Janet Jackson On Whitney Houston’s Death: “I Don’t Want To Believe It”

Celine Dion shared a few stern words on ‘Good Morning America’ regarding the late Whitney Houston’s reckless behaviour but another diva was a far more gentle when discussing their fallen peer. Janet Jackson has filmed an interview for ’Anderson’ and revealed that she is still utterly shocked by the passing of her friend.

Jackson praised Houston for her voice in the early 1980s and 1990s but what really impressed her about Houston was her relatable personality. Of course, Jackson also lost an equally famous family member – her brother Michael Jackson – so she had some helpful advice to share with Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina regarding how to deal with such trauma.

This special episode of ‘Anderson’ will air on February 20th. Read transcribed excerpts from the show below:

Janet on Whitney Houston Passing

Anderson: We’ve all been kind of reeling from the death of whitney Houston. When you heard the news, what did you think?

Janet: I couldn’t believe it. Immediately I started shaking. I was trying to text everyone that I knew to let them know and I was speechless. I could not believe it.

Anderson: Where were you when you heard the news?

I was home. Here. I just so happened to be watching TV and I saw this newsflash and I still cant believe it when I hear them playing tribute to her on the radio. It’s still such a shock to me. I don’t want to believe it.

Janet on Whitney As A Performer

Anderson: We’ve all been kind of re-listening to her and her performance singing the Star Spangeld Banner. To you, what was she like as a performer?

Janet: Incredible. She was known as The Voice. When she would open her mouth and this instrument would come out you would obviously understand why. She was such a sweet sweet soul. Especially back in early 80s and early 90s is when I connected with Whitney the most.

It doesn’t matter if we were doing an awards show. We would always take the time out to find one another. Either she’d come to my dressing room to say hey and I’d be in makeup or I’d find her in her dressing room to say hey, we always found time to talk to one another. She was such a sweet soul.

Janet on Praying For Whitney’s Family

Anderson: My thoughts obviously and I think everybody is with her daughter Bobby Kristina, who has just got to be reeling.

Janet: It’s very, very devastating and I pray for her and her family, even Bobby. I mean he’s going through so much.  They are all going through so much. The mother, it’s very sad.

Anderson: Her mother spoke with her a short time before she passed and again for a parent to outlive a child is just the worst thing there is.

Janet’s Advice to Bobby Kristina

Anderson: What advice do you have for her family for her kid. For her child?

Janet: It’s a very very tough time. Even though it’s still a loss. I lost my brother, she lost her mother. There’s still a difference, even though there’s a still a loss to a family, I don’t know what that’s like being so young. It was hard for me. It was very very difficult for me. I didn’t want to accept it, it’s very difficult.

You have to come to terms at some point, you have to actually give it up to God and it sounds so mean but you have to move on you can’t hold onto that because it can be very devastating. Sometimes therapy is the best thing.

Anderson:  TV People always use that word closure when they are talking about loss, as someone who has lost family members as well, I don’t think there is such a thing as closure. I think that’s a made up TV word.

Janet: No, I don’t think there is either, but you have to go on with life. You figure out a way to move on. It’s always right here. There’s never a day, not one day has gone by where I don’t think about my brother and my other brothers and sisters say the same thing.

Thoughts?