Brandy Tears Up Hearing Whitney Houston's "Celebrate" for the First Time

RCAWhen Brandy dove into her interview with HLN on Thursday night, she was prepared to talk about her late hero and mentor Whitney Houston.  Brandy wasn't expecting, however, to get her first listen to "Celebrate," the Jordin Sparks-assisted duet that Whitney recorded for her upcoming movie Sparkle.

Moments after the "Celebrate" clip played on the live news show, Brandy became visibly moved.  "That's my first time hearing the snippet of the new song.  And it’s tough," Brandy said, trying to hold back tears.  "This woman has meant everything to me.  And to know... that she's no longer with us in the physical is very tough and it's been tough for me and I'm pretty sure everyone who's been touched by her music, and who she was as a person."

Wiping her face, Brandy apologized for getting emotional.  She powered through the end of the interview though, answering a question about whether she thought Whitney's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, should be acting.  Speaking of Bobbi's latest work with Tyler Perry, Brandy said that it's "a beautiful thing," adding that she had "no idea" that Bobbi Kris had a passion to act.

But Brandy, who also started her acting career at a young age, says, "I think whatever is making [Bobbi Kris] happy, and whatever voice that is she's following in her heart, I think she should continue."

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio