Ray J breaks silence on death of Whitney Houston

(CBS) Singer Ray J has broken his silence on the death of Whitney Houston. He was spotted with Houston just days before her death and was rumored to have been romantically linked with the songstress.

Now Ray J is speaking up about the loss, saying he spent the last week trying to "process the emptiness" he feels.

"What my heart feels cannot be expressed in words," he added. "The world lost an icon, but I lost my close friend."

Then calling Houston by her nickname, Ray J said, "Nippy, I miss you so much!"

Ray J, whose sister is singer Brandy, plans to attend Houston's funeral on Saturday in Newark, N.J.

Houston died in a hotel suite in Beverly Hills, Calif., last Saturday. A source said Ray J rushed over to the Beverly Hilton hotel as soon as he heard the news. He "spent the night comforting [Houston's daughter] Bobbi Kristina," an insider told Us Weekly. "He's absolutely devastated."