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Franklin says Houston's mother raised her well, says 'Today' remark taken out of context

By Nekesa Mumbi Moody, The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – Thu, 23 Feb, 2012 12:03 AM EST

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Aretha Franklin says Cissy Houston raised her daughter Whitney Houston well — and that an interview where Franklin said parents need to make sure children "leave home prepared" was taken out of context.

Franklin released a statement Wednesday, four days after Houston's funeral. She was expected to sing at the funeral in Newark, N.J., Houston's hometown, but bowed out because of leg spasms she said she suffered after a concert at Radio City Music Hall the night before. She performed again at Radio City the night of Houston's funeral, and paid tribute to Houston as "a very fine young lady."

In an interview about Houston on NBC's "Today" show last week, Al Roker asked Franklin about Houston's superstardom.

Franklin said: "I think parents have to really talk to their children before they leave home ... (that they) leave home prepared, really. She left home with all the right things."

After Franklin didn't attend the funeral, there were some reports that Houston's mother was upset over Franklin's comments and that Franklin was uninvited, a charge Franklin denies.

"Cissy Houston and I have been longtime friends for almost 50 years. I have four invitations and parking passes that were sent to me for the funeral," Franklin said. "Cissy does not need ridiculous speculation and neither do I — particularly at this time."

Franklin also said her full statement — "This is no reflection on Cissy or Nippy's upbringing," using a nickname for Houston — wasn't aired (a request for comment wasn't immediately returned by the "Today" show).

"Knowing Cissy as wellas I do, I know Whitney left home right and properly. I was generalizing and it was a well-intended statement for any young adult coming into the music industry," she said."I was notspeaking of anyone specifically."

Houston had fought substance abuse for years. She was found dead in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Feb. 11, the day before the Grammy Awards. A cause of death has yet to be determined.

Nekesa Mumbi Moody is the AP's music editor. Follow her at http://www.twitter.com/nekesamumbi

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10 comments

Quint • Montreal, Quebec • 2 months ago
He mother should have pulled out the marble rolling pin the first time she came home with Bobby Brown. "Here Bobby, sit down, have some tea....Do you want one lump or two?"
Reg • 2 months ago
OMG....All I can say Aretha spoke from her heart, in general terms. She just meant that as parents we should all make sure we instill wisdom in our kids as well as faith because of the UNKNOWN and bad situations our loved ones are venturing out into(the world). I am sure as her Godmother and dear friend she was speaking out of concern for all children we as parents send out into society. Whitney Houston seemed to have just gotten caught in a famous lifestyle that got out of control. Sad but I am sure no hurt was intended on Ms. Franklin's part was meant.
MollyDolly • Toronto, Ontario • 2 months ago
Leg "spams," huh?
Tish • 2 months ago
Maybe the Diva should've been offered a Snickers bar in return for singing at the funeral...
cc • Pickering, Ontario • 2 months ago
yes I wondered that too re the leg spasms??? Lets see if she makes up for that perhaps in a special to Whitney & was it just me or did anyone else think that Dionne was a tad plaster?? Not one remark from anyone including CNN
Marg S • 2 months ago
The mother may have done her best , but was there a father present ?.In many families today a father is absent causing all the pressure on the mother .
bige4u • Hicksville, United States • 2 months ago
Aretha knew Whitney since the day she was born. I'm sure she meant no harm to her mother or her family, who she had known for 50 years.
I pray the two women can talk to each other and come to terms with this tragic loss of a child and a godchild.
A Yahoo! User • Kelowna, British Columbia • 2 months ago
enough already. we have heard enough about who or what is to blame for hustons death. we will get the tox results and i hope if a doctor wrote prescriptions that were dangerous knowing that huston was an addict that he or she gets whats coming to them. but we all know why this talented lady is dead, she is not the first and will not be the last. what a shame, and all this rhetoric can not change a thing.
Karen S • Fall River, United States • 2 months ago
You can be the best parent and still your children will do what they will. The only things you can do to prepare them is teach respect for yourself and others, wrong from right, and to believe in yourself as you do a higher power. When they leave, it's on them to use the knowledge you give them.
james • Kuwait City, Kuwait • 2 months ago
She was told to keep a straight line and inject enthusiasm into her life (or should that be enthusiastically inject (?)).