Whitney Houston's Interview with Oprah Winfrey - Part 2

Oprah Winfrey's interview with Whitney Houston concluded today and while there weren't as many jaw-dropping revelations as in Part One, it was still compelling television.

Oprah asked Whitney about the day she walked out on her ex-husband, R&B singer, Bobby Brown. According to Whitney, in 2006 she told Bobby she was going out for some sugar and the next thing he heard, she was in Los Angeles. Whitney said that even though she'd left her husband, she still hoped for a reconciliation. Oprah again wondered why it was so hard for Whitney to leave. Whitney replied part of it was her addiction to Bobby and part of it was his refusal to let her leave. Whitney said the tipping point for deciding to end the marriage came courtesy of her daughter with Bobby, Bobbi Kristina. Whitney said as much as she tried to shield her daughter from what was happening, the Internet filled in a lot of blanks. According to Whitney, her daughter would question her about what she was reading online about her father. Whitney had to acknowledge that lot of what was on the Web was true and Bobbi Kristina declared her mother needed to file for divorce, citing that neither of them deserved the treatment they received from Bobby Brown.

Whitney went on to say that during the time she was in L.A. trying to get her life together, she "stayed in [her] pajamas for seven months." She had in effect given up on her singing career, but it was her mentor, Clive Davis (who discovered Whitney at the age of 19) who encouraged her to come back, saying "It can't be over. The world is waiting."

Oprah asked Whitney about Michael Jackson's death, which Whitney found "devastating." Whitney claimed they were really close and that she knew he was on tranquilizers. She recalled seeing him during the 2008 concert special celebrating Michael's 30 years in show business and being scared she would wind up like him (the same show where Whitney was infamously shown to be nothing more than skin and bones. At the time Houston denied her gaunt appearance was drug-related, which no one believed. She did cop to Oprah that yes, drugs were the reason she looked so frail.) Whitney said she would talk to Michael on the phone, but that by the end, he had cut everyone out of his life. Whitney said today she is drug-free.

As expected, Oprah and Whitney talked about Whitney's comeback album, "I Look to You." At this point in the interview, the conversation took a turn for the maudlin, as the two women began to gush over each other. During the final 20 minutes of the show, Whitney took to the stage to perform the gospel-tinged "I Didn't Know My Own Strength." The audience went nuts and once again, it was clear just how much people are rooting for her to reclaim her Diva throne. "The Voice" was stunning and sent shivers up my spine. Afterwards, Whitney and Oprah chatted for a few moments. Whitney's voice was clear as a bell and not hoarse like it was during the extended interview portion, which had been filmed earlier. Oprah asked if Whitney had any regrets about anything she had spoken about in the interview and Whitney stated her intention in doing the interview was "to be relieved from it," meaning the drama of her marriage. She also stated she wasn't worried about Bobby and whether or not he approved of anything she talked about. Whitney's daughter was in the audience and spoke briefly and the show wrapped up with a montage of vintage Whitney videos and various divas voicing their support and admiration for Whitney including Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera and Celine Dion.

Time will tell if Whitney will once again reign supreme, but judging by how things are going so far, it seems as though she is on her way.