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Whitney Houston Remembered by Sparkle Producer: "Almost a Magic About Her"

Bishop T.D. Jakes sits down with E! News to discuss late singer's behavior on movie set, her talent and how he's helping her mother grieve through the tragic loss of the superstar

By Gina Serpe Feb 16, 2012 8:20 PMTags

Though Whitney Houston may have been taken too suddenly and too soon, at least her fans can take comfort in knowing that she has one final work pending now posthumous release: the movie Sparkle, which she costarred in alongside Jordin Sparks.

E! News sat down with one of the producers of the film, Bishop T.D. Jakes, who spoke at length on Whitney's fortitude during the movie, her enormous talent and how he's helping her mother Cissy Houston through this tragic time.

"It was my first time meeting Whitney," Jakes told E! News. "She was just delightful, her performances were impeccable, and off camera she was just easy, easy to work with. I was really, really impressed with her as an individual."

On set, Jakes said Houston was "very professional" and as an actor and person, there was "something that was almost a magic about her on camera."

As for whether or not he saw any signs of ill health, the answer was no.

"I don't really know about her health, but she looked fine, she acted fine, she delivered her lines with professionalism, she was fun off camera, she seemed to be healthy."

Though her American Idol-winning costar has so far not spoken publicly about the loss of Whitney, Jakes said that their working relationship "was amazing."

"[There was a] sense of mentoring on and off camera. Even off camera, there seemed to be a fraternity between them…It's a huge loss not to have Whitney."

He noted, however, that at least her fans will be able to see her once more.

"I think nonetheless we'll appreciate the fact that this is an opportunity to see her last cinematic production, and I think people are anxious to grasp what they really can of her one more time."

Indeed. As for why Whitney touched so many people, Jakes said it wasn't all just down to her immeasurable talent, but to her as a person, as well.

"Because we are so aware of her ups and downs, it made her more believable and people were really rooting for her…None of us knew that it would be a final encore."

Meanwhile, Jakes has already been in touch with Cissy Houston, sharing a prayer with her over the phone.

"I've spoken to her quite extensively," he said. "She's a mom who lost a daughter—not an artist, not a star, she's lost a child and her grief was commensurate with the level of that loss."

Whitney's funeral is taking place Saturday at Newark's New Hope Baptist Church at noon and will be streamed live in its entirety on E! Online.