Janet Jackson to Whitney Houston's Daughter Bobbi Kristina 'You Have to Move On'
Janet Jackson has spoken out about legendary singer Whitney Houston's untimely death and offered advice to her distraught teenage daughter.
In an interview with renowned journalist Anderson Cooper on his show "Anderson," 45-year-old Jackson opened up about the loss of an icon and why Bobbi should turn to God during the tragic time.
"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," Jackson said about the instant she learned about Houston's death.
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"I was home... I just so happened to be watching TV and I saw this newsflash and I still can't 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," she added.
Houston's 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina, was also understandably left devastated after learning that her mother's body had been found in a hotel room bath tub.
Bobbi, Houston's only biological daughter, was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital twice since hearing the news and is believed to be on suicide watch, according to TMZ.
Jackson, who like Houston entered showbiz at a tender age, offered advice to Bobbi and was reminded of her own brother's death in June 2009.
"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," Jackson said.
"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," she added.
The renowned singer, who is also the younger sister of the late Michael Jackson, also reflected on her friendship with Houston, who died of an apparent prescription drug overdose.
"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 the early '80s and early '90s is when I connected with Whitney the most," Jackson said.
"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," she added.
It is unclear whether Jackson will attend Houston's private funeral service which is being held at Newark, N.J.'s New Hope Baptist Church on Saturday.
