The Death of Isaac Hayes
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Muslims, like people everywhere, abhor terrorism. The small minority who resort to violence is symptomatic of something many of us have failed to understand. God's warriors, the emergence of millions of people around the world who view life through a religious prism and who fear that modern society is trampling their beliefs. With this report, we have tried to bridge the gap of understanding about the Muslim world. I'm Christiane Amanpour. Thank you for joining us.</s>RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, Isaac Hayes has died.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who is the man that would risk his neck for his brother man?</s>SANCHEZ: From Shaft to Shaft. His impact, universal. As was Bernie Mac's. Killed by something most of us have never heard of. Heartbreaking pictures of bloody victims, young and old, from Russia's invasion of Georgia. I go to the source.</s>SANCHEZ: Mr. Ambassador, can you make the American people try to understand why it is that you invaded what seems to be a sovereign country?</s>SANCHEZ: John Edwards, the other woman. And the nagging question -- whose baby is it? There is a new statement this weekend. McCain's Romney effect, Obama's Clinton effect.</s>SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're trying to work that out with the Obama campaign.</s>SANCHEZ: Who helps? Who hurts? And look at this nightmare scene for anyone afraid of bridges. We're on it. The news starts now. And hello, again, everybody. I'm Rick Sanchez. We're going to begin about with news that may sadden many of you. News about the passing of a musical visionary, an innovator, a pioneer. Isaac Hayes, 65 years old collapsed today at his home in Memphis and died. Let's go to Memphis now. Let's try and get all the information we can on this still developing story. WMC TVs Kontji Anthony is joining us. Fill us in, if you would, when did it happen? How did it happen?</s>KONTJI ANTHONY, WMC CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rick, it happened about noon Central Time. And new details are coming in. What we've learned now is that Isaac Hayes wife's cousin actually discovered him in his master bedroom next to a running treadmill. He was on the floor and he was having trouble. At that point, she called 911 and a deputy arrived and did CPR. He did not farewell. So they took him to the hospital, they rushed him to the hospital and that's where he later died.</s>SANCHEZ: Do we know what he died of specifically or are they still investigating that?</s>ANTHONY: Well, the new information that's coming in is that he was suffering from a condition. They have not disclosed what it was, but we do know that back in 2006, he suffered a stroke.</s>SANCHEZ: His family, have they had any reaction at this point? Have they spoken to anyone?</s>ANTHONY: His family is not speaking right now. They're very, very emotional right now. But friends are pouring their sentiments and they say that this is just a great loss for Memphis and the world. It's very -- a unique situation because it is Elvis Week this week in Memphis because this is the same week that Elvis passed away. And so you have these two music pillars who passed away the same week. So, it did a very unique situation.</s>SANCHEZ: Well, here's another unique part about this story. The fact that Bernie Mac died yesterday. Bernie Mac was Isaac Hayes' friend. In fact, he was asked to comment on it yesterday. And I understand they need to shed some light on this that they were working on a project together, a movie, right?</s>ANTHONY: They sure were. The movie is called "Soul Men." And they were suppose to do that movie with Samuel L. Jackson. I know that in March, Hayes agreed to become part of the cast. He was going to play himself. It was going to be a comedic film. And I'm not sure right now whether or not the production was complete. But I believe they were just beginning production or about to, so yes.</s>SANCHEZ: Kontji Anthony, thanks so much. Great information. Thanks for catching us up on this story that's really affected a whole lot of people. He had so many fans. In fact, you know, we've got a photo now I want to show you. This is really about the classic intersection of two stories. You just heard Kontji mentioning this. Hayes was in fact in a project with Bernie Mac, that's the irony of it. There's the picture. It was taken in March, we understand. Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes and Samuel L. Jackson, they're on the set of this movie. It's called "Soul Men." It is set for release later this year. Both of them dying this weekend. Isaac Hayes is in the film. He plays himself. No word yet on -- if these two deaths will impact in any way the movie's release. But we'll be checking on that. Speaking of Bernie Mac, a public memorial is set for next weekend on Chicago's south side. It will be at a church called The House of Hope on Saturday. Bernie Mac died early Saturday from complications due to pneumonia. He was 50 years old. And whether you laughed with him on South Park, or you grew with him back in the 70s, this you could say. Isaac Hayes made a splash across several generations. Think about that. And stay with us tonight, because we're right now putting together a comprehensive report on the death of Isaac Hayes. That's going to be coming up, well, as soon at its done, but most likely in about a half hour. Now to a situation halfway around the world that has so many of us wondering tonight about the ramifications of it here at home. Despite Georgia's offer of a ceasefire, despite supported troop withdrawals from South Ossetia, Russia appears hell-bent tonight on continuing this invasion. Here's what the result of this violence looks like. And you know, I should tell you this is graphic. Those are going to be soldiers you're looking at right there from the Republic of Georgia, or what's left of them. More attack, more lost lives. And now the conflict has reached the capital. There is more. Here's CNN's Frederik Pleitgen. He's in Tbilisi.</s>FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What began as a battle for Southern Ossetia has reached Georgia's capital. A Russian warplane dropped a bomb on this air field in Tbilisi while we were only a few hundred yards away. (on camera): We're about to shoot the aftermath of an apparent bombing here when a fighter dropped a bomb somewhere right close to us. You can see the smoke right over there. (voice-over): The Georgian capital is also beginning to see an influx of people who have fled South Ossetia. Several dozen people from the battle zone are staying in this dilapidated school building. One-year-old Marie</s>MAIA KARDAVA, ICRC SPOKESWOMAN: Us from Bali Base (ph) team, they had to flee the area early this morning. Before that, they spent some 48 hours in the basement like other civilians did. So, for the moment,</s>PLEITGEN: Georgians who have found shelter are making do with what they can get. Nida</s>SANCHEZ: When we come back, I'm going to try to cut right to the chase for you with the Russian ambassador. I'm going to ask him point blank why have you invaded a sovereign country. His response, that's going to be coming up next. Also, I want you to take a look at this unbelievable video. This is sudden and unbelievable explosion in Toronto. And the John Edwards sex scandal and the lingering baby question. Will it ever be answered? Should it be asked?