charlene israel traveled to raleigh to visit with one of her closest friends, shirley ceasar. >> the voice of an angel. [singing]. >> whitney houston rose to the top selling more than 170 million records worldwide. she became the only artist with 7 consecutive no. 1 billboard hits. with great fame came a big fall. the world watched her become tattered by drugs and alcohol. there was another side of whitney houston the world didn't see a woman that loved and desired god. >> we have lost an icon, a precious, precious jewel. >> houston looked up to gospel music legend shirley ceasar. >> she called me momma shirley. i was honored, yet, i wanted her life totally whole. >> many remember her for her secular music, houston had several gospel hits, most memorable for her role in a preacher's wife. having grown up in a christian home, ceasar says houston knew the faith she sang about. >> this girl knew that jesus loved her. she had such an anointing, if you will in her voice. >> years of drug and alcohol abuse greatly effected houston. many thought she was finished. ceasar says despite her str