on msnbc. thank you for joining us as we're getting word of this sad news. you knew whitney houston. what are you thinking right now? >> i mean, i am absolutely in shock. i'm in los angeles. i come out yesterday to do "the bill maher" show and "politics nation" and the hotel i'm at many people are here at the grammys and people are just walking around in shock. i knew whitney probably the last 20 years, and many of us that seen her go through her ups and downs, but no one had her voice and no one had her range, and i know her mother, sissy very well, trying to reach her. she comes out of a gospel family, gospel singing family, and she took that to a whole nother level with her and aunt dionne. this is a shock that i really can't even describe. 48 years old, a beautiful voice, faced the trials and