Aretha Franklin On Whitney Houston's Shocking Death

NEW YORK — Aretha Franklin believed Whitney Houston had overcome her demons and was primed for a comeback, which made learning of the troubled singer's death all the more shocking.

Franklin said she was watching TV in her hotel room in Charlotte, N.C., when she learned of Houston's death in a hotel suite across the country in Beverly Hills, Calif.

"I was sitting on the side of the bed," she said in an interview on NBC's "Today" show Friday. "I just jumped up off the side of the bed: `What?! This could not be!'"

Franklin said she had seen recent video of Houston, "and she looked fresh, she looked healthy and she looked gorgeous. And I thought, `Yes, she has conquered her challenges and she's on the way.'"

Now her fans should remember Houston for her artistry, Franklin said, and not focus on the challenges she faced with substance abuse.

Recalling how Houston's smile made her eyes twinkle, Franklin then recited a poem she wrote in Houston's memory:

"Twinkle, twinkle superstar,

We don't wonder where you are.

Up above the world so bright,

Like a diamond in the night.

Twinkle, twinkle, she stood alone.

I can't believe that she's gone."

The Queen of Soul had long been a friend and mentor to Houston, who died last Saturday at the age of 48. She will sing at Houston's funeral Saturday in Newark, N.J.

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Comments

[mazzy1]

10:15 AM on 02/25/2012

what kind of fueral will Aretha have? the poem? They are not writers they are singers.......I still think whitney in the casket is a fake a model..

[Mailman]

12:09 AM on 02/25/2012

This funeral was so touching, oh that's right you didn't go.

[peachesmahoney]

07:53 PM on 02/24/2012

Maya Angelo is shaking in her boots.

[sacmom3]

01:22 AM on 02/25/2012

lol

[Ebony J Taylor]

07:48 PM on 02/24/2012

worst poem ever...

[amanandamouse]

02:22 PM on 02/24/2012

So is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in the public domain? I smell a law suit.

[misslege]

02:07 PM on 02/24/2012

I don't believe it. Not for a minute. I don't know why but I think if Aretha Franklin is not the CENTER of attention, she's just not interested. And that poem is BS.

[hotradiodj]

09:11 AM on 02/24/2012

Everyone was anticipating hearing Aretha's tribute to Whitney. Sad occasion. Something to look forward to, but it didn't happen. Allow the family time to privately mourn a family member and friend without disrespect and intrusion. Please?

[beverly149]

07:22 PM on 02/24/2012

I have never come across such an immature and childish post! What rock did you come out from to compose such a witty tune? When you are ready to act like an adult, and show some dignity and yes, respect, then you can post something inteligent. Maybe your song would be something that Elivis' fans would like. Posters, flag this as post under disrespectful.

[AmericanLeslie]

01:06 PM on 02/23/2012

"...fans should remember Houston for her artistry, Franklin said, and not focus on the challenges she faced with substance abuse."

Thanks Aretha! Too bad many of the posters here are not equally as kind in their comments regarding you and/or Whitney.

[FloridaLAW]

02:56 PM on 02/24/2012

I'm a great fan of the Queen but why did she have to make herself the center of attention on this? First by agreeing to perform and then not show up only to perform later that night? Really? Now she's out giving interviews about Whitney and having to walk back her statements regarding Whitney's upbringing etc. I mean the family is still in their hour of bereavement, she can show them the most respect by not saying anything else at all at this point. She's actually hurting her own image at this point.

[scorpioleidy]

12:26 PM on 02/23/2012

So ... how's the leg, Aretha? Did you elevate it Friday night AFTER your concert and then again Saturday night AFTER your second concert? Remember, you have to follow your doctor's orders ... otherwise you mis.s out on important things ... I dunno ... like your G.oddaughter's funeral. But nevermind all that, right?

Actually, I've since heard that her "opening up" about Whitney is supposedly why she was uninvited last weekend. Maybe she ought to just keep quiet for now.

[dallas5100]

07:07 AM on 02/23/2012

admit it.. your not into funerals.. plain and simple no funerals.. you just about have your own life pulled together.. lots of strength needed there.. plus preforming.. your plain tuckered out.. losing all that weight.. is difficult..we all survive in our own ways..

[jokamachi]

04:59 PM on 02/22/2012

Not to bust on the creative process or anything... but that poem needs a bit of work.

[krallfan]

02:09 AM on 02/23/2012

I know right? I could have written that and I don't have any musical talent whatsoever. Its kind of a let down when the legendary Aretha Franklin writes something so 3rd grade. She should not have shared that with anyone.

[Veronica]

05:05 AM on 02/23/2012

I'm not usually one for sniping at celebs, but yeah...that "poem" belongs on someone's fridge. Written in crayon. Really, Aretha?

[Realtor n VA]

02:45 PM on 02/22/2012

Ah, her poem doesn't rhyme! Just saying.....

[AmericanLeslie]

12:36 PM on 02/23/2012

That many poems don't rhyme - and that poems are not required to rhyme - is factual information usually learned in middle school. .

[mollynova]

09:04 AM on 02/25/2012

True, but if the poem 'mostly' rhymes until you hit one line or two then a complaint is valid. Make up your mind. Will it being rhyming or free form? Combining them just irritates folks.

[harriettubman]

02:02 PM on 02/22/2012

With each celebrity and regular person's death from addiction, there are lessons to be learned. 1) Is not enabling. 2) Not hiding it and pretending it didn't exist 3) Talk to kids early about the perils.

In so many pictures we see Whitney's minor child clubbing with her. What is that all about? And to think people are worried about Bobbie K. being an addict too. Hers started years ago when she didn't have any discipline, rules, boundaries, saw her parents doing it and that has become so normal to her like brushing her teeth. The Houston family is going to have a very difficult time changing BK's lifelong habits at just 18 but they need to acknowlege and not ignore it now.

I was from the Whitney era too, appreciated her wonderful talent but also realized she was an addict. Some people don't realize that many addicts hit rock bottom and it is death, not losing material things but their life.

[krallfan]

02:14 AM on 02/23/2012

I don't think they are pretending that it does not exist.

You cannot make people go to rehab. I believe that Cissy forced Whitney into rehab when she took custody of BK. She could not make Whitney continue to go.

I was talking with a police officer last night and he told me that rehab is only 25% successful the first time people go. You have to go multiple times to get clean and you must change your lifestyle. He told me that hard drugs alter your brain chemistry and your body hungers for the drug. It sounds like its best not start it at all because it is not likely that you will beat it. The deck was stacked against Whitney the day she decide to do drugs and that is truly unfortunate.

[kalima1]

03:09 AM on 02/22/2012

that is not a very flattering picture of the queen of soul.

[eden4barack08]

11:49 AM on 02/22/2012

This is part of the problem which drives celebrities to self destructive extremes.
Judgemental people like you who expect them to always look young, perfect, pristine and never change. They are HUMAN, just like everybody else! They age and when they're not on stage or performing they couldn't care less about looking perfect, they are NORMAL.

It's time for people to stop putting this kind of unrealistic expectations and pressures on celebrities. Appreciate their talent if you like' em, but leave them ALONE for the rest!

[AmericanLeslie]

12:59 PM on 02/23/2012

F&F & THANK YOU!

Aretha Franklin is 70 years old...she's been singing professionally for more than 55 years...has earned 18 Grammy awards...has delivered thousands of performances world-wide...has had 20 number one hit singles...was a prominent activist in the Civil Rights Movement...AND has fans numbering in the multi-millions.

Meanwhile, kalima1- the author of the "that is not a very flattering picture of the queen of soul" comment has a grant total of 10 fans...no photo posted...far less impressive credentials...and is not universally recognized as the queen of anything.

[FloridaLAW]

03:00 PM on 02/24/2012

I think what Kalima is saying is that HP could have found a better photo. Sometimes you can use an unflattering photo to make a person look bad. The fact that Kalima referred to her respectfully as the QOS is an indication that no insult was intended.