Houston makes a comeback with first album in seven years

Full Story at CNN.com

She smiled and cooed over mentor Clive Davis, calling him “Big Papa” and “Daddy” while the music mogul patted her arm like a proud parent.

The pair was in a side room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel just before the Los Angeles, California, listening session for “I Look to You,” Houston’s first album in seven years, scheduled to be released Sept. 1.

“I just took a break, which sometimes you have to,” said Houston, 45, looking elegant in diamonds and a black Prada dress.

“You have to know when to slow that train down and kind of just sit back and relax for a minute.” Video Watch an interview with Whitney Houston »

This was definitely the old Whitney — pre-troubled marriage to Bobby Brown and pre-comment to Diane Sawyer that “crack is wack.”