tonight on "nightline" -- up and running. republican vice presidential candidate paul ryan makes his debut and draws huge crowds. can the controversial congressman shake things up for mitt romney. the race for the white house is full speed and obama fights back. plus, whitney last moments. she hoped "sparkle" would mark her comeback. tonight the cast and crew take a look inside the diva's last days. ♪ and swift return. golden girl taylor swift reveals her newist breakup anthem. and told us what inspired it.

♪ back together good evening. i'm sith thea mcfadden. it's official, it's two against two. with mitt romney's selection of paul ryan as his running mate. the race is on. turns out ryan's favorite movie "the good, the bad and the ugly" may become a theme of this year's campaign, as the heat gets turned up. already in iowa, just miles from president obama who hosted his own rally and the barbs are flying as our senior political correspondent jon karl reports. >> reporter: it's game on. the paul ryan pick is already generating more excitement and

some of the biggest crowds that mitt romney has ever seen. >> go! go! go! >> reporter: at the iowa state fair today he found excited supports. >> congratulations. hey. >> reporter: and a few loud and persistent hecklers. we were right in the middle of it all. >> -- from iowa -- >> reporter: the hecklers have come here from the romney supporters. but ryan didn't let that distract him, talking right over the shouting. >> i'm guessing the reason -- he only knows left turns. [ laughter ] >> reporter: as he worked his way through the fair, ryan avoided the funnel cakes and cotton candy and as the fitness buff who swears by the

challenging p-90x program. >> we can play stump the running mate later. >> reporter: what do you like about ryan? >> i think he's conservative. he's right on the money. >> reporter: and almost as many who still don't quite know who he is. what do you think of paul ryan? >> i have no idea. i don't know anything about him. >> i don't know what i think about him yet. >> reporter: what do you think about paul ryan? >> i don't like him. >> reporter: why not? >> because i'm a democrat. >> reporter: ryan is just 42 years old, he said his defining moment came when he was just 16 and found his dad dead of a heart attack, said he was dedicated making his dad proud. a 22-year-old intern, and then by 28, a congressman. he's done more than just talk about spending. he's put together a plan to

slice $6 trillion the next ten years. he actually enjoys looking through the budget for things to cut. >> i've been reading these things since i was 22 years old. you literally go through it line byly. >> reporter: and opposing seniors to buy private insurance yet. what do you say to these maybe weak-kneed republicans? >> they're a little wobbly. they're going to run the attack ads regardless. this is time for leaders to be leaders. >> reporter: now republicans from mitt romney all the way down are all in when it comes to idea. >> hello, iowa! >> reporter: president obama was also here, taking a shot at ryan leaving him to block for farm subsidies. >> paul ryan might be around in the next few days. he's one of the leaders of congress standing in the way. we've got to put politics aside when it comes to do the right

thing for rural america and iowa. >> reporter: and there's more to come. ryan has been the president's nerdy nemesis. starting with the health care bill three years ago. >> a bill that's full of gimmicks and smoke and mirrors. >> reporter: the following year at a republican conference turned into a at the time tet atet. >> we'll have a longer debate on the budget numbers there. >> reporter: and a hot mike at a fund-raiser caught president obama saying what he really thought about paul ryan. >> this is the voted for the prescription health care that cost as much as health care but wasn't paid for. >> reporter: he may be the number two on the republican ticket but ryan is quickly becoming target number one for

democrats. ryan says he's ready to do battle. and be armed with lots of numbers and a smile. for "nightline," jonathan karl at the i wall state fair. >> and things heat up. our thanks to jon karl from iowa tonight. and coming up, whitney houston had dreams of a comeback. backstage of the new film "sparkle" she cared so much. [ kyle ] my bad. [ roger ] tell me you have good insurance. yup, i've got... [ voice of dennis ] ...allstate. really? i was afraid you'd have some cut-rate policy. [ kyle ] nope, i've got... [ voice of dennis ] ...the allstate value plan. it's their most affordable car insurance -- and you still get an allstate agent. i too have... [ voice of dennis ]...allstate. [ roger ] same agent and everything. [ kyle ] it's like we're connected. no we're not. yeah we are. no...we're not. ♪ ask an allstate agent about the value plan. are you in good hands?

ask an allstate agent about the value plan. i wish i could keep it this way. [ male announcer ] even after a dental cleaning... plaque quickly starts to grow back. but new crest pro-health clinical plaque control toothpaste can help. it not only reduces plaque... it's also clinically proven... to help keep plaque from coming back. plus, it works in these other areas dentists check most. ♪ new crest pro-health clinical plaque control toothpaste. life opens up when you do. for extra plaque protection try new crest pro-health clinical rinse. hethey don't need one,gh

wes, clay and demarcus tried on the new depend real fit briefs for charity to prove how great the fit is even while playing pro football. the best protection now looks, fits and feels just like underwear. get a free sample and try one on for yourself. so, what's the problem? these are hot. we're shipping 'em everywhere. but we can't predict our shipping costs. dallas. detroit. different rates. well with us, it's the same flat rate. same flat rate. boston. boise? same flat rate. alabama. alaska? with priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service. if it fits, it ships anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. dude's good. dude's real good. dudes. priority mail flat rate boxes. starting at just $5.15. only from the postal service.

her death, but this weekend, whitney houston will be back on big screens across america starring in "sparkle" a film she

also helped co-produce. it was a project close to her heart. and those who worked with her say the whitney they saw on the set was different than the whitney with a tragic end. abc's deborah roberts reports. ♪ his eye his eye is on the shadow ♪ >> reporter: it's the emotional pinnacle any movie sides for. but this one, a tragedy. ♪ >> reporter: whitney houston, her voice battered but still beautiful, belting out "his eye's on the sparrow." her very last performance. the song res sonates with her o gospel roots before she came a giant star. six months after her death,

whitney's starring in "sparkle" a remake of her favorite film, one she would watch over and over as a teen back in the '70s. in a role that wants to be her much anticipated comeback, whitney plays a strict matriarch with three daughters. >> my babies. ♪ >> reporter: all gifted singers. she wants them to focus on school and god. they want stardom. the film was a dream project for whitney who helped bring it to life with deborah martin chase, her longtime friend and producing partner. together, they've had a string of hits, including "the princess diaries." "sparkle" was for them both. >> it was a first time we saw young women of color fabulous. and so when she mentioned 12 years ago, why don't we make "sparkle?" well, of course.

>> reporter: a lot happened. the project stalled when the r&b star aaliyah originally cast in the role died in a plane crash. then whitney spirals into a much publicized drug problem. were you worried whitney would rise to the occasion given her struggles? >> honestly. i never doubted she could do it. i knew her and i knew how much it meant to her. she both wanted it and needed. >> reporter: so last year when "sparkle" was finally ready to shoot, she said whitney was ready. taking on the role of no nonsense emma. >> i guess i'll be me. i will not encourage you to take your life to hell. >> reporter: whitney, the american breakout star who vowed us with that voice. >> she saw a lot of stuff in

jordin. started about the same age, thrust into the world in a big way. when she wasn't working, she'd go "i've got to come up and see my baby." >> reporter: and when jordin was there with the song "one wing" whitney was there. >> when i did "one wing" she was like, come here. she put her face in my hands and she was like, you're everything we're looking for. and i just completely lost it. ♪ >> reporter: but her most memorable moment would come in song with whitney. >> they got me celebrating. i loved the song. it was just so happy and joyful. and they said, why don't you do a duet. i was like, duet with who?

they said whitney, and i was like please let it happen. please let it happen. >> reporter: and it did. whitney would record the track on february 7th. four days later, she was dead. >> there were other times in her life had i gotten that call, i would have been devastated. but not totally surprised. it's the last thing i ever, ever thought. >> reporter: it was the night of the grammys. jordin was getting ready to walk the red carpet to approximately "sparkle" when the phone rang. >> i couldn't handle it. i was like, let's turn on the tv and it's there. there across the bottom, whitney houston passes away. it was like a movie where there was just no reaction. i couldn't move. i couldn't breathe. i couldn't say anything. and somebody had to sit me down

before i fell over. and i just lost it. i completely lost it. >> reporter: for deborah martin chase, is this a bittersweet day, she's releasing a treasured project without its biggest star. now, a haunting voice from the grave. a reminder of what went wrong. >> i feel like this is my gift to her. because this is what people will remember. they will remember her beautiful. and spiritual. and strong. and passionate. for this movie. ♪ >> reporter: i'm deborah roberts for "nightline" in los angeles. >> so much talent. "sparkle" opens this friday, august 17th. our thanks to deborah roberts. when we come back, taylor swift debuts her new song on youtube. "we are never ever getting back

together." our exclusive story behind the music. ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] start with a simple idea. think. drink coffee. hatch a design. kill the design. design something totally original. do it again. that's good. kick out the committees. call in the engineers. call in the car guys. call in the nerds. build a prototype. mold it. shape it. love it. give it 40 mpg. no, 41. give it a huge display. give it a starting price under 16 grand. take it to the car shows. get a celebrity endorser. he's perfect. "i am?" yes, you are. making a groundbreaking car. it's that easy. ♪ making a groundbreaking car. it's that easy. progressive saved me money on my car insurance for doing the right thing behind the wheel. what a concept. excuse me, sir, do you know how fast you were going? exactly 25 miles per hour. that makes you a safe driver. keep driving safe.

-are you serious? -absolutely. i couldn't help but notice, you applied your brakes smoothly and evenly. you know, progressive rewards safe drivers. think of this as a reward forward. thank you! nice -- you stopped at the stop sign. you qualify for a safe driver discount. wow! keep safe and keep saving. hey america, even though slisa rinna is wearing the new depend silhouette briefs for charity to prove how great the fit is even under a fantastic dress. the best protection now looks, fits and feels just like underwear. we invite you to get a free sample and try one on too.

taylor swift. to know her is to love her, or so say her millions of fans who love her heartfelt style and honest lyrics, famously calling

out even the guys who have done her wrong. in an exclusive interview, she tells me the story behind her new single which she debuted just hours ago. ♪ >> reporter: she's one of the biggest recording stars in the music business today. thanks to mega hits like "sparks fly." she's pocketed six grammys. >> and the grammy goes to taylor twist. >> reporter: she sold 22 million albums and was recently heralded by "forbes" magazine as the highest paid celebrity under the age of 30. all at the age of 22. taylor swift is as big as they come. just hours ago, legions of swift fans, she's got 17 million followers on twitter alone

logged into a webcast on youtube. >> i'm so excited, you guys. i wanted to tell you guys so many things for so long. i figured i'd tell you them all. i have a new album coming out october 22nd. >> reporter: then she literally lifted the curtain on her new album cover. >> you like it? [ applause ] >> i wrote a song called "red." and, you know, thinking about what that means to me and all the different emotions that are written about on this album, spanning from intense love, intense frustration, jealousy, confusion, all of that, in my mind, all of those emotions are red. >> reporter: fans get to hear the first public outing of her new single "we are never ever getting back together." ♪ >> reporter: i met up with her recently in nashville for an

upcoming "glamour" profile and "nightline" feature. here's a sneak peek of the story behind "we are never ever getting back together." tell me about writing it. >> "writing "we are never ever getting back together" was one of the most hilarious experiences i've ever had in a studio. i was writing with max martin and johan shellback. and this guy walks in, he's a friend of my ex's. and starts talking about how he's heard we're going to get back together. and that was not the case. and so when he leaves, max and johan are like, what's the story behind that? so i startling them the story just breakup, get back together. break up, get back together. break up get back together. and i picked up the guitar and

started singing "we are never." it just happened. >> reporter: the million dollar question with whom is she never ever getting back together? the fans know she never names names, but it doesn't mean they can't have fun guessing. her new single went on sale tonight. much more of my interview of taylor swift to come in "glamour" and "gma" and "nightline" this fall. we'll keep you posted. and finally, the passing of a legendary woman who knew a thing or two about breakups and makeups. the "cosmopolitan"et tour helen gurley brown died today at 90. her book was shocking with life as a career girl. she famously said good girls go to heaven, bad girls go both. thank you for watching. be se