Deborah Cox has started her promotional tour for the musical "The Bodyguard" in the United States. She says there's one important person to thank for stepping into Whitney Houston's shoes - and that's Houston herself. 

Cox and Houston were label-mates and friends, with the late singer mentoring the Canadian recording artist. 

"I take pleasure in the fact that I did know her. I did have a relationship with her. There was a camaraderie there. She was a mentor. There was a sisterhood that we shared. I had that moment where I was one-on-one with her in the studio so it was just really magical. So to be here now years later, 'Same Script, Different Cast' in a different version of a show that made her such an icon - that's where I feel the responsibility," Cox said.

Deborah Cox has started her promotional tour for the musical "The Bodyguard" in the United States.

Cox treasures the time when she and Houston shared a Miami studio to record the duet "Same Script, Different Cast" in 2000. Houston came in, kicked off her shoes and, after the song was done, the two chatted. 

"She'd always say to me, 'Girl, where them babies at? Where them babies at? When are you going to have some babies?' And it was really literally at the time where I was between albums, trying to figure out when I should start my family. That really helped to bring me to where I am today, where I have a family, I have a career, I have a wonderful husband, I have a team support system - and it's because of that advice," she said.

Cox says she's honoring Houston's memory with her appearance in the musical based on "The Bodyguard" - the Oscar-nominated 1992 romantic thriller about a diva who falls for a former Secret Service agent.

The stage version features songs from the movie such as "I Have Nothing," "Run to You" and "I Will Always Love You".

"The Bodyguard" tour kicks off at  New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse this month before making stops in more than 20 U.S. cities.