Brandy, Whitney Houston: Singer Says Houston Probably Went 'Insane' After Losing Her Voice

Brandy talks Whitney Houston death, losing voiceMark Davis, Getty Images

Almost a year after the tragic death of Whitney Houston, Brandy, who worked with Whitney on 1997's "Cinderella," is still mourning the music legend and mentor.

Talking to CNN, Brandy explains that when Whitney lost her vocal abilities, she thinks it made the singer take a turn for the worst.

"I understand what that [losing your voice] feels like," she says. "I don't understand to that degree, but I understand, you know, because I feel like when I don't have my instrument, I don't really have me ... It's almost who you are. Of course, there's more to you than your voice, but that's what you use to share. That's what you use to give. It's your purpose. It's what you were born to do ... it probably drove her insane [when it faltered]. It probably drove her insane."

Brandy also opened up about the regret she feels for not reconnecting with Whitney in recent years. "One of the things that I can't put my mind around is where she really was because at the end of her life, I wasn't there," Brandy shares. "I wasn't around. I didn't talk to her as much, which is one of the reasons why it was so hard for me to get over her passing, is because I felt like I wasn't there enough for her at the end of her life. And I have no clue where she was mentally or spiritually."

Brandy honored Whitney
in her latest CD, "Two Eleven," which represents Brandy's own birthday, Feb. 11, 1979, and the date that Houston passed away on, Feb. 11, 2012.

Besides dealing with her own emotions over Whitney's death, she reveals her brother, Ray J, who Whitney was romantically linked to, is still struggling with the loss.

"They were really close friends," she says. "Ray has been going through [difficulty]. He really has been going through it. But, you know, every time we go through something, we always stick to who we are as family. And you know, so we've been there for him. But he's been silent about everything and, you know, just taking his time with it."

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DebGroves999

Sounds like Brandy is just looking to direct attention to "herself". For someone to come out so LATE to talk about Whitney, to me, is a disgrace. If you supposedly care so much about someone, you are there for them at all times. Gives me a whole new outlook on Brandy and exactly what her motives are!!! Nuff said by me!!! I loved Whitney!!!

December 30 2012 at 3:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
a'Tanika L Lakes

Just my opinion, In Whitney's decline, she still sound better than many of these new "singers" out here who can't carry a tune. I have never thought Brandy had a good voice and thought is was weak and pop-ish.

December 12 2012 at 10:11 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to a'Tanika L Lakes's comment
Relle Nelson♪†

Sorry you feel that way. Brandy is one of the most respected and noted Singers of this generation.

December 12 2012 at 10:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jamesstevens39

why blame the man bobby...it is ultimately her choice stop blaming others for her downfall and bad choices..this is what is wrong with America..blame it one everything but who is ultimately responsible for their lives, like many that gain fame , get hooked on drugs and waste their lives trying to get high and feel good

December 12 2012 at 1:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to jamesstevens39's comment
Ed

Agree completely, why make her out as some sort of hero or pioneer. She was known to abuse substances for years, don't blame it on "depression" either. She was weak and couldn't stop using hard drugs. She either overdosed or dosed heavily and lost consciousness and drowned. Also the long drawn out notes that she and Mariah are known for, and that enjoyed a period of popularity/imitation, do not add anything to music in my opinion. Thankfully that fad seems to be on the way out.

December 12 2012 at 9:21 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
jamesstevens39

yea when you do coke...it is not good for the vocals

December 12 2012 at 1:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Daasair

You all and your comments are so beyond disrespectful. She was not saying Whitney was insane dumb ass she was saying to not be able to sing at the level she once could must have been painful to the degree that one would feel insane. It's a figure of speech. If you were a singer you could relate!

December 11 2012 at 9:46 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
Blakely Devonshire

Well, she still had enough of a voice left to cuss people out when she got good and ready...

But to say she was driven "insane" is to imply that was the direct reason for her death. Whitney was not "insane" Miss Brandy, please choose your words more wisely before accusing people of having some severe medical related incompetency issue. We've seen her drunk; we've seen her high - even by her own admission. But to say she was "insane"? That's a new low... You are doing no different to Whitney while she's dead than the media outlets did when she was alive.

December 11 2012 at 2:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Blakely Devonshire's comment
rafdelm001

It was just figure of speech.

December 13 2012 at 10:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Geechi

Can’t speak much on the subject Whitney and love life with Bobby. I am sure there were major issues there good and not so good. I can’t talk about Whitney’s voice and why it was in decline before for passing because I don’t have that information. But I do have an opinion about Brandy. It’s a very low one at that. Its seems Brandy is so irrelevant and has been since the second year of the Moesha series. Her acting is below average, singing is often off key and boring, her style and stage persona is equal to an act at circus-circus. Both brandy and ray-j are d list celebrities with far less talent and has many skeletons to hide from the public and would do the media and the a public, a public service by just saying no to interviews about other celebrities. Irrelevant, unattractive, talentless, gold-digging, backstabbing, side-busting, duo. Have a nice day!

December 11 2012 at 11:37 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Geechi's comment
Relle Nelson♪†

What are you doing with your life? I dont see you sitting down discussing whitney on any show. Brandy is a Legend in her own right to many.... Your opinion on Brandy has nothing to do with this post and video....

December 12 2012 at 10:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chuck

what was Whitneys downfall?? I'm goin to guess it was abusive Bobby or the coke, probably both.

December 11 2012 at 10:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
football1053

why do people with powerful voices can think that they are different and do the things that can do the most harm....Just to sad to loose a women like whiteny with a strong voice had it all in the power in her hands and had everything she could want, God blessed her with a voice that took the world by strom. I guess we don't have a time when we must leave this world, but now she is singing for the lord.....Others are also thinking that they can do what ever they think the can do without hurting themselves or others, money and power is the way.....Never will be....

December 11 2012 at 10:09 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ripper

Brandy you are an idiot. She lost her voice because of the drugs and bobby. She was already taking a turn for the worse. It might help to get off the crack yourself I guess and realize. This is the dumbest article I have read yet about Whitney. Maybe if Bobby left her in the first place. She wouldn't have lost her mind and turned to drugs.

December 11 2012 at 9:55 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
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