Whitney Houston's former voice coach refuses to watch the tragic superstar's final performance in new movie Sparkle because it pains him to see the singer struggle to hit the high notes.
The I Will Always Love You hitmaker recruited Gary Catona to help plot her comeback following a period of prolonged drug abuse seven years ago, and he admits she was not ready to return to the studio - or the film set - when she signed on for her last film.
He tells the New York Post, "When I first started working with her in 2005, she had lost 99.9 per cent of her voice. She could barely speak, let alone sing.
"Her lifestyle choices had made her almost completely hoarse... She was not a disciplined person in her personal life, and, away from our sessions, she was under the influence of so many forces. She allowed other people to control her."
But, even though Houston made much progress, the icon's vocals were not up to par when filming began and Catona hates the thought of her legacy being anything less than her personal best.
He adds, "If we'd been given the proper amount of time, we would have got her voice back to 95 per cent of where she once was... She went out and performed when she was nowhere near ready. I don't think I can watch Sparkle, as seeing her performing below what I know she is capable of is too upsetting."