of all time. how inspirational do you think whitney houston has been to the jennifer hudson generation? i would imagine there are thousands, if not millions of young with women who felt inspired by whitney houston. >> absolutely. the world over, boys and girls, men and women, and artists and those who never planned to sing a lick, were definitely inspired by her, by her music, her unsurmountable talent.

i remember the first album when it came and "thinking about you," you know, when i hear those songs, and i play them often, it takes me back to a place where everything is carefree and it is just, you know, the age of innocence. i think she is the soundtrack for most of our lives. >> yeah. i think that's absolutely right. and obviously tomorrow night now, a very different kind of event. the grammys obviously will go ahead. but are you making any last minute changes? can you tell me any sort of plans that you may have at this early stage to commemorate the life of whitney houston? >> unfortunately i can't divulge any of that information, but of course, the academy looks to recognize anyone two has done anything within the music community that moves on to the

next level. of course they're going to be missed but they're also going to be recognized. we just need you to talk about this on another news station the other day about alicia kays and bonnie raitt recognizing etta james. and now we're going to have to make appropriate moves, absolutely. >> it's been a terrible time for the music business. a series of huge blows, major talents all dying. really sad to have to keep reporting on these awful events. mc lyte, thank you very much for joining me. and i wish you the best at the event tomorrow night. >> thank you so much. i send my love to the houston

family. >> more on the breaking news of whitney houston's breath after this. ♪ okay, team! after age 40, we can start losing muscle -- 8% every 10 years. wow. wow. but you can help fight muscle loss with exercise and ensure muscle health. i've got revigor. what's revigor? it's the amino acid metabolite, hmb to help rebuild muscle and strength naturally lost over time. [ female announcer ] ensure muscle health has revigor and protein to help protect, preserve, and promote muscle health. keeps you from getting soft. [ major nutrition ] ensure. nutrition in charge!

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♪ ♪ i don't know why i like him i just do ♪ >> you're listening to whitney houston and some very sad news to report. whitney houston died today in los angeles at 48 years old.

she was preparing to go to the grammys, a pregrammy party tonight she was supposed to be at, at the same hotel where the party is at. her body was found at 3:43 this afternoon and pronounced dead at 3:55, according to beverly hills police. this happened at the beverly hilton hotel and we have been looking at live pictures from the clive davis party at that hotel this evening. it is still being held. we're waiting to possibly hear from clive davis. he was the person who discovered -- the man who discovered whitney houston. piers morgan is standing be, kareen wynters is standing by in los angeles, as well. paul? >> reporter: don, we were here just a while ago, 2 1/2 years ago when the michael jackson was here. and the grammy producer also

produced that event. quite an ironic moment. now what do you do with the grammys show tomorrow night in light of what happened? >> as you know, we had a long-term association with whitney. whitney was a multigrammy winner. she appeared on the show a number of times. so obviously we're very saddened. we don't want to rush to anything that couldn't be respectful. so our plan at this point is we do -- i've asked jennifer hudson to come and we're at this moment talking about what she's going to do. but it will be something respectful. it's not going to be a full blown tribute to me. that feels like it's too early, it's too fresh at this moment. so we're working on something that will be respectful and appropriate to whether itney's .

we've gone through the script and made a few changes just to make sure that the tone is right. obviously a show like ours, which celebrating music of the past year and our show is known not only just for the past year but looking back at years of american popular music. so, you know, there's some shifts that we wanted to make script wise that probably make it a little more appropriate to what's happened. you know, it's still going to be a great music show. we felt that -- i think knowing whitney as i did, she very much would have wanted -- she was a great artist and great performer and knew the importance of thrilling an audience. and that's what we still plan to do tomorrow. >> thank you so much for taking time out. i appreciate it. the old adage, the show must go on. behind us, you can hear them

rehearsing for tomorrow night's show. jennifer hudson probably doing a special tribute to whitney houston. don? >> paul, thank you very much. reporting outside the staples center in los angeles. piers morgan is in los angeles tonight. piers, it's amazing how quickly things move, we're hearing thousand they're going to rejigger the grammys tomorrow night with a tribute to whitney houston. it feels like a minute ago, although we've been on the air almost four hours, we still don't know the cause of death. >> no, we don't know the cause of death. in fact, the early indications are, the police are not suspecting foul play. who knows what may have caused this? i think probably the reality is this is not as shocking to many people as it may have been if whitney hadn't been through so many difficult issues in her life. it's desperately sad. i think the music industry is really reaming tonight from this

news. she was one of the greatest figures in the music business. possibly one of the greatest singers of all time. the fact that it's happened on the eve of the grammys -- i imagine the grammys tomorrow night will be all about whitney houston. i can't imagine there will be a single presenter or award winner who will not want to pay tribute. jennifer hudson was in my studio last night with clive davis, and she was talking about whitney as being just her heroine, how she'll be feeling tonight and tomorrow lord only knows. >> all the up-and-comers, as you heard simon cowell said, i'm sure you on "america's got talent," people would come on and say whitney houston, whitney houston, whitney houston. >> do you know what, don? it was always the litmus test for whether a singer was any good. i did six years of "america's

got talent." we always said the great test of a singer is could they sing a whitney houston song. because her songs were these unbelievably hardball -- hard ballads to sing. you try and hit the high notes and you will fail. time and again we would see them fail at the crucial moment. and if they hit it, like a susan boyle or somebody, you knew you found somebody special. i can't think of a better way of paying tribute to someone like whitney houston, other than that was the test. could they sing anywhere near the level of a whitney houston? >> and you know what, piers? our viewers have been tweeting me. they want to hear whitney. let's listen to "i want to dance with somebody" and we'll talk about that. ♪

♪ to chase my blues away i don't know in i left him ♪ ♪ but the light of day shows me how ♪ ♪ and with the nightfall the loneliness comes ♪ ♪ i want to dance with somebody i want to feel the heat with somebody ♪ ♪ yeah, i want to dance with somebody ♪ ♪ with somebody who loves me >> as that song is playing, i'm sitting here just tapping my feet, because it does exactly what the song says, it makes you want to dance. this is one of whitney houston's very first hits and i remember hearing this song, piers, see thing video and i went, oh, my gosh, who is this woman? beautiful in this video. whitney would laugh, because she would say i'm not much of a dancer. she wasn't a great dancer, so she did the same little move in

every single video. as clive will tell you, she sat her down a lot, but boy, could she sing. >> i don't think it really matters how you dance if you can sing like whitney houston did. she was incredible. i watched "the bodyguard" again recently and just the music, the songs, the way she sang, the power and the range, we've seen some amazing singers. barbra streisand, aretha franklin, many of them, mariah carey, it's hard to think of anybody with the power and range of whitney houston. i'm being joined by j.d., executive editor of "people" magazine. i can't imagine there's a newspaper or magazine in the world right now anywhere that isn't changing headlines or front covers. what are you planning for this? >> well, certainly it's going to

be an enormous tribute. she was an international superstar. she influenced generations of singers. there's not a pop singer singing today who isn't deeply influenced by her. obviously as the hours go by and the days go on, we'll have a very detailed picture. in fact, we already do have a detailed picture of whitney's last days and hours. she was a troubled person as well as a brilliant artist. but i think what people want to focus on in magazines and the media in general is just the impact that she had. >> there's no doubt on twitter, i'm seeing a lot of people wanting to comment, wanting to pay tribute and feeling strongly that whatever issues she had this is not the time to dwell on them. they know everything will be raked over as it was with michael jackson, as it was with amy winehouse. the public will read this stuff, but for now, try and put in context for me how big a star

whitney houston was, and in the pantheon of musical stars. >> she's one of the top tier artists of the last century and going into this one, certainly in popular music, there are few female artists that achieved what she did. she's a multiple grammy winner, famous not just in north america but all over the world. her songs are still being lnled to and recorded. she had an enormous impact. this is a woman that any of the younger generation singers -- >> everyone i talked to in the business tonight, along with don lemon in atlanta, said the same thing really, about the massively increased pressure on performers these days, particularly ones who may be not quite at the level they once were. smokey robinson touched on this, simon cowell, all saying the nature of the modern media is so relentless.

the 24 hour news coverage, the internet, which didn't exist 20 years ago. twitter, facebook, everyone on the face has a camera. this for someone like whitney houston, who was the greatest singer in the world, and then began to lose some of that power through personal problems and so on, as she tried to fight back, to come back -- >> if you think about it, she was very early on a victim of this kind of news cycle and of reality television. for the first part of her career, and well into her career, she had a emaculate image. she was considered to be a good girl in popular music. and then through the 2000s with reality tv, we were exposed to a side of her that most people had never seen and that had a devastating impact, i'm sure. and that is a reality that artists that they didn't have in the '60s and '70s. >> i imagine it will be one of

the biggest selling issues for a long time. i'm just judging from the re reaction i'm getting. this is having the same impact of michael jackson's death on people all over the world. >> for many people, whitney houston is the soundtrack of their lives. people grew up with her. they look at their own life and hear her music. so yes, absolutely. >> thank you very much. >> thanks. >> much more on the breaking news, the tragic death of whitney houston at the age of 48 after this break. ttd#: 1-800-345-2550

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of 48, and it's still so stunning to believe that i'm sitting here reporting this tonight. whitney houston, 48 years old, found in a hotel in beverly hills, california. that song went to number one and sat there forever. one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. you heard from tommy metola. he said when he heard the initial recording, when clive davis brought it to him, he said this is one of the best songs ever recorded. they knew it was going to be a hit. it was a song that was written and performed by dolly parton and years later whitney houston did a remake of it for her movie "the bodyguard" and it became number one and stayed there. another brilliant performance when she sang the national anthem. it had never been sung like that before, and that national anthem song played on the radio and then topped the charts, as well. that just goes to show you what an amazing voice, an amazing

talent whitney houston had. had, wow. jane velez-mitchell joins us tonight from hln. she's at the beverly hilton. i can't believe i'm saying "had" in past tense, jane. what are you seeing there? >> well, this is such a sad and surreal feeling. fans have gathered, people have just found out about this and people are gathering to pay tribute. we have people over here lighting candles in honor and to pay tribute to whitney houston. and so many people have a personal connection. some just fans, some just loving her songs. many people talked about the national anthem. it's surreal because while we're gathered here and we're all somber, a stone's throw away, they're having this huge party. we can hear the music every so often. and that party is the annual pregrammy party that is hosted by whitney houston's mentor. and so a lot of people are

wondering how can that party go on? i think you summed it up when you said the show must go on. that is really the ethos of hollywood, hollywood in the greater sense, that the show must always go on. and i'm here with a woman who paper machet did demos, they were at a party when the word sprinkled through that whitney houston had passed. and you said the show must always go on, and this is what whitney would have wanted. this party to go on. tell me about that. >> this was one of her nights with her mentor, with clive davis and with everyone being at that party. now they have to turn it around to pay homage to you. it's really sad, but you have to go on. got to go on. >> again, the party going on. just a stone's throw away.

every so often we can hear the music, so it's very surreal that that's happening. and by the way, at the service entrance of this hotel, there are paparazzi and there's a police investigation car, as well. so it's a very interesting scene here and i want to thank you both for speaking and back to you. >> jane velez-mitchell, thank you. jane velez-mitchell there standing right next to the beverly hilton where whitney houston was -- sadly died earlier today. we want to go to catherine callaway, who is in atlanta and she's getting reactions from fans here in atlanta. go ahead, what are you seeing? >> reporter: hi. yes, we're here where there are a number of clubs. i have two fans of whitney houston here with me. and they have been waiting in the streets in cold weather to get into this club so they could share their thoughts. what were your thought when you found out? >> i couldn't believe it.

i thought it was a yolk when i saw it on facebook. but it's so sad. >> reporter: you said you've been listening to her music for a long time. >> i was hoping it wasn't true, but it's devastating for the music world that she's gone. >> reporter: do you have a favorite song of whitney houston? >> i really like all the songs she did in "the bodyguard" and "the preacher's wife" >> i want them to play "i will always love you" so i can sing along, off key. >> reporter: thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us today and have fun out there tonight. everyone's got whitney houston on the mind here and they are hoping to hear her music here in the club. i think a lot of people are still in shock. >> yeah. a lot of people are. most people are still in shock. thank you very much.

i appreciate that. we couldn't believe it, and we had been hearing about it for a while, that whitney houston had died, just for a few minutes and we were waiting for confirmation and still couldn't believe it. even when the words came out of my mouth when i had to utter them live to the world, i couldn't believe it. whitney houston, 48 years old. go ahead, catherine, are you there? >> reporter: i was thinking about listening to you guys talking about your favorite music, favorite songs and things that she had accomplished in her career. but do you remember when she sang the national anthem? >> oh, my gosh. we just talked about it. it was amazing. she made it a hit. it was on bill boards. they played it on the radio. >> reporter: right. >> things happen for a reason. what's her name, the first "american idol," i forget her name, i'm sorry right now. kelly clarkson.

sorry, clarkson. kelly clarkson sang the national anthem at the super bowl last weekend and i put it on my facebook page. >> i just thought about it. >> people would respond back saying she did a great job, but whitney houston did a great job, as well. and they would go back and forth sending me clips from whitney houston singing the national anthem. so you're right. >> reporter: it's just -- yeah, we had the same conversation at our house when we heard her singing. nobody could sing it as good as she did. what an incredible talent. she will so be missed and let's hope they pay tribute to her tomorrow night. >> thank you for bringing that up. piers morgan is standing by in los angeles. piers, you know what i'm talking about. kelly clarkson has an amazing voice, but people often compare, when you do a song that someone else has done well, they compare you to the person who many will say did it better.

but to be compared to whitney houston i'm sure is an honor to kelly clarkson having sung the national anthem a few days ago. >> don, i understand we have the great larry king, and i think that larry, you have with you jermaine jackson, is that right? >> i think we're going on now. >> larry, it's piers. can you hear me? >> i hear you fine. >> thanks for calling in. what is your reaction to the appallingly tragic death of whitney houston? >> well, it's a real tragedy, piers. in fact, are you coming to the party? >> no, i was supposed to be going, but i've come into cnn and we're just rolling with the breaking news. what is the mood there like, are you there? >> yeah, that's all everyone is talking about, piers. only talking about whitney houston and the sadness. it's semi festive and semi --

it's almost cerebral. it's surreal. i've never been at a party like this. you know, her remains are still in this hotel and they haven't removed them yet. crowds are outside. the room is packed. the show is about to start. we understand tony bennett is going to sing a special tribute to her. it's just really sad, piers. as you said so often tonight. this is not supposed to happen to people this young. the only other comparison i make is to judy garland who had those ups and downs and died tragically t about the same age as whitney. >> that's very true. i was thinking just in the last two or three years, we've lost michael jackson, elizabeth taylor, whitney houston, etta james, amy winehouse, all in different circumstances. but some really huge legendary stars, all dying in very

difficult circumstances. >> you know what it teaches us, piers? that we're all here on borrowed time, aren't we? i think we should wake up in the morning and say thanks. >> yeah. larry, i think we have got jermaine jackson on the line, as well. are you there? >> yes, i'm here, piers. >> thank you so much for calling in. i know that you knew whitney well. how are you feeling tonight? it's been a real bombshell to everyone. no one was expecting this. >> yes. it's a tragedy for me. i woke up this morning, and i was getting ready to make my flight back to l.a. and i turned on cnn, which i watch cnn all over the world and that's how i got the world. i'm just devastated because we go way back from the very beginnin