Many fans worldwide were quite dissappointed when it was announced, Whitney Houston’s funeral would be private and there would be no public memorial. Now, fans who want to share in Whitney Houston’s farewell will be able to watch her private funeral on the Internet.
Her publicist, Kristen Foster, announced that The Associated Press will be allowed a camera at the Saturday ceremony in Newark, N.J. The AP will stream the service online. The event also will be available to broadcasters via satellite. http://livestream.com/aplive
CNN has announced they will televise the funeral services.
According to Entertainment Tonight, music mogul Clive Davis personally asked Whitney’s godmother, R&B legend Aretha Franklin, to perform at the funeral. Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, and BeBe and CeCe Winans are also scheduled to perform. CNN reports Houston’s co-star in “The Bodyguard”, Kevin Costner, and Whitney’s mentor Clive Davis will speak at the service. Longtime family friend, gospel singer Marvin Winans, will deliver the eulogy. Tyler Perry, Rickey Minor and Houston’s aunt, Dionne Warwick, will also take part, publicist Kristen Foster revealed.
Rev. Jesse Jackson, R. Kelly, Elton John, and Beyonce and Jay-Z are also expected to be in attendance.
Foster also confirmed that Houston’s ex, Bobby Brown, has been invited to the service. People reports that Brown, who has rejoined the New Edition 30th Anniversary tour, would be in attendance at the service, but planned to leave immediately after for a New Edition concert that evening.
Houston was born in Newark. She died in Beverly Hills, California, on Saturday at the age of 48. Her body was flown back to her native New Jersey on Monday.
The service will be at New Hope Baptist Church, where she sang as a child. She will be buried in Fair View Cemetery in Westfield, where her father, John Russell Houston Jr., was buried in 2003. Reportedly, Houston had asked to be buried next to her father.
