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March is Women's History Month!

Reality TV Star Inspired By 'Queen Of Soul'

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

And now it's time for the feature we call In Your Ear. That's where we ask some of the guests of the program to share the songs that keep them inspired. Today we hear from Omarosa Manigault. You might remember her as a take-no-prisoners competitor on the reality television shows "The Apprentice" and "The Celebrity Apprentice." But now she has found a new calling – in the ministry.

Recently, Reverend Omarosa Manigault spoke with us about becoming an ordained minister in the Baptist tradition, and also about the music that makes her spirits soar. And her list was diva-licious, paying homage to some leading ladies of song. Here it is.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU")

WHITNEY HOUSTON: (Singing) And I will always love you. Will always love you.

REVEREND OMAROSA MANIGAULT: Hi, this is the Reverend Omarosa Manigault and this is what's playing in my ear. I have been listening to Whitney Houston since her tragic passing. I've downloaded every single song I could think of. But specifically, I've been listening to her rendition of "I Will Always Love You."

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU")

HOUSTON: (Singing) Bittersweet memories, that is all I'm taking with me. So good-bye. Please don't cry. We both know I'm not what you, you need. And I will always love you. I will always...

MANIGAULT: So beautiful. So powerful and such a tragic loss.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU")

HOUSTON: (Singing) ...love you. Ooh...

MANIGAULT: I've also been listening to Adele and her song "Set Fire to the Rain."

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SET FIRE TO THE RAIN")

ADELE: (Singing) I let it fall, my heart. And as it fell, you rose to claim it. It was dark and I was over. Until you kissed my lips and you saved me. My hands, they're strong. But my knees were far too weak.

MANIGAULT: Oh, my gosh. That girl has the most amazing voice and so powerful and with song just as so catchy. It's been playing on my iPod for the last four weeks.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SET FIRE TO THE RAIN")

ADELE: (Singing) But there's a side to you that I never knew, never knew. All the things you'd say, they were never true, never true. And the games you play, you would always win, always win. But I set fire to the rain. Watched it pour as I touched your face. Let it burn while I cry 'cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MARY DON'T YOU WEEP")

ARETHA FRANKLIN: (Singing) Mary don't you weep. We're going to review the story of two sisters.

MANIGAULT: The next thing I'm listening to Aretha Franklin's gospel album. She has two of them. And she sings so many of my favorite gospel songs like "Amazing Grace" or "Precious Lord" or "Mary Don't You Weep," and this has been very, very inspirational for me and uplifting, and she is just I mean a legend.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MARY DON'T YOU WEEP")

FRANKLIN: (Singing) One day while Jesus was away, their dear, their dear ol' brother died. Oh Mary don't you weep. Yeah. Yeah.

(SOUNDBITE OF CLAPPING)

FRANKLIN: (Singing) Well now Mary (Mary don't you weep), went running to Jesus.

MANIGAULT: There's no one that can hit the notes like her. And more importantly, it's so soulful and spiritual.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MARY DON'T YOU WEEP")

FRANKLIN: (Singing) My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my my sweet Lord. Mary don't you weep.

MARTIN: That was the Reverend Omarosa Manigault telling us what's playing in her ear. If you'd like to hear our previous conversation with her, please go to our website, NPR.org, click on the Programs tab and then on TELL ME MORE.

And that's our program for today. I'm Michel Martin and you've been listening to TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Let's talk tomorrow.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MARY DON'T YOU WEEP")

FRANKLIN: (Singing) Come on and show me, show me where you buried him. Show me where you laid him down. And when he got there, Jesus said, for the benefit of you who don't believe, who don't believe in me this evening, I'm gone call this creature, oh yes I am. Oh, yes I am. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.