farewell, i talk to one of the gospel singers that raised the roof and knowing about addiction, pat o'brien. and the top democrat says this election is for sale, all about the super pacs, russ feingold. one of the funniest men in show business, see if corelle, and -- steve corelle. >> it's much more funny to be rich and famous. >> i was thinking ron paul is short of a -- >> legendary funny man, steve carell and david steinberg and a tribute to a real all american hero on piers morgan tonight. good evening. our big story tonight, whitney houston, fallen diva laid to rest, buried by side her father in a new jersey cemetery and about the extraordinary performance at the funeral and the song the family asked him to sing and pat o'brien and talking about whitney and his own struggle with addiction and david carell and steinberg. >> are you a funny person by nature? >> as evidenced by this interview, no. clearly not. i don't light up a room. i wasn't the person who can hold court and not a stand-up. i'm not proficient at that at all. >> that's coming up. we begin with whitney houston's final fare

pat o'brien knows about that, a former anchor for "entertainment weekly" and joins me now. >> nice to see you. >> what do you make of the whitney houston story, woman blessed with incredible voice, early addiction, shockingly early death. what do you think? >> i think with all these cases, it's matter of she paid the price for what she thought she used to want. here she was -- i knew witness from the beginning, i interviewed her from the beginning. i watched her go into this diva world and loved her and part of hollywood. let's point out this isn't just about celebrities. there are 100,000 people who die of drugs and alcohol during a year. 20 will die while we're sitting here. it's not just about her. that does give us a schematic how these things happen. >> whitney did change over the years. i think that much is known. i've heard conflicting reports about her upbringing and background. some people said to me, look, don't misconstrue the bobby brown corruption element to this because she was already up to no good before she met bobby brown. she was party girl before she met him. do yo

there's the king hats in the courtyard of pat o'brien's, one of the coolest spots in new orleans.i gras unless there's king cake. we've got the staff here. they've got their beads on. they're ready for some king cake here. huge event. >> you lived there for quite a while. that's why you're such an expert. >> absolutely. >> drop some knowledge on us about mardi gras. >> mardi gras's always 47 days before easter. tomorrow starts ash wednesday, the season of lent when people are supposed to give up something, catholics. it is not official holiday in louisiana. so government's closed, schools are closed today for mardi gras. it's a very big deal. if you get hit in the face in one of the parades with one of these coconuts or the beads and get scratched or lose a tooth as people have, you cannot sue in the state because it is an assumed liability. when you hear the parade and get knocked out, you're on your own. you do what? >> they come flying, too. >> people hurl that stuff. it's so true. and also despite what you see on bourbon street it's not all about the women showing their whatev

pat warren has more on a possible referendum. >> reporter: cardinal o'brien denounces same-sex marriage and that the archdiocese will engage the 5,000 members in overturning the radical legislation. other churches will join the praying. on the other side, marylanders for marriage equality will romp up theirpedia blitz. after years of targeting lawmakers. opponents and supporters take the fight to the people. it appears the people are ready to vote. >> i think everybody should have an input. >> yes. they have done their part. >> i think that we should have a say. i think that we're entitled to a say. >> i think that avenue should have vote on that. >> a lot of times, the officials are not doing what the people want. >> so it is coming from the people and not bureaucrats. >> would you sign a petition to put it on the ballot. >> yes. >> reporter: and tholes believe that voters should not be judged. >> you are not to judge people, period. it is not right. >> reporter: the front lines. >> i feel like our lives are not an "american idol" contest. the validation of our family's respectn't shou

pat toomey. the crowd went wild. they're not excited, they gets what's happening. i do need to give kudos though this network xwrasting live, as so many of the other networks. >> soledad o'brien there in the morning. you look -- he makes a good point. voter turnout was down compared to four years ago, but i thought it was you, donna. i know you're a strong ardent democrat, the president is by no means a shoo-in. i'm confident -- we all know that it's going to be a tough headwind, but i'm confident because the conservatives right now are restless. they want a chan, somebody who can throw the ball -- throw the ball -- that's a football metaphor, let me make sure. all right i love you for that. but they want to throw the ball. they want somebody who can help them run the plays, speak their language, know that are values. they're not looking for a moderate, just somebody who is electable, acceptable, but somebody who can fight for them. >> mitt romney, he was a darling of the c pac conference four years ago. he's going to be speaking there tomorrow. what does he need to do tomorrow to win this crowd over? by all accounts he's poised to get that nomination. he needs to show the cr