Michael Jackson's Will Reveals Diana Ross Surprise
MALVEAUX: You're in "The Situation Room." Happening now, President Obama urges Americans to reject fear-mongering when it comes to health care reform. He takes that appeal directly to the people at a town hall meeting. Bringing transparency to the government -- it was a campaign promise of president Obama's. But some critics say he is not making good on it, and they're taking the case to court. And don't ask, don't tell. For the first time, the defense secretary reveals when the government won't enforce the policy allowing some gay people to serve in the military. Wolf Blitzer is off today. I'm Suzanne Malveaux, and you're in "The Situation Room." Jackson's decision to name Diana Ross backup guardian for his children is catching some by surprise, but not those who knew the two singers. CNN's Mary Snow is looking into that. And Mary, tell us a little bit about their relationship. How close were these two?</s>MARY SNOW, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: They were very close, Suzanne. Diana Ross had a big influence on Michael Jackson both onstage and off. They'd known each other for roughly 40 years, and Diana Ross was always seen as a role model to him.</s>SNOW: After Michael Jackson died, Diana Ross said in a statement she couldn't stop cry, that she was praying for Jackson's children and his family. Jackson's will shows how highly he regarded her. The will said if Jackson's mother, Katherine, died or was unable to take care of his three children, that Ross should be named guardian.</s>MIKE WALTERS, TMZ.COM: It is fitting if you think about that and the people he trusted. Michael didn't have many people around him for a long time, including some of his family members, that he trusted.</s>SNOW: Jackson knew Ross most of his life. She lent her star power to the young Jackson family. Their first album was called "Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5." Ian Drew of "US Weekly" says Ross, who has five children of her own, taught the Jacksons the ropes in show business, but also provided emotional support.</s>IAN DREW, SENATOR EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": A lot of times when they were visiting Los Angeles before they had a house there, they would stay at Diana's home. He would often seek refuge there when things were very bad at home. She really was surrogate mother to him almost.</s>SNOW: Michael Jackson got older he remained close to Ross. The two of them seen here in "The Whiz" in the late '70s, performed together at times. And former president of CBS Records, Walter Yetnikoff, recalls how Jackson turned to Ross before releasing his blockbuster "Thriller."</s>WALTER YETNIKOFF, FORMER PRESIDENT, CBS RECORDS: Two people other than Michael who saw "Thriller" for the first time. He invited me and Diana Ross to preview, you know, "Thriller."</s>SNOW: Just gives you a little insight into the influence that she had. Now as per Diana Ross, she has not commented publicly on the fact that she was named in Jackson's will. Suzanne?</s>MALVEAUX: Mary, thank you. Well, fueling speculation that drugs may have played a part in Michael Jackson's death, new claims by a registered nurse who used to work for the singer. Cherilyn Lee says Jackson suffered from severe insomnia and once begged her to give him a powerful sedative called Diprivan.</s>CHERILYN LEE, FORMER JACKSON NURSE: He asked me if I could find someone that would stay there and monitor him. That's why he felt that he would be safe. I said, no one will do this in your home. This is not a safe drug. And I don't know of anyone, and no one should be giving this to you in your home. It's very unsafe.</s>MALVEAUX: It is unclear if Michael Jackson ever got his hands on that powerful drug. An attorney for Michael Jackson's doctors says his client wasn't aware of any prescription drug problem the singer might have had. Dr. Conrad Murray was Jackson's personal physician, a so-called concierge doctor, a health care option that's reserved for the rich and famous. Here's CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.</s>DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Michael Jackson, medical mystery. Many believe this man, Dr. Conrad Murray, holds the answer. He's known in the medical community as a concierge doctor, boutique M.D., doctor to the stars. (</s>On camera): He had a $150,000 a month doctor at his beck and call. That surprise you?</s>DR. CHERYL BRYANT-BRUCE, ELITE PERSONAL PHYSICIAN SERVICES, INC.: No, not at all.</s>GUPTA (voice-over): Dr. Cheryl Bryant-Bruce would know. She's also a concierge doctor and charges up to $150,000 a year for 24/7 service anywhere in the world. She has at least 20 patients. I was curious to know what all that money buys you. (</s>On camera): What's the craziest thing you've ever done for a patient?</s>BRYANT-BRUCE: This young gentleman, he was in a panic because he decided that he might have an STD. And -- so I get called out the middle of the night for this STD check, only to find myself in the middle of this very interesting party.</s>GUPTA (voice-over): For another patient, she traveled to Cancun for a week. Why? The patient wanted her own doctor with her just in case. And this... (</s>On camera): Was that your phone? (</s>Voice-over): Just a few minutes into our interview, Dr. Bryant- Bruce get a call and we get a glimpse into her life.</s>BRYANT-BRUCE: You know we can send the trainer with you. I mean, I understand that you're going on location and all, but we can send the trainer with you.</s>GUPTA (on camera): Did I hear you just said that you were going to send a trainer and a masseuse to New York for that patient?</s>BRYANT-BRUCE: Yes. Yes.</s>GUPTA (voice-over): Most of her patients are famous and wealthy. They expect discretion. And that is why Dr. Bryant-Bruce wouldn't divulge too many names but she did say supermodel Marisa Miller was a client and she took us along on a visit with another patient. (</s>On camera): So we're about to make a real, live house call here. This is what Dr. Bryant-Bruce does several times a day, going to see her patients wherever they may be. (</s>Voice-over): The patient is Jimmy Coco. You may have seen him on E! He's legendary for providing tans, you know, those world-class spray-on tans. She checks him for strep throat and then gives him an injection. In this case, the anti-inflammatory Toradol. But it got me wondering. (</s>On camera): Have you given shots of Demerol or Oxycontin to your patients before?</s>BRYANT-BRUCE: I have, yes.</s>GUPTA: You know Dr. Conrad Murray. You know his background. You know the story. Are you surprised that the king of pop, Michael Jackson, had Dr. Conrad Murray, as his doctor?</s>BRYANT-BRUCE: To be honest, actually, I am. I am a bit surprised, because he had access to anybody that he wanted. And, you know, the fact that he did choose a specialist and that he didn't appear to do his homework.</s>GUPTA (voice-over): Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Los Angeles.</s>MALVEAUX: Well, what do you think Michael Jackson's legacy is? Submit your video comments to ireport.com/situationroom and we'll try to get some of them on the air tomorrow. President Obama holding a health care town hall meeting today, but how does support now compare to 16 years ago when the Clintons tried to overhaul the system? Plus, this hour's question -- what will Minnesota senator-elect Al Franken mean for President Obama's agenda? Jack Cafferty is standing by with your e-mails.