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    Aretha, Stevie Wonder to sing at Houston's funeral

    NEWARK, New Jersey (AP) — Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder will sing at the private funeral of Whitney Houston on Saturday in what promises to be a very musical service.

    Publicist Kristen Foster also confirms that invitations went out to Houston's ex-husband, Bobby Brown; her co-star in "The Bodyguard," Kevin Costner; and Oprah Winfrey.

    Houston's longtime musical mentor, Clive Davis, will speak at the funeral. The eulogy will be given by gospel singer and longtime family friend Marvin Winans.

    Others who will be part of the program include Donnie McClurkin, Tyler Perry, Kim Burrell, Rickey Minor, Alicia Keys, Dionne Warwick and Cece Winans, Foster said.

    The Queen of Soul was a close family friend and considered Houston her goddaughter; she said in an email Thursday that Houston used to call her "Aunt Ree."

    Organizers were getting the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark ready Thursday for the funeral. Drums and speakers, which were to be part of the musical service, were in the aisles.

    Fans without invitations will be kept far away. Newark police say streets will be shut down for six square blocks around the church.

    But on Thursday, there were several dozen fans outside, contributing to and taking pictures of the makeshift memorial to the superstar outside the church. Media were also outside of the venue.

    Houston died Saturday in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 48.

     
    • A.Nony  •  3 mths ago
      Funny how people make such a huge deal over you and how wonderful you were and how much they'll miss you when you're dead. A very troubled gal at my church died in a car accident and the place was filled to capacity for her funeral. Her parents commented that if she had any idea this many people cared about her, she would have been much happier. It's a lesson for all of us, be kind to and love the people in your life, while you can. Once they're gone, it's too late!
      • netsavvy2001 3 mths ago
        You are never truly appreciated until your dead. Sad fact of life.
      • Captain Hindsight 3 mths ago
        Yeah thats a good lesson, but a better one is dont do crack
      • John B 3 mths ago
        A sad unfortunate fact that most of us will never know how many lives we touch or changed when we were alive ....
    • Judy  •  Elmhurst, Illinois  •  3 mths ago
      Look we all do things in life that others deem as wrong. Who has the right to make defamatory comments about someone they did not know? You folks making these low comments are the ones who need to look into the mirror and face the fact that you, are deficient in life. You have nothing to do, but post mean and heartless comments about someone who has died. You shoudl hope that when you die, you get the attention that Whitney has. Let this poor woman die in peace. Don't you feel guilty about saying all thes crappy things about someone you did not even know. Have you thought about her family and friends who may read these comments and how you make them feel? Listen when someone you love dies, I hope they don't write horrible comments about them. Put yourself in there shoes and feel empathy about what has happened. It is not right to post such unfeeling, mean, and heartless comments about someone you know nothing of. So what if she did drugs? Big deal. Get a life and move on as many of you are a bunch of low life losers with nothing better to do.
      • Jim 3 mths ago
        i don't knock her weaknesses, but would like to know what she did that was helpful to humanity other than her music. anything!!??
      • THE DIVA CLUB 2010 3 mths ago
        Amen!We never realized there were so many losers in the world.The losers haven't contributed a #$%$ thing! not even music.Low class animals--not even humans by a long shot!!!!
      • RAZORJACK 3 mths ago
        Judy, well said. Thank you.
    • Paul e  •  3 mths ago
      I'm 65 and I have seen them come and GO!! God Bless Her Soul. . . .Everybody has experiences in life and some can handle it. . . and some have to make the roll call. . . .BOLLYWOOD is not all HYPED that it is. . . .Humans get caught up in the HIGH ROLLER lifestyle and get used to it. . . . . TYPICAL HOLLYWOOD LIFESTYLE. . . . .RIDE THE CREST OF THE WAVE. . . .. . . . . .. .UNTIL IT HITS THE BEACH/SHORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • felicia  •  Richmond, Virginia  •  3 mths ago
      She was a beautiful person inside and out...no matter what role she took in life she still were a child of God.She became that angle, that believe that she came fly....that voice was the voice that God store upon her and that was a gift from God ..her savior..i will miss you R.I.P. you r the superstar good bad or indifferent..Now you can stetch ur arms to Thee and say I Look To You!!!! You Are So Amazing....My prayers are with your daugther,mother and other member or the family and friends
      • Orly 3 mths ago
        too religious for me.
      • Ciberpuppi 3 mths ago
        "she became that ANGLE"? A right angle? Obtuse? Why can't Jesus teach people how to spell?

        C-Pup
      • Susan 3 mths ago
        we need more of GOD IN THIS STUPID WORLD
    • SHELT  •  3 mths ago
      Stevie and Aretha survived the fame and pressure of being in the limelight. Some do and some dont. Condolences to her only child and loved ones
      • netsavvy2001 3 mths ago
        In life Whitney have may cared a little too much about what ppl thought of her. In 1989 she was booed at the Soul Train awards. That must have really messed her head up and that's about the time she started using drugs.
      • WizardKnight 3 mths ago
        excuses excuses. blame it on soul train.
      • Judy 3 mths ago
        You are a total #$%$ Don't judge people on what they did, I guess you are a saint, correct. Never speak ill of the dead, you friggin #$%$
    • Montaleto  •  Chico, California  •  3 mths ago
      We have made mistakes in our lives and we all had to learn from them. Unfortunetly she was useing pain killers, anti depression pills, sleeping pills, and stabilizer pills to help ween her self off of the coke and weed that she hooked on. Which proved to be too strong for her an addicting and got the best of her people have just a lil respect for her and family and loved ones stop the finger pointing. We all know too well that srtain thing that happen tin her life should not have happend but what can you do if that is where she wanted to be. Even some of the badest drug users would have fallen jus the same. Whitney Houston dearly be missed and loved so just remember her music in stead of who is at fault is. Because it will not bring back. Let those who sufford from tragic passing morn with these kind words that you this not how you show ur respects for her.
    • KAY L  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 mths ago
      Whitney's passing really saddened me. What's cool is we can always hear her music.
      • Orly 3 mths ago
        I have to tip my hat to your comment, thumbs up.
      • KAY L 3 mths ago
        Thank you ORLY, all too often we forget, we're all human and we're all headed in the same direction. We've got no right to judge and I honestly feel compassion for the short life she lived and for the demons who haunted her.
    • Managany  •  East Hampton, New York  •  3 mths ago
      She is someone's daughter, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend etc. I can imagine they are all in a great deal of pain. RIP
    • Maria Canada  •  Monroe, Louisiana  •  3 mths ago
      i will miss her
    • A Yahoo! User  •  New York, New York  •  3 mths ago
      Beautiful, A time to remember what a lovely and talented lady she was. She will always be in our hearts. Flag half mass and wonderful funeral to boot. Family, friends and famous people who have made it economically. So proud but sad for the jealousy of many that have not reached any type of success in life but only reached success with their fingers typing negative and ugly comments. My prayers are for you.
    • Richard  •  Tucson, Arizona  •  3 mths ago
      I just hope everyone, including the media, respects the family amd friends during their time of grief. Miss Whitney RIP
    • John B  •  3 mths ago
      The loss of any life that could have been prevent is always sad and tragic. As a recovering addict and alcoholic, who did not know Whitney Houston or listen to her music, I wonder if she knew people genuinely cared about her or loved her, or if she never knew who wanted to be her friend, just because she was worth knowing and not because she was Whitney Houston. .... It must have been a lonely existence .....
    • Ray  •  3 mths ago
      Many are upset that the funeral is going to be private. Personally, I think some of those only wanted to attend so that they could see the celebs who will be there. This is a grieving family. Let them grieve in their own way, without the prying eyes of the public.
    • THE DIVA 2010  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 mths ago
      IT'S AMAZING WHAT "LOSERS" ALL HATERS CAN BE!
      JEALOUS, NO GOOD, AND RACIST!
      KARMA FOR SPEAKING NEGATIVELY ABOUT THE DECEASED!
    • Chris Manesh  •  Catonsville, Maryland  •  3 mths ago
      She's gone. Let her rest in peace
    • houstonBK  •  Houston, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      i know people saying that everyone's making a big deal after she's gone...its just how the world is. whitney seemed to care most of all about her daughter. it was absolutely an accident and its very very sad!!!

      no finger pointing necessary. pray for the family that grieves! as for Whitney...she's ok! singing beautiful hymns up there somewhere!
    • Stacey  •  Belmar, New Jersey  •  3 mths ago
      It sad the fans can not pay there last respects to Whitney Housten .When she sang she touched us all.Just remember some of the words to her greats hits ''THE GREAT LOVE OF ALL LIVES INSIDE OF ME "! REMEMBER HER ,FOR STRENGTH, COURAGE,FAITH.AND TENDERNESS.She touched us all .On angles wings you fly as we say goodby!!!
    • Mister H  •  Houston, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      OMG...this is getting hysterical. Africans are on the news shows right now claiming they should be allowed in the funeral home because they supported Houston all their lives. Next thing you know, they will be rioting and some how blaming the white people. I'm waiting for them to start wailing in the streets. This will be a circus. The only people not shown on TV are Houston's fellow crack-heads.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  3 mths ago
      im gonna miss whitney. she was a fantastic singer in the eyes of everyone. God Bless you whitney. you'll be missed
    • A Yahoo! User  •  3 mths ago
      Urethra Franklin. He-he... 'sounds like a birth defect.
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