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Why Whitney Houston Saw Herself in Michael Jackson

Aired on 09/09/2009 | CC tv-pg
During a 2009 Oprah Show conversation, Oprah asked Whitney Houston how difficult Michael Jackson's passing had been for her. The singer, whose own tragic death would later be eerily reminiscent of Michael's, gave a response that would prove to be prophetic.

"I thought, 'This can't be true. This can't be true.' I knew he was on painkillers at one time. I didn't know how far and how deep it was. I just remember doing the anniversary special, 30th anniversary, and I remember looking at Michael. I remember looking at myself."

"That's when you were so bone-thin. You were frail," Oprah says.

"I was—yeah. I was getting scared," Whitney says. "I was looking at myself going, 'No, I don't want this to be like this. This can't happen. Not both of us.'"

Here, in this chilling exchange, the music icon reveals a self-awareness of the tragic flaws that would sadly lead to her own demise.