Oprah Winfrey speaks to Bobbi Kristina Brown about the death of Whitney Houston
Bobbi Kristina Brown, daughter of the late Whitney Houston, spoke publicly for the first time about her mothers death during Sundays episode of Oprahs Next Chapter, that program on Oprahs OWN network that you probably never watched until last nights Whitney Houston episode.
As the photograph above indicates, the interview definitely involved some hugging. But even though this was an Oprah Winfrey production, the Bobbi Kristina portion of show which focused largely on a sitdown between Winfrey and Patricia Houston, the singers sister-in-law and manager didnt deliver any major revelations. Bobbi Kristina didnt shed any tears, nor did she ever come close to losing her composure.
Winfrey asked her generally easy questions, and she handled them in a way that suggests shes coping well with her mothers death.
Ive got to keep going, Brown, 18, said at one point while trying to describe how shes handled the days since her moms memorial service.
I can sing her music, but I cant hear it right now, she said. I cant. I can hear her voice and spirit talking to me and telling me, Keep movin, baby. Im right here. I got you.
Winfrey didnt ask her more probing questions about her hospital stay shortly after her mothers passing, or about her current relationship with her father, Bobby Brown. The talk show host treated her gently, perhaps because Pat Houston was the one who had been appointed to answer the really hard stuff.
The divas sister-in-law, who also is the executor of her estate, had to recount the moments when Houstons body was discovered at the Beverly Hilton (I heard screams and I saw the hair stylist drop to her knees), the expression on Houstons face after she died (She had a peaceful look) and whether Houston was still struggling with drugs in the days before her death (Pat Houston denied that). There were definitely tears during this section (yes, Winfrey was also crying), and at least one very gratuitous long pause.
Sneak Preview: Oprah Interviews Whitney Houston's Family
During the final part of the episode, Pat and her husband Gary Houstons brother denied the rumors that Bobby Brown was not welcome at Whitney Houstons memorial service. And they also expressed their frustration about that leaked funeral home photo of Houston, although they didnt seem terribly incensed about the episode.
So overall, this 90-minute special taught us that Bobbi! Kristin a, at least within the context of this carefully orchestrated interview, seems to be a strong, poised young woman; that Oprah was one of the first people to refer to Whitney Houston as The Voice (she reminded us of this on two occasions); and that next week, Oprah will focus Oprahs Next Chapter on an interview with Lady Gaga. Odds seem good that Winfrey will ask her about Whitney Houston.
