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Celebs Speak at Whitney's Funeral

Houston's service taking place in New Jersey, being live-streamed

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 18, 2012 9:15 AM CST | Updated Feb 18, 2012 3:20 PM CST

(Newser) – Celebrities are flocking to Whitney Houston's funeral service today in New Jersey, where Houston's cousin Dionne Warwick is presiding, MSNBC reports. (It's being streamed here.) Among the remarks made by America's entertainers:

  • Tyler Perry spoke about a constant in Houston's life: a "grace that kept on carrying her all the way through, the same grace led her all the way to the top of the charts. She sang for presidents."

  • Kevin Costner recalled a co-star in The Bodyguard who "still wondered, 'am I good enough? Am I pretty enough? Will they like me?'" Uncertainty about her fame "was the burden that made her great and the part that caused her to stumble in the end."
  • Gospel singer BeBe Winans remembered Houston's "craziness"—and the day she offered at the top of her fame to sing services to him, saying, "Y'all are broke, right?"
Houston's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, held up Houston's mother Cissy in the front row. At the end, when Houston's casket was carried out, "I Will Always Love You" played over the speakers. Bobbi Kristina sobbed and Houston's mother cried out: "My baby!"

A coffin holding the remains of singer Whitney Houston is carried into the New Hope Baptist Church.
A coffin holding the remains of singer Whitney Houston is carried into the New Hope Baptist Church.   (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Two women pause near a memorial display outside the church.
Two women pause near a memorial display outside the church.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
A woman holds a poster near the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark.
A woman holds a poster near the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark.   (Getty Images)
A woman carries a poster of Whitney Houston near the New Hope Baptist Church.
A woman carries a poster of Whitney Houston near the New Hope Baptist Church.   (Getty Images)
A Whitney Houston fan looks at photos of her near the church.
A Whitney Houston fan looks at photos of her near the church.   (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Singer Stevie Wonder, right, leaves the funeral service for Whitney Houston at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J.,  Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012.
Singer Stevie Wonder, right, leaves the funeral service for Whitney Houston at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Bobby Brown, left, is greeted outside during the funeral of his ex-wife Whitney Houston at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012.
Bobby Brown, left, is greeted outside during the funeral of his ex-wife Whitney Houston at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
The Rev. Jesse Jackson leaves Whigham Funeral Home after visiting with the family of Whitney Houston before going to her funeral in Newark, N.J. on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson leaves Whigham Funeral Home after visiting with the family of Whitney Houston before going to her funeral in Newark, N.J. on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012.   (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Renee Taylor of Baltimore stands with a sign a few blocks from the New Hope Baptist Church.
Renee Taylor of Baltimore stands with a sign a few blocks from the New Hope Baptist Church.   (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
The hearse carrying the body of Whitney Houston leaves Whigham Funeral Home in Newark for a short ride to the New Hope Baptist Church.
The hearse carrying the body of Whitney Houston leaves Whigham Funeral Home in Newark for a short ride to the New Hope Baptist Church.   (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, center, leaves Whigham Funeral Home after visiting with the family of Whitney Houston before going to the New Hope Baptist Church for her funeral.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, center, leaves Whigham Funeral Home after visiting with the family of Whitney Houston before going to the New Hope Baptist Church for her funeral.   (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Candles burn at a memorial at a memorial to Whitney Houston outside New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., early Saturday.
Candles burn at a memorial at a memorial to Whitney Houston outside New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., early Saturday.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
A person stops at a memorial to Whitney Houston outside New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., early Saturday.
A person stops at a memorial to Whitney Houston outside New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., early Saturday.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Mounted police prepare for the funeral service for Whitney Houston outside near the New Hope Baptist Church.
Mounted police prepare for the funeral service for Whitney Houston outside near the New Hope Baptist Church.   (Getty Images)
The Rev. Jesse Jackson arrives at the New Hope Baptist Church for funeral services.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson arrives at the New Hope Baptist Church for funeral services.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Police officers stand on a roof near the New Hope Baptist Church.
Police officers stand on a roof near the New Hope Baptist Church.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 9 comments
saucier111
Feb 19, 2012 1:42 PM CST
Personally I've alwayse loved Whitney, what a great voice and beautiful lady. Their is no one that is perfect, and some are haunted by their ghosts more than others. This goes out there to you bible thumpers that think you are better than other people, you are not. Did you ever hear the story of Lamech, well part of it is in your bible. That is right he was Noah step dad, being Noah was born a virgin birth. Religion is all man made, the biggest hoax ever played on man kind. Have you ever heard of the tree of knowledge or the forbidden knowledge, This will be called truth and reality in the near future.  
Spudsy
Feb 18, 2012 1:26 PM CST
The infatuation with this crackhead's death and funeral does not give me much hope for the intelligence of our country.  It's on four cable stations right now.  Mike Colalillo died less than two months ago. He was 86 and never did crack or shack up with a thug.  He did kill nazis and save his comrades while earning the Medal of Honor.  From his Medal of Honor citation.  Private First Class Mike Colalillo, 2d Squad, 2d Platoon, Co. C, 1st Battalion, 398th Infantry, 100th Infantry Division was pinned down with other members of his company during an attack against strong enemy positions on 7 April 1945 in the vicinity of Untergriesheim, Germany. Heavy artillery, mortar, and machine gun fire made any move hazardous when he stood up, shouted to his company to follow, and ran forward in the wake of a supporting tank, firing his machine pistol. Inspired by his example, his comrades advanced in the face of savage enemy fire. When his weapon was struck by shrapnel and rendered useless, he climbed to the deck of a friendly tank, manned an exposed machine gun on the turret of the vehicle, and, while bullets rattled around him, fired at an enemy emplacement with such devastating accuracy that he killed or wounded at least 10 hostile soldiers and destroyed their machine gun. Maintaining his extremely dangerous post as the tank forged ahead, he blasted three more positions, destroyed another machine gun emplacement and silenced all resistance in this area, killing at least three and wounding an undetermined number of riflemen as they fled. His machine gun eventually jammed; so he secured a submachine gun from the tank crew to continue his attack on foot. When our armored forces exhausted their ammunition and the order to withdraw was given, he remained behind to help a seriously wounded comrade over several hundred yards of open terrain rocked by an intense enemy artillery and mortar barrage. By his intrepidity and inspiring courage Private First Class Colalillo gave tremendous impetus to his company's attack, killed or wounded 25 of the enemy in bitter fighting, and assisted a wounded soldier in reaching the American lines at great risk to his own life.[3] That is all. Go back to your obsession with this skanky crackhead that sang other people's songs and was born into show business.  Rest in peace and thank you, Mr Colalillo. I wish I could have known you. 

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