Johnny Gill Talks New Solo Album, Defends Bobby Brown’s Choice To Perform Following Whitney’s Death

Following the sudden death of Whitney Houston, many fans were shocked by Bobby Brown’s decision to take to the stage on the night of her passing (and again on the evening following her funeral) with New Edition.

Access Hollywood caught up with fellow New Edition singer Johnny Gill, who cautioned against making judgments regarding Bobby’s decision to perform.

“Bobby knows Whitney better than anyone and as he said, ‘I know that she would want me to go on,’” Johnny told Access Hollywood correspondent Jill Martin in an interview on Wednesday, when asked why Bobby did not cancel the shows. “When you look at the situation, as devastating as it was for all of us… you go home and do what? At this point, we know she’s gone, so what do you do?

“We’re there with each other, we’re there with him to support each other,” he added. “I think overall we lost a great sister and no matter what her problems were, we lost an angel.”

Johnny, whose new solo album “Still Winning” debuted in October, also weighed in on those who say Bobby should have bowed out of the shows to rush to the side of his and Whitney’s 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina.

“You don’t know what’s in another man’s heart and what he’s feeling and what the situation is to begin to make any assertion of what he should’ve done,” he said. “Everyone deals with pain differently. We just have to understand that and allow them to heal.”

And while Johnny and the New Edition boys have been supporting Bobby, the 45-year-old said the group has also been nothing but supportive of his latest solo endeavor.

“Everyone is always supportive because I think everyone knows what’s at stake for all of us at the end of the day,” Johnny said. “Being an artist, it’s like having an opportunity to be with a group and then do my own thing — it keeps things fresh and you don’t get bored… it’s gratifying. I’m enjoying it.”

As for his ‘90s fashion, Johnny said it’s tough to look back at some of his chosen ensembles.

“I hold my head in shame when I look,” he told Jill with a laugh. “I’m like, ‘Someone was trying to ruin my career!’”

“Still Winning” is available in stores now.

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