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Whitney Houston Funeral: Stevie Wonder, R. Kelly, Alicia Keys and Others Pay Respects

Lia Eustachewich

Update: At the conclusion of Whitney Houston's funeral on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 18), the late superstar's body was carried out of the New Hope Baptist Church to the strains of 'I Will Always Love You,' the song that was her trademark. As the AP reports, the singer's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, broke down and cried, while the Whitney's mother, Cissy Houston, exclaimed, "My baby!"

Update: Choosing to let his music do the talking, R. Kelly stood before the New Hope Baptist congregation at Whitney Houston's Funeral on Saturday and launched straight into 'I Look to You,' a tune he wrote for the singer's 2009 album of the same name.

"We love you, Whitney," he said at the song's conclusion. "Rest in peace."

After Houston's cousin Dionne Warwick read the poem 'Don't Grieve For Me, Now I'm Free,' gospel great CeCe Winans offered up the ballad 'Don't Cry For Me.' She then urged the audience "all over the world" to join her in singing 'Jesus Loves Me.'

Update: Appearing at Whitney Houston's funeral, Stevie Wonder admitted he "had a little crush" on the late singer. He went on to sing a personalized version of 'Ribbon in the Sky' and a moving rendition of 'Love's In Need of Love Today.'

Watch 'Stevie Wonder Reveals Big Secret, Sings for Whitney'

Update: Following Alicia Keys and Kevin Costner at Whitney Houston's Funeral (streaming below), the late singer's industry mentor, Clive Davis, shared his memories of the superstar, recalling how she'd wowed him in her youth and promised recently that she was getting her life together and readying a comeback.

"Was there anything she could not do musically?" Davis asked. "Is there a version of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' that remotely compares to hers?"

At one point, Davis addressed Houston's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, telling her to "always be proud" of her mother. He concluded by imagining Whitney ascending to heaven and singing for god.

"I just know you're gonna raise the roof like no one has done before," Davis said.

Update: Subbing for an ailing Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys sang 'Send Me an Angel' this afternoon at Whitney Houston's funeral. Thanking Houston for all she'd done to foster the talents of younger singers, Keys called the late icon "a beautiful human being."

"She's an angel to us," Keys said. "She's been an angel to us."

Update: Speaking at the funeral of Whitney Houston, his co-star in the 1992 film 'The Bodyguard,' Kevin Costner shared touching, at times funny, stories about the singer. Costner said he fought to include Houston -- as well as 'I Will Always Love You,' the song that would become her signature -- despite the fact she'd never acted before.

"Whitney returns home today to the place it all began, and I urge us all, inside and outside, across the nation and around the world, to dry our tears and suspend our sorrow, and perhaps our anger, just long enough to remember the sweet miracle of Whitney," Costner said.

At the end of his eulogy, he addressed some of the doubts he said the singer felt throughout her career.

"Off you go, Whitney, escorted by an army of angels, to your heavenly father," he said. "When you sing before him, don't you worry. You'll be good enough."

Watch 'Kevin Costner Remembers Whitney in 'The Bodyguard''

Update: Minutes before the start of Whitney Houston's funeral, ex-husband Bobby Brown left the New Hope Baptist Church, the Star-Ledger reports. A source told the paper that Brown arrived with a nine-person entourage he hoped would sit with him the family section. When Brown's people were asked to leave, the bad-boy singer evidently decided to join them and appeared upset as he returned to his Cadillac SUV.

Update: As Whitney Houston's funeral gets underway at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., CNN reports that Aretha Franklin, who had been scheduled to sing 'The Great Love of All,' will not perform at the event. The R&B legend paid tribute to Houston last night at New York City's Radio City Music Hall but has since become ill, according to a rep.

One week after she was found dead in Beverly Hills, Calif., Whitney Houston will be laid to rest today (Feb. 18) in her hometown of Newark, N.J. The invitation-only funeral is set to take place at 12PM EST at the New Hope Baptist Church, where a young Whitney first discovered her voice and set off on a path to superstardom.

Soul legend Stevie Wonder is slated to perform, as is Alicia Keys, one of the countless singers influenced by Houston. Music mogul Clive Davis and Kevin Costner, who co-starred with Houston in the 1992 film 'The Bodyguard,' are among those expected to eulogize the fallen songstress.

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niceguy71653

The desicison to fly the flags at half mast is an insult to everyone who served amd died for their country, not for some drugs.

February 20 2012 at 11:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
niceguy71653

The desicison to fly the flags at half mast is an insult to everyone who served amd died for their country, not for some drugs.

February 20 2012 at 11:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
barkjon2

Today we laid you to rest, and may you rested in peace. I will miss you for sure, we won't talk any more and I won't see any more either, but maybe when I'm feeling must better I will play some of your music. I will always keep you in my heart,and until we meet again.

February 19 2012 at 6:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jupl1

Just a humble thought

-In light of such tragedies what if we all worked as community on lyrics, poem, etc.? Where we work together… where no one is better than anyone else?

-Why not?

-Below is extremely rough/rushed drafts for example/Extremely sorry about that!

Please feel free to do what ever desired with following:

(Please know not trying to make any statements with following, etc! Don’t pretend to have any answers about such subjects! Thank you for understanding!)

(Nay sayers, etc. please don't apply, etc.)

Speaks volumes
When the sensitive die
Are we too insensitive
Even just to try
To ask the real reasons why?

She is beautiful
Inside and out
Dies beneath spirit’s surface… amongst waters of doubt
When will the wise be the ones
To ask what these tragedies are truly all about?

What if we were wrong
About the judgements of History
What really killed him
When all along
Could it not have been you and me?

To say the least
Sadly the countless more
We are all in need of revelations… reach out… save… heal one another
Otherwise what are we truly living for?

When one reaches out… bares their souls
Should these strengths not be praised
For is it not more noble
To seek our own strengths
By eternally comforting those needing to be consoled
Than hiding in the futility of comforting our own insecurities
Judgement's evils and questions raised… need not control?

Bottom line is
We’re all in this life together
And yes we all do rely on one another
For in our present time
And the best of all worlds
Peace without peace within
Never allows for that one true blessed gift
The blessed gifts of peace of the mind

Now if we all always needed somewhere to walk to
Somewhere someplace to call home?

And if we all always needed someone to talk to
Someone somebody when they’re all alone?

What kind of world would that be?

When it’s very simple...
What it comes down to is up to you and me

You and me
You and me

Seek what it means to truly be free

You and me
You and me

For sometimes within such simplicity
Awaits the answers of truly being free
You and me

======== Below is another extremely rough/rushed drafts for example/Extremely sorry about that!

Come in out of the darkness
There’s enough light for us two
Stop chasing shadows
For they can soon stand taller than you

Everyone needs somewhere they can walk to
Somewhere someplace to call their home

Everyone needs someone they can talk to
Someone somebody when they are all alone

Come in out of storm’s rain
For there’s shelter here for us all
Tears can sadly go unnoticed
When shed in lives of pain

Let them fall

Let us comfort you

One and all

Let them fall
Let them fall

For the Sun will shine once again

Not for one but for in doing so… by comforting one another… then for us all

February 19 2012 at 5:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jupl1

Just a humble thought

-In light of such tragedies what if we all worked as community on lyrics, poem, etc.? Where we work together… where no one is better than anyone else?

-Why not?

-Below is extremely rough/rushed drafts for example/Extremely sorry about that!

Please feel free to do what ever desired with following:

(Please know not trying to make any statements with following, etc! Don’t pretend to have any answers about such subjects! Thank you for understanding!)

(Nay sayers, etc. please don't apply, etc.)

Speaks volumes
When the sensitive die
Are we too insensitive
Even just to try
To ask the real reasons why?

She is beautiful
Inside and out
Dies beneath spirit’s surface… amongst waters of doubt
When will the wise be the ones
To ask what these tragedies are truly all about?

What if we were wrong
About the judgements of History
What really killed him
When all along
Could it not have been you and me?

To say the least
Sadly the countless more
We are all in need of revelations… reach out… save… heal one another
Otherwise what are we truly living for?

When one reaches out… bares their souls
Should these strengths not be praised
For is it not more noble
To seek our own strengths
By eternally comforting those needing to be consoled
Than hiding in the futility of comforting our own insecurities
Judgement's evils and questions raised… need not control?

Bottom line is
We’re all in this life together
And yes we all do rely on one another
For in our present time
And the best of all worlds
Peace without peace within
Never allows for that one true blessed gift
The blessed gifts of peace of the mind

Now if we all always needed somewhere to walk to
Somewhere someplace to call home?

And if we all always needed someone to talk to
Someone somebody when they’re all alone?

What kind of world would that be?

When it’s very simple...
What it comes down to is up to you and me

You and me
You and me

Seek what it means to truly be free

You and me
You and me

For sometimes within such simplicity
Awaits the answers of truly being free
You and me

======== Below is another extremely rough/rushed drafts for example/Extremely sorry about that!

Come in out of the darkness
There’s enough light for us two
Stop chasing shadows
For they can soon stand taller than you

Everyone needs somewhere they can walk to
Somewhere someplace to call their home

Everyone needs someone they can talk to
Someone somebody when they are all alone

Come in out of storm’s rain
For there’s shelter here for us all
Tears can sadly go unnoticed
When shed in lives of pain

Let them fall

Let us comfort you

One and all

Let them fall
Let them fall

For the Sun will shine once again

Not for one but for in doing so… by comforting one another… then for us all

February 19 2012 at 5:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Winners take all

RIP Whitney, I loved watching you from the beginning to the end, we all have torches to carry in this world. Your gift was yours, a lot of people benefited from your gift. I hope people who are judging you look at themselves first.

February 19 2012 at 2:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Winners take all

RIP Whitney, I loved watching you from the beginning to the end, we all have torches to carry in this world. Your gift was yours, a lot of people benefited from your gift. I hope people who are judging you look at themselves first.

February 19 2012 at 2:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
speech

R Kelly and CeCe did it for me during the ceremony , but the hero outsde of the church was CNN's Don Lemon, schooling the entire world on black funerals 101 and did an outstanding job of it

February 19 2012 at 1:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
christene

Rose ur such a dipshit! "PASTER" Fletcher ur WAY to judgemental concidering ur a "Paster" (doubt it) but then again if u are i wouldn't be surprised cause i've met the worst people in church, ur the one who needs to repent, thats why i don't go to church cos of people like u!! To my BEAUTIFUL INSPIRING WHITNEY HOUSTON, you was amazing in every way, no one knows ur heart inside out only God and im sure he was happy to open those pearly white gates to let u in! I believe u are resting in peace and now its ur time to live life in the most BEAUTIFUL place ever singing with the Angels and birds eating amazing fruits n veggies! U was a lost soul who had a beautiful heart and was looking for love n acceptance just like the rest of us! RIP!!

February 19 2012 at 1:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to christene's comment
mask917

you are wacked why not put a zillion more post on line....what a dipshit

February 19 2012 at 5:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
christene

Rose ur such a dipshit! "PASTER" Fletcher ur WAY to judgemental concidering ur a "Paster" (doubt it) but then again if u are i wouldn't be surprised cause i've met the worst people in church, ur the one who needs to repent, thats why i don't go to church cos of people like u!! To my BEAUTIFUL INSPIRING WHITNEY HOUSTON, you was amazing in every way, no one knows ur heart inside out only God and im sure he was happy to open those pearly white gates to let u in! I believe u are resting in peace and now its ur time to live life in the most BEAUTIFUL place ever singing with the Angels and birds eating amazing fruits n veggies! U was a lost soul who had a beautiful heart and was looking for love n acceptance just like the rest of us! RIP!!

February 19 2012 at 1:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply