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[From Fox411]

Mariah Calls, Whitney Falls

The new album charts were finished yesterday and the results are not so good for Whitney Houston. Her new album, Just Whitney sold just 177,407 copies according to Hitsdailydouble.com. That put Houston at No. 15 for the week, well behind several other well-known acts like Shania Twain and the late Aaliyah, who finished at nos. 1 and 2, respectively.

On the other hand, there was some good news in Diva Land as Mariah Carey's Charmbracelet sold a healthy 170,000 copies in its second week. That brings Carey to around 420,000 copies in two weeks. At that rate, she should "scan" a million copies by the end of the year.

Carey called me yesterday from her promo tour as she was getting ready to board a plane for Providence, Rhode Island.

Providence?

"There's a station there that's been very loyal to me," she said, "so I want to go see them. I don't mind at all. And then we head for L.A. to try and complete a video. First we have to pick a new single from the album."

That, Carey says, should be the upbeat "Oh Boy." She said that Christian and gospel stations have already started playing my personal favorite from the album, "My Saving Grace," which will likely be a single eventually. "But right now, I want something upbeat," she said, "because that's really me. We've had enough of 'Through the Rain'," she said, referring to her current single. "Now we want to have some fun!"

I asked Mariah what advice she might have for Whitney Houston. "I don't want to sound condescending," Carey said, choosing her words carefully. "It's not like she needs advice from me. She's been a big influence on me and I consider her a friend. I want her to be happy."

Carey said once she finishes her video she will take a bunch of friends to Aspen for Christmas. She told me that she just wants to relax in Aspen, as opposed to last Christmas when the tabloids reported Luis Miguel, her ex-boyfriend, dropped in on her. "That was so not true. He wasn't there," she said, "it never happened."

Then she's looking for a warm vacation spot for New Year's Eve, perhaps renting a yacht to float around the Caribbean. "It's the only time off for me," she said, "so I want it to be right. I've got to go someplace warm and where there's no paparazzi."

Maybe she should try a retirement village in Arizona.

Mariah also told me about guest hosting The View on ABC, which she did live yesterday. "People always tell me I should have my own talk show," she said. "But that would be too much work right now." She had a lot of fun with Star Jones and Joy Behar who, she said, reminded her of Bette Midler.

So that wraps up Mariah for 2002. Her comeback is complete. As for Whitney, her abysmal sales are no laughing matter. It's obvious her Prime Time Live interview did more damage than good. I only hope she can see what's happening here, and do something decisive to help herself.

NEWSFILE: 18 DECEMBER 2002