Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
John Norris Shares His MTV Memories Of Whitney Houston
By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 12, 2012
Modified Feb 12, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 12, 2012
Modified Feb 12, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Last night, after doing some pre-Grammy coverage for CBS, John Norris told us his thoughts about Whitney Houston's death. For those who grew up with MTV, there's just something more comforting about hearing John Norris or Kurt Loder's voice break news like this (you can also watch a statement that Norris filmed for CBS last night here). Norris, as an MTV veejay, met Houston and interviewed her for the network's Rockumentary in 1993 (you can watch that below). Here's what he told us last night:
I guess I would just say that in any case like this (Michael for instance) my first thought is with someone's kids. In 1993 Whitney and Bobby took me into the nursery of their Miami condo to see a sleeping Bobbi Kristina in her crib. They could not have been happier.
I lost my mom when she was only a little older than Whitney, and I was only a little older than Bobbi Kristina. So yeah, that's really really hard, and I hope Bobbi Kristina is okay.
Whitney? A lovely, funny, fragile and insanely gifted woman.
Meanwhile, MTV was receiving some criticism last night on Twitter for not immediately airing the news or a tribute to the singer, instead, they kept with their normal line of programming. Bill Simmons wrote, "Can't believe MTV refuses to bump the reprehensible Teen Mom for all-night Whitney coverage. That channel has lost its way." NPR wrote, "Whitney Houston's death is a time when it would be great if MTV still existed." Finally, at 11:30 p.m., almost four hours after the news broke, MTV acknowledged the singer's death on air, announcing on Twitter that they would play an hour long music video tribute.
Some background on Houston and the network: In 1985, just four years after launching, MTV was criticized for not playing enough videos by racial minorities. That year, Houston released the video for her single "How Will I Know," which ended up introducing her to the MTV audience. She was the first African-American female artist to receive consistent heavy rotation on MTV. Sadly, by 2001, when Houston was just 37, MTV had started collecting B-roll for her obit, "an honor normally reserved for geriatrics."
Below is the 1993 interview Norris did with Houston, and here is another one from 1999.
Tagged
death
john norris
mtv
Whitney Houston
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain
Gothamist went behind the scenes to learn how the NYC landmark keeps its majestic waters flowing.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 23, 2026
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
By
Hannah Frishberg
A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history
By
Sonia Rao
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .