Whitney Houston Funeral: Emotional, Star-Packed Tribute
Posted on Feb 18, 2012 @ 03:17PM
Whitney Houston would have loved her send-off Saturday.
From Tyler Perry channeling his inner preacher, to musical tributes by Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, R. Kelly and CeCe Winans, the three and a half-hour funeral was heartfelt, genuine, and loving.
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Kevin Costner, Whitney's The Bodyguard co-star and producer, talked about having also grown up with the Baptist Church, and called that his and Houston's "private bond" on the set. He also revealed how frightened and nervous Whitney was before the studio-ordered screen test for the first-time actress.
Her producer and mentor Clive Davis, who had stood by Whitney even at her lowest points, spoke of their last meeting at the Beverly Hilton hotel, where she told him how she was getting back into shape by swimming every day.
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Ricky Minor, her longtime musical director, shared how Whitney came up with the arrangement for her famous Star-Spangled Banner performance at the 1991 Super Bowl
Dionne Warwicke introduced each participant and gave her own eulogy at what was at it heart very much a church service.
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As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Whitney's ex-husband left the church when his large entourage was turned away at the door.
Fortunately that seemed to have been the only hiccup in what was otherwise a memorably sweet tribute.
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It ended with a performance by the Winans family and a eulogy by preacher Marvin Winans.
A recording of Whitney singing I Will Always Love You played as her casket was taken down the aisle.
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The Daily Juice
Did anyone else gasp when they were puttin the coffin up on the shoulders and it was bumping back and forth?I thought it was gonna fall and we'd have a body rollin on the floor.She probably wasn't even in it.
Posted Sun, 02/19/2012 - 9:22am
They should have talked more about her demons. The truth can set you free.
Posted Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:11am
The Wynan's were a bit over the top. That preacher wanted the spotlight for himself. He was horrible and barely said a word about Whitney until the last 3 minutes of his half hour sermon.
Posted Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:07am
Absolutely WONDERFUL service. At first I felt sad, but as it went on I just felt inspired by the absolute presence of the Holy Spirit. God does not give up on you just because you have problems - if He did, we'd all be in big trouble.
Posted Sat, 02/18/2012 - 9:53pm
Amen! I also loved the Holy Spirit filled preaching! It spoke to me and was a blessing!
Posted Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:29am
I am going to second your Amen and add what a befitting and beautiful service it was! What a send off! I also would like to give props to Governor Christie. May she rest in peace and her loved ones find strength.
Posted Sun, 02/19/2012 - 9:14am
Beautiful going home service. I hope folks will focus on her positives.
Posted Sat, 02/18/2012 - 6:17pm
I'm betting this service was probably a record breaker for the most celebrities ever to attend the funeral of a crackhead junkie. Plus, Ray J and R. Kelly were both there so you know several Jersey girls will be drenched in urine tonight.
Posted Sat, 02/18/2012 - 5:57pm
I was very impressed with all the tributes to GOD. Beautiful! And God bless Gov. Christie for being there and for standing up against the abomination of homo marriage. He received a standing ovation at Whitney's church. Awesome!
Posted Sat, 02/18/2012 - 5:56pm
Your comment just proves how judgmental and dumb Christians really are. Who cares if gays want to marry. People dumb enough to believe in some magical invisible man in the sky are too nuts to deserve a say in such matters.
Posted Sat, 02/18/2012 - 6:19pm