that does it for this edition of 360. thanks for watching. tonight on the eve of the final farewell to whitney houston, superstar b.b. winans. >> it caught us off guard, but it didn't catch god off guard. >> linsanity -- and more of my exclusive interview with ricky

gervais. >> many people are offended because you exist. plus an exclusive tribute to whitney houston. ♪ no matter what they take from me ♪ ♪ they can't take away my dignity ♪ >> this is piers morgan tonight. >> a big story tonight saying goodbye to whitney houston, a family using of the superstar's body today. >> flags in new jersey are flying at half staff to honor whitney. i'll talk to governor chris christie about that.

and more of my interview with ricky gervais. >> at least he can use expressions, most of them are too botoxed out, you can't tell if they're smiling or not. >> jason, you're outside the church in new jersey, tell me about what you can expect tomorrow. >> well, first let's set the stage in terms of what's happening out here in new jersey. i can tell you that just about ten minutes away from here, piers, at the funeral home, a private viewing is taking place this evening. i know that members of the houston family have already shown up, also we're told, clive davis has shown up, this is a private viewing, just for family and very close friends. when i was at the funeral home a little bit earlier, i could see that the street had been blocked off. at the side of the funeral home, a white tent has been set up here so family and friends can

have the privacy they need at this very sensitive time. preparations are already underway for tomorrow's funeral. and we have seen a number of people coming and going. members of the public, the funeral of course here tomorrow at noon will be private, for some 1,500 guests that have been invited, the who's who of who will be performing tomorrow is already starting to develop. we know that aretha franklin will be performing, stevie wonder also on the list, alicia keys will be lending her voice as well. kevin costner will be on hand to deliver a speech and there's been so much speculation as to whether bobby brown would attend or not.

he will be here tomorrow as well. other notable shaka kahn. this will be a private ceremony with invite only, police will be asking those who are not invited to stay away. police are recommending for the public if they want to pay their respects, they say they should do it by watching at home. >> i can imagine that despite that, there will be pretty big crowds tomorrow, us will be quite an occasion. one of the guests at whitney's funeral will be new jersey's governor chris christie. i talked to him about one of new jersey's favorite daughters. >> this was a jersey girl, she wore it on her sleeve, she was born here, she came back and lived here after she was a great star. she came back and supported schools. she cared about where she came from and now she's being laid to rest where she came from.

and she made great contributions to this state, to this culture. i understand that people may differ on this. i don't for a second doubt the reason i did this. >> that's part of my interview with chris christie on tuesday night. >> and i want to bring in b.b. winans. ♪ when i'm gone please carry on ♪ ♪ don't cry for me ♪ >> joining me now is b.b. winans.

of all the people i have talked to this, nobody knew her better than her family. and even looking at the pictures of whitney, you already have finding it very hard to come on and talk about this. hearing whitney say don't cry for me, what does that bring to your mind? >> memories, pleasant memories. the first verse she says is no one is to blame, my death is up meant to be. don't cry for me. >> you wrote this song? >> i actually wrote it and i was going to sing it myself, but c.c. said, no, that's any song. >> she's going to sing it tomorrow. >> she's going to try to sing it tomorrow. it's so difficult, because she was more than just a voice to us, she became a sister.

and the shock is wearing off and now it's the reality. our faith and our family an friends, we're going to pull through. >> it's an incredible family affair for the winans. you were really close to whitney. you all have been following the coverage, the speculation and everything else. what do you make of it all, as somebody who knew her really well. what is the truth about whitney in the last ten years, go you think? the truth about whitney, you have the client and the therapist's respectful

privileges, but i'll say this, and that is the reality of friendship, true friendship. is safety. so we have been able to talk about everything, the ups and the good and the bad and the ugly. and one of the reasons i think we became so close is that she felt safety, she felt like what i say to you is going to stay here. now in that, piers, there's truth. we're mourning right now, and then we'll deal with the others a little later.

>> my observation got what was going on in whitney's life is that she seems to have had so many people that loved and cared for her. and yet her life, from what we're reading and hearing about the last week in particular came to be slightly out of control. the argument goes that she was very strong willed and this was the life she wanted to lead. was that your sense about whitney? >> was she strong willed? she knew who she was and she was grown. but we -- our relationship -- i could tell, whitney used to always say to me. you think you're my father. and i would answer, i am. i'm older than whitney and c.c. is a year younger than whitney. and we used to tell each other what to do. and she would listen. if whitney trusted you, she would listen to everything you had to say. and i think that's with everyone.

>> were you as shocked as other people. was there a sense of inevitability? >> i think the shock is great because we walked through, i think a darker valley. five, ten years ago. and so at this point in time, it was, oh, we're making it through the storm, but i think more than -- i lost my brother at the age of 48. it's just hard to wrap our minds and accept lower numbers. we can accept when people die at younger ages. we believe we're going to grow

old together, and we believe with this beautiful lady that we would grow old together. and the reality is now, i have to let go. that reality, she'll live in our hearts and the fond memories get us through this difficult time. but i have to let go of what we thought we would do. >> did she find superstardom very hard to deal with? >> she tried to run away from it. it's wild to one day wake up and the whole world is chasing you. and one of the things she realized, i'll say this, she had just played me, "i will always love you" in the hotel room. and i said, whitney, that's going to be incredible, it's going to be huge. she looked at me and said, oh, i knew it. i said why are you sighing?

why are you acting like that? she said, b.b., because the same people who are applauding me with this, are going to be the same people who are going to throw darts at me. and when you understand that reality, you don't want that. >> aretha franklin repeated a few people, baby face came in here earlier this week and told me this too u one of the big -- she went to the soul train awards and she was booed for the first time by an audience because they had had enough of whitney. do you remember that time? >> yes, i remember that time. and that makes me laugh. i thank you for the laugh because it was difficult. like i was saying, it was difficult for her to be said that she wasn't black off. and we would talk about this, and we would laugh at her and

she was almost sometimes in tears, why are you laughing, girl, please, let's just cry all the way to the bank is what i would say. it really did hurt. so when we sing together at the image awards, it was really her chance to prove i'm black enough. >> let's take a little break. let's come back and talk more of whitney, and also about her daughter, because your sister is her girlfriend. >> yeah. yeah. [ female announcer ] introducing coffee-mate natural bliss.

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♪ that's b.b. winans' sister, whitney's friend singing whitney's song. >> it is, it's enjoyable to see that because we have something

that we can go back to and relive. she gave us plenty of memories, some were on camera, some we have some great moments but in my heart and in my mind, we have so many great, great moments. >> there's been a lot of concern about her, is she okay? >> she's okay, and he's going to make it through, all of us can understand, i love my mom and i lost my father two years ago, the world shifts when you lose a parent. at this time, even at my age, when i lose my mother -- to lose

someone that she absolutely adored, it's difficult, she has her grandmother and she has c.c. that loves her like a mother. and various family members who will surround her. it's going to take some time. but she will be fine. >> there's suggestions by the family that bobby shouldn't be at the funeral, what do you think about it? >> i think it's important. one of the things that they said they were going to do, they being the family was to give my sister a home going that she would want.

and she would want him there -- it was never, people get things first, but they get it incorrect. you know, he was always invited and i'm glad he'll be there because he should be there. >> people rush to blame bobby brown. but others have said to me, that's not right, because she has said other things before she met bobby brown. >> i think i could go right back to that lyric in "don't cry for me" where she sings, no one is to blame, my death was meant to be. this didn't catch, it caught us off guard, but it didn't catch god off guard and that's who we both believe in, i can't put the blame on him, i can't put the blame on her.

there's enough blame to go around, but at the same time, no one is to blame. >> did you ever doubt that she loved bobby brown? >> you know, you're funny, you're good. i remember the first interview you did with my friend oprah, she said you were good. and the reason why i laugh, why i chuckle, whitney made a pact and she told me and c.c. i'm not going to do anything unless you're there, get married, or whatever. important steps, and so they tried to get me to come to las vegas one time and i said no, i can't. and then the phone rang and it was whitney, and she said now messed things up. what do you mean i messed things up? i was getting married in las vegas and you didn't come. well you should have told me and i would have come.

she fell in love. she knew we were going to talk about it and we were going to talk about any and everything about the situation. and when she made up her mind, we said, hey, we're there. you're going to -- cc. is going to marry me, and -- >> the song that we played in, hold up the light. one of the lyrics says, boys and girls can't you see, the kind of friend that crack can be. a very pressing line, really, whitney always said publicly that she never got into crack. she did a lot of drugs and stuff. did you ever try to save her, perhaps, when it came to the drugs? >> i will be very honest, i have to be honest, whitney never did drugs in front of me. >> right. >> so i can't say that she did drugs.

i really can't. >> tomorrow's going to be an extraordinary affair, i'm co-anchoring with -- we're feeling emotional about it and we didn't even know whitney. i didn't. and for you, you're going to be singing in front of hundreds of people in the world. every network, you're singing with a cast including alicia keys, stevie wonder, aretha franklin, by a horrible default, the biggest singing experience you're ever going to have in your life. you must be nervous, how yes you feeling about this? >> not nervous at all when you talk about people, these are people that we were blessed to meet early on and we became family.

that's not the nervous part for me. i want to do my best, the only thing i'm scared of is if i start crying. if start crying, i won't get through it. but the people there, we're family, so we will have a good time even through the tears, but i'm not nervous at all. >> when you get up to sing, what will you be thinking about when it comes to whitney? >> honestly i'll be thinking and this is full circle for me because the first day we met, she was opening for jeffrey osborne. and when she came out from the back, i told her this, i said i don't want to know your full name. i just want to know what church you started singing in and she came up and said new hope baptist.

so tomorrow i'll be at new hope baptist, singing for her, singer her away. that's where my mind will be. >> i'll be outside, wishing you all the best in the world that you would like to give to your sister. b.b. winans. coming up later, a choir remembers whitney houston. and congresswoman mary bernard mack on the fbi plot. and the use of prescription drugs and how it relates to what happened to whitney houston.io of ingredients... i know you're gonna love. [ barks ] yes, it's beneful healthy fiesta. made with wholesome grains, real chicken, even accents of tomato and avocado. yeah! come on! [ barking ] gotta love the protein for muscles-- whoo-hoo!

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there's no official word on what caused whitney houston's death. the spotlight has now reached to washington. joining us now is the co-chairwoman of the caucus on prescription drug use. i know you've been campaigning about this for quite some time. before we get to whitney houston and to the possible involvement of prescription drugs, there's an extraordinary story of the fbi arresting a man reportedly planning a suicide attack near capitol hill.

>> we need to remain vigilant always, i we need to congratulate and appreciate your law enforcement agencies. and we have to recognize that there are dangerous times right now around the world. it is still not a safe place to be, we'll watch these details as they don't to unfold, but it's -- >> there seems to be an extraordinary sting operation where the man believed that he was wired as a suicide bomber. a lucky escape by the sound of it. >> there's no doubt, but it really shows that there's a lot of work in our intelligence efforts, they have to sometimes set these things for months on end. i think clearly we're extremely lucky they got this guy. scary stuff, but also we need to

congratulate them for a job well done in this instance. >> it's a great victory for the fbi today. let's turn to whitney houston, because you have campaigned about this issue of prescription drugs for quite some time, there clearly is going to be some link between whitney's death and prescription drugs, we know that xanax was found in her hotel room. tell us about what you've been doing and drugs like xanax are so contentious. >> first and foremost, any time you want to talk about prevention and treatment of any sort of drug or alcohol issue, you have to start by admitting there's a problem. just because drugs come in a nice, brown little bottle does not mean that they're safe. and since i have spoken publicly about this issue, i have spoken to so many mothers and fathers who have lost their children to accidental drug overdoses. and we need to wake up and realize that there's definitely an epidemic.

>> more now die from drug overdoses than in car accidents. they have now switched positions and, you know, i think that we can really focus on this. it's not going to take a lot of government money or government programs, it's a matter of reassessing and making our programs be more efficient. and i think if we attack this problem, we can change those numbers and we can really save american lives very easily, if first and foremost, we admit there's a problem. >> it certainly seems to be a particular issue in places like los angeles, where there are many celebrities there who go doc shopping, who have quite a few doctors on the go and can get prescriptions from any number of them and they don't really have a handle on how many they have in totality. >> doctor shopping is very prevalent in american society. i would even suggest that no

american family is immune to this disease, this prescription drug epidemic and this disease. it's throughout america. my problem is we have a dea, we have an fda, we have a whole supply chain that is supposed to restrict these very powerful narcotics, yet they're still ending up in the hands of our children, something is wrong and we need to examine what is wrong that is causing our children to become addicted to these very, very powerful drugs. >> cnn is running a whole investigative stuff next week. coming up, the second happiest man in world sports, that's jeremy lin's agent.

today i'll be teaching you how to get into harvard. oh, shoot, i forgot my books. >> nine times eight? >> 72. >> if you already have glasses, get bigger glasses. >> even when i got rejected stanford, i was pretty disappointed and crushed because that was my dream school, but looking back, i realize that god had a plan for me. >> jeremy lin is storming the

world of sports. even back then, he knew he was destined for greatness. joining me now is the second happiest man on the atlanta. roger, how happy are you? >> i'm greet. >> i bet you are. you must be the most jubilant man on god's green earth. >> you used to play basketball. you played in europe. so you had that dream, too? >> correct. >> so you've lived jeremy's peaks and troughs here and he's had an extraordinary few months where he's dumped by the warriors and the rockets and he must be thinking, this just isn't going to work for me. when he got here, obviously he was. given a chance to get on the floor.

>> did you know how good he really was? >> i did. >> because you played yourself? >> i like to think because i played myself, it's not just the big things, you look at the small things as well. i was able to look at some things that people overlook. >> he's tebow of basketball. and that's very, very important to him. tell me why that -- >> that's part of the reason why we're connected because we do believe that god has put us both

here for this particular time, for this opportunity. i don't think he would have been able to get through the trials that he's had if not for his faith in god. >> he's got a sense of humor. he's clearly very smart. he's funny, he's self aware, and he's got on amazing talent. there must be some flaws. does he pick his nose or what? >> he's a jokester when you get to know him. he likes to have a good time. jeremy is a good guy. >> i loved the clip on youtube of kobe bryant being told about jeremy after the first two or three games he played, where he took off. and looking like, who is this guy? who is this? who are you telling me about? and of course he spread against

the lakers and absolutely played kobe off the bench. he is the genuine deal, isn't he? >> he is, i mean he is and people were trying to speculate as to whether or not he would be able to keep it up. and you don't do what he's able to do and not be a legitimate player. >> what is the biggest offer that you have so far had for jeremy lin? >> i have had too many to -- >> what is the highest i'm not being vague, because what we haven't done is we really haven't invented an offer that we're really, really serious about. >> give me a taste of this, if it ever happened to me, people saying i'll give you a million? two million?

>> that's very possible. >> you have had higher ones? >> i have had offers in that range. >> just like commercials or whatever. >> just to sell products. goods and services, you know. >> so you're getting inundated, he's playing better and better. how do you strategically mag this. how do you keep both of your feet on the ground and how do you go with that going forward. the reality of the situation is that we're not going to jump out the gate and try to conquer the world and try to do everything. and to a man, the team, we focus on the engine.

the engine is the new york knicks, the biggest endorsement that he has to date is being the point guard for the new york knicks. >> you must be enjoying this, aren't you? is this the greatest moment of your career? >> it is. from the standpoint that i'm getting a chance to see a player that i represent really, really maximize his potential and his talent. this is a unique situation and i'm excited about it on a different level because rarely do you see your player absolutely play 100%. >> thank you for coming in, you've obviously backed a winner, he seems a great guy. i love everything i hear about him. and as a knicks fan, great news. >> thank you. >> thanks roger. coming up, more from my interview from a man who's got hollywood quaking in its boots, ricky gervais.

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will be giving away passafree copies of the alcoholism & addiction cure. to get yours, go to ssagesmalibubook.com. now, more from my interview with the man all hollywood trembles at, ricky gervais. he's turned award shows into something like torture for celebrities. congratulations.

>> the first time, they went, why is he saying all these awful things. and the second him, they said, i get it. those are jokes. did you want them to take it badly? >> no, and i didn't think i said anything bad the first time. and they're jokes. i cherish the gasps. they're just as good. >> not everybody seemed to enjoy your jokes as much as others. sir elton didn't seem massively enthusiastic. >> he had a grumpy look on his face. at least he can use expressions. they're so botoxed up. i made a decision both years, you don't pander to the people in the room. there's 200 million people watching at home. you want everyone to enjoy it, but you know, it's not a spectator sport, an awards show, and i try to make it one. it was my favorite one t was my

favorite one. i really, really enjoyed it. i thought they were a lot lighter and cooler about the whole process. >> i tweeted on the night, i have shown a picture of how joyous you felt the moment you heard jodie foster and mel gibson were making a movie called "the beaver." >> too easy. >> it's what they call a home run, knocking it out of the park. >> too easy. >> i think you are single-handedly changing the way all americans feel about awards ceremonies. when i first came out here, they were the most sickening, back slapping events imaginably, four or five hours, telling people how great they are. you have pricked that balloon s spectacularly, they can't go back. >> it's fine if they want a mutual back slapping session, but don't televise it because it's nothing for the people at home.

i admire a lot of them, and also, it was general ripping. it wasn't me trying to undermine the moral fabric of america. they were gags, and it shows how badly the so-called offended stars took it. johnny depp is in the new series. they were cool about it. i think the same as everything, okay. it's people offended on someone else's behalf. you talk to the person, they said, i was fine about it. >> do you have a moral code yourself? >> of course, i do. >> how would you define it? >> you can't, because it's not from a set menu. unlike religion, i don't have a set menu. >> have you tested yourself? what's your litmus test? >> you can't. i have to sleep at home. and this is the thing about offense. it's not right or wrong. it's about feelings. and feelings are personal. so i'll give you an example. i did a stand-up tour here and i make jokes, ironically, i might say, i play a character where i

come down on the wrong side about third-world famine, cancer, the holocaust, aids. these subjects, and this is the problem with dealing with taboo, some people, when they hear any taboo subject, they mistake the target of the joke with the subject of the joke. you could make a joke about race without being racist. the reason i don't like actual racist jokes is not because they're offensive. they're not funny because they're based on a falsehood. they're like, he's talking about a subject. it's terrible. i did this gig with all of those subjects got a letter from someone who said i enjoyed the gig. we were laughing all the way through, except we didn't appreciate the jokes about the holocaust. they knew the jokes about famine were a joke, about cancer were a joke. that was too much for them.

that's the problem with personal feelings. you can't turn it off. you can't be objective. >> some people would say that things like the holocaust should never be a subject for any type of humor. >> it depends on the joke is. it's as simple as that. you can tell a right on joke about the holocaust, like you can tell a right on joke about anything. it depends, it comes from a good or bad place, and you have to know what you're doing. i like walking the tightrope and the gasp coming and then people realizes it's okay. no bad, no bad at all can come from discussing taboo subjects. it's where it comes from and how it's discussed, and i think i have always done it, and things like in the office, it was clear because it was a character when david went over and, you know, the only black guy there, he went, i love sidney poitier, they knew he was uncomfortable as compared to racist.

when they said they should be tests, stick needles in them to see if they're disabled, they know, but when it's your own name, they get confused. clever people know, there's irony, where the satire is, and you can't legislate against stupidity. i don't apologize for people not getting it, if anyone gets it, it's gettable. there's always going to be someone who is offended by what you say. many people are offended because you exist, particularly you. again, i have read the forums. but what are we meant to do? >> that was the ever audacious ricky gervais, and a special only in america. a heart felt tribute to whitney houston from some of her talented fans. ♪ at least i live as i believe

♪ no matter what they take from me they can't take away my dignity ♪

tonight, only in america is a special tribute to an all-american diva. some songs by everyone from lady gaga to the velvet underground, and they have come together for piers morgan tonight to pay tribute to whitney houston. here they are, the students of the ps 22 fifth grade chorus

singing one of whitney's greatest songs, "the greatest love of all" only in america. ♪ ooh ooh ♪ i believe the children are our future teach them well and let them lead the way ♪ ♪ show them all the beauty they possess inside ♪ ♪ give them a sense of pride to make it easier ♪ ♪ let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be ♪ ♪ everybody's searching for a

hero people need someone to look up to ♪ ♪ never found everyone to fulfill my need ♪ ♪ a lonely place to be so i learned to depend on me ♪ ♪ i decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadow ♪ ♪ if i fail if i succeed at least i live as i believe ♪ ♪ no matter what they take from me they can't take away my dignity ♪ ♪ because the greatest love of all is happening to me ♪ ♪ i've found the greatest love of all inside of me ♪

♪ the greatest of all is easy to achieve ♪ ♪ learning to love yourself it is the greatest love of all ♪ ♪ and if i chance that special place that you've been dreaming of ♪ ♪ lead you to a lonely place find your chance in love ♪