Whitney Houston's Livestreamed Funeral Will Feature Aretha Franklin, Kevin Costner, Stevie Wonder

Flowers, balloons, photos and personal messages to Whitney Houston at New Hope Baptist Church (AP)

The funeral for Whitney Houston is open only to invited guests—who include Aretha Franklin, Kevin Costner, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey, and Stevie Wonder so far—but the public will get a chance to observe the services through a livestream. The AP will broadcast the funeral at http://livestream.com/aplive: "It will provide a much-needed connection for fans who have lacked a formal place to eulogize Houston, one of the world's best-selling artists who died in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Saturday at the age of 48."

Details about the funeral, scheduled for Saturday, have been leaking out: Kevin Costner, her bodyguard co-star, will speak as will her mentor Clive Davis. Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder will perform, according to reports. Others guests expected are Elton John, Bill Cosby, David Bowie, and Chaka Khan.

Houston's cause of death has not been released yet; it's believed that she was taking prescription drugs before she was found unconscious in her bathtub at a Beverly Hilton suite on Saturday. NJ Governor Chris Christie has been getting flak for asking that NJ state flags be flown at half-mast in honor of Houston, noting that she "was an important part of the fabric, the cultural fabric of this state." But annoyed people Tweeted at him, "Whitney is no hero, she was a crack head who killed herself. Our flag is not to be lowered for a junkie." Christie replied, "Flag being lowered for her cultural contributions as an artist & New Jerseyan. Her struggles w/substance abuse r a diff topic."

The other drama around Houston's funeral involves ex-husband Bobby Brown. At first, it was rumored he was not invited because her family didn't want him; now it seems like he's going but he'll still perform with New Edition after the services. And the family is also reportedly worried Brown will try to get his hands on Houston's money via their child Bobbi Kristina.

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By Jen Chung in Arts & Entertainment on February 16, 2012 6:24 PM

Comments [rss]

Bernie_Geotz_Squirrel_Luv

I didn't know how generous she was. She gave the proceeds from her Star Spangled Banner song to cops and 9-11 funds.

Mike_Nesmith

Too bad Kevin Costner, Clive Davis, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Bill Cosby, David Bowie, and Chaka Khan didn't show up at her intervention.

Joyce

You know we all have it very lucky. We are not God, we do not have to judge anyone much less Miss Whitney. That family has lost a loved one, the daughter has lost her mother. Stand with them, hold them close. And ask God to forgive you becuse you took his place in trying to judge a beautiful lady who accidently died in her bathtub, as anyone could if they were relaxed and comfortable.
Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Mike_Nesmith

Who is all gettin' all judgey now joyce?

airtech1

Seems like the sad narrative of celebrity 'friends.' Folks devoted to her for one thing only -- her heavenly voice and how it came to make them feel (and of course, the money that generated). But flesh-and-blood friendship --- courage to 'be in her business', the accountability, the taking of personal time and effort at the risk of losing her and the friendship to at least try and help her? The rest of us can only be so lucky to have those kind of amigos in life.

whiteiris

So Costner does a movie with her 30 years ago and suddenly he's responsible for her death? Intervention doesn't always work.

Roger_the_Shrubber

Good one.

Rocknrope

I heard that the Westboro Baptist Church is going to picket the funeral. I cannot wait to see some racist asses get a long overdue royal kicking.

Midnight Fapper

why is it ok for you to hate on racists?

sounds like it's two sides of the same coin.

Rocknrope

It's ok to hate on racists because they're assholes. But you already knew that.

airtech1

Hope not. They definitively don't represent the faith of New Hope Baptist and throngs of other Christian communities. They may hijack a pathetic headline or two, but will have to answer for it in the end.