September 14, 2012 JUSTIN BIEBER'S MOM/KATHIE LEE GIFFORD INTV. KATHIE LEE GIFFORD SITS DOWN WITH JUSTIN BIEBER’S MOTHER PATTIE MALLETTE Multi-Part Interview to Air Tuesday and Wednesday, September 18 and 19 on “Today”
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NEW YORK -- September 14, 2012 – Justin Bieber's mother Pattie Mallette sits down with Kathie Lee Gifford for a multi-part interview airing Tuesday and Wednesday, September 18 and 19 on NBC’s “Today.” In the candid and intimate interview, Mallette discusses the details of her new book, Nowhere But Up: The Story of Justin Bieber’s Mom. She opens up about her difficult past, the tough decisions she made, and raising her son as a young single mother. She also talks about Bieber’s childhood and his path to success. Mallette will be live in studio Wednesday, September 19.

Below are excerpts from the interview. If used, mandatory credit; Kathie Lee Gifford and “Today” with airdates, Tuesday and Wednesday, September 18 and 19. For photos, visit. www.nbcumv.com.

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MALLETTE ON HER DIFFICULT PAST (Referencing when she was age 17, before she was pregnant with Bieber):

PATTIE MALLETTE:

I've learned it's normal and natural for anybody who's been through sexual abuse to carry that shame and that blame and feel like there's something wrong with you. So I definitely carried that.

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD:

You carried that to the extent that you hurled yourself into an oncoming truck.

PATTIE MALLETTE:

Uh huh.

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD:

To kill yourself.

PATTIE MALLETTE:

It was a culmination of, you know, built up over the years with the abuse and the pain and at the time I was messed up with all the drugs and alcohol. I was in a depression and the drugs and alcohol kind of spurred that on some more.

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MALLETTE ON WHY ABORTION WAS NEVER AN OPTION

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD:

A lot of people encouraged you to abort the baby. Tell us about that time and why you made the decision that an abortion was not for you?

PATTIE MALLETTE:

I just knew I couldn't. I just knew I couldn't. I just know I had to keep him.

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD:

And you wanted to.

PATTIE MALLETTE:

And, do the best. I-- you know, I didn't know how I was going to do it. But I just knew that I couldn't-- I couldn't abort. I had to do my best. I had to see what I could do. And I was determined to do whatever it took.

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ON HEARING JUSTIN CRY FOR THE FIRST TIME

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD:

Tell us what it was like when you first heard Justin cry.

PATTIE MALLETTE:

I know this sounds crazy, but he sounded like he was singing. He did.

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD:

Hip hop? What was it?

PATTIE MALLETTE:

No. (Laughter)

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD:

Was it my music? What was he singing--

PATTIE MALLETTE:

It was like this like, "A hah, a hah." And I was like, "Oh my gosh, it is so precious and amazing. I just want to squeeze him."

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BIEBER ON HIS MOTHER

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD:

How much did you know about her early life? It's hard for me to believe that you're the age now that she was when she had you.

JUSTIN BIEBER:

It is. It is. My mom didn't really even tell me her story until about two years ago. Because, you know, being young, my mom didn't feel like I could really take in all those stories and the different things that happened. So she waited till I was a little older. And, you know, I think it's really special, what my mom's doing with this book. I think she's going to be able to change a lot of young people's lives with this book. So I'm really proud of her.

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Jim Bell is the executive producer of “Today” (Mon.-Fri., 7-11 a.m. ET).