Bobby Brown Denies Getting Whitney Houston Hooked on Drugs

"I wasn't the one that got Whitney on drugs at all." That's what Bobby Brown, ex-husband of the late Whitney Houston tells Matt Lauer in a 'Today' show interview scheduled to air this week.

In the candid two-part sit down with Lauer, set to air Wednesday, May 2 and Thursday, May 3rd, the New Edition singer claims he's been clean for the past seven years and did not get Houston hooked on drugs during the course of their tumultuous fifteen-year-marriage. Still, Brown knows that many, including Houston's family, say he's to blame for her death. Says Brown:

"It makes me feel terrible...But you know, I know differently. I think if anyone ever knew us, if anybody ever spent time around us instead of time lookin' through the bubble -- they would know how we felt about each other. They would know how happy we were together."

While Brown admits to drinking and smoking pot in the past, he tells Lauer he's been sober for the past seven years and was pained to learn his ex-wife was on drugs when she died.

"I was hurt. I was hurt… because, you know, me being off of narcotics for the last seven years -- I felt that she was, you know, I didn’t know she was struggling with it still. But at the same time, you know -- listen, it's a hard fight. It's a hard fight to, you know, maintain sobriety that way," said Brown

The news of Houston's cocaine-related death was particularly surprising to Brown, considering the "glow" he says she had about her when the two had dinner with their, daughter, Bobbi Kristina, just a week before Houston's death.

"She had this -- this glow about her that was just, you know, incredible. You know, and I'm -- I'm saying to myself, you know, 'She must be -- she must be doing really well," because she looked really well."

After years of accusations leveled at Brown over Houston's drug problem, it will be interesting to see how Houston's fans, friends and family react to the claims of innocence by the man many hold responsible for the celebrated singer's death.