UPDATED Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012 :
Family, friends and celebrities packed into the Newark church where Whitney Houston grew up and remembered the late singer’s voice, love and — most of all — faith at her homegoing service Saturday.
The nearly four-hour service featured performances from Alicia Keys, R. Kelly, the Winans family, Stevie Wonder and others. Many of the performers adapted lyrics in tribute to Houston, including Kim Burrell and Stevie Wonder, who altered his version of one of Houston’s favorite songs, “Ribbon in the Sky.”
Houston died a week ago at age 48 in Los Angeles.
Many of the speakers spoke about Whitney Houston’s Baptist background and her strong faith in God, including an emotional Tyler Perry, who received a standing ovation.
“I am completely thankful to God for all he has done her life,” Perry said. “There is a grace that kept on carrying her. … Whitney Houston loved the Lord.”
Actor Kevin Costner also received a standing ovation after he spoke of Houston’s courage when she tried out for a starring role with him in the 1992 movie “The Bodyguard.”
Oprah Winfrey, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Spike Lee, Roberta Flack, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton and Houston’s former husband, Bobby Brown, were among those in attendance. Brown and his entourage later left the church during the service, but there are conflicting reports as to why he left. SOURCE
Check Out Updates from Whitney’s Funeral Service:
- BOBBY BROWN RELEASES STATEMENT ON WHY HE LEFT WHITNEY’S FUNERAL [VIDEO]
- KEVIN COSTNER ON WHITNEY HOUSTON: “WE HAD A LOT IN COMMON” [VIDEO]
- ALICIA KEYS, STEVIE WONDER, BEBE WINANS, TYLER PERRY SHARE PERSONAL STORIES ABOUT WHITNEY
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Recent Whitney Houston Updates:
- WHITNEY HOUSTON OBITUARY RELEASED
- RAY J SPEAKS ON WHITNEY HOUSTON’S DEATH
- HOUSTON GOSPEL SINGER INVITED TO WHITNEY HOUSTON’S FUNERAL
- ARETHA, STEVIE WONDER TO PERFORM AT HOUSTON’S FUNERAL
- NNETE’S THAT’S WHAT’S UP: BISHOP TD JAKES TALKS ABOUT HIS MESSAGE FOR WHITNEY HOUSTON’S FUNERAL
- SOURCES SAY WHITNEY “FELT LIKE HER TIME WAS COMING”?
PHOTOS: BOBBI KRISTINA SHARES INTIMATE PHOTOS OF WHITNEY HOUSTON [PHOTOS]
- JJ’S POLL: WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE “MOST” IN A WHITNEY TRIBUTE?
- HUDSON HONORS HOUSTON AT GRAMMY’S [VIDEO]
- KELLY PRICE DISCUSSES HER LAST MOMENTS WITH WHITNEY HOUSTON [AUDIO]
- TAMI LATRELL SHARES HOW WHITNEY HOUSTON CHANGED HER LIFE [AUDIO]
- OUR FAVORITE WHITNEY HOUSTON VIDEOS
PHOTOS: TOP 10 DIVAS OF ALL TIME [PHOTOS & VIDEOS]
- WENDY WILLIAMS BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS OVER WHITNEY HOUSTON [VIDEO]
- WHITNEY HOUSTON’S MUSIC RE-ENTERS BILLBOARD CHARTS!
- AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATE WHITNEY’S DOCTORS
- CHAKA KHAN MAD PARTY WENT ON AFTER WHITNEY’S DEATH [VIDEO]
- RAY J DISCUSSING HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH WHITNEY PRIOR TO HER DEATH [VIDEO]
PHOTOS: THE INCOMPARABLE WHITNEY HOUSTON [PHOTOS]
- PRIVATE FUNERAL WILL BE HELD SATURDAY FOR WHITNEY HOUSTON
- SMH REPORTERS NEED TO HAVE RESPECT BOBBY BROWN ARRIVES AT LAX AND IT WAS ABSOLUTE CHAOS!
- TAMI LATRELL REMEMBERS WHITNEY HOUSTON
- AUTOPSY COMPLETE, POLICE FURTHER INVESTIGATE WHITNEY’S DEATH
- QUICK FACTS ABOUT WHITNEY HOUSTON
- BOBBI KRISTINA RUSHED TO HOSPITAL
- CELEBRITIES REACT TO WHITNEY’S UNTIMELY DEATH
- WHITNEY HOUSTON PASSES AWAY AT 48