Whitney Houston's mom says she's proud of her

[March 31, 2012]  NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Cissy Houston says in her first interview since daughter Whitney's death that she's "very proud" of her and did the best she could raising her.

Houston talked to My9 on Thursday night for an interview set to air Monday. The interview took place at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., where Whitney first wowed a congregation as a girl and where her funeral was held Feb. 18.

Cissy Houston says her daughter "accomplished a whole lot in the short time that she had here" and "was a very wonderful person." She says she doesn't blame herself for what happened to her because she knows she did the best she could.

Whitney Houston's death has been ruled an accidental drowning, with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.