Whitney Houston, Superstar of Records, Films, Dies

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Whitney Houston To Be Buried Next to Her Dad

Whitney Houston will be laid to rest in the plot right next to her father's grave at the Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey ... multiple Houston family sources tell TMZ.

According to Whitney's official death certificate, Houston will be buried Saturday at Fairview ... and sources tell TMZ, the decision was made because Whitney WANTED to be laid to rest next to her dad.

Whitney's father, John Russell Houston Jr., died in 2003 ... and as you can see from the above photo there is plenty of space next to his plot for Whitney's tombstone.

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Bobby Brown Officially Invited to Whitney Houston's Funeral

Whitney Houston's family has finally reached out to Bobby Brown ... and have formally invited him to attend Whitney's funeral in NJ on Saturday ... TMZ has learned.

Houston family sources tell us, "At the last minute, the family felt that it would keep the peace at the funeral [to have Bobby there] ... even though some family members were against it."

As we previously reported, several Houston family members were strongly opposed to inviting Brown to the funeral because they blame him, in part, for contributing to Whitney's downfall.

Sources close to Bobby tell us family friends had warned him not to go to the funeral ... but now, with the change of heart, Bobby will definitely be there.

Brown has agreed to perform at a concert at an Indian casino in Connecticut hours after the funeral ... and we're told he plans to leave NJ on a private jet so he can make it to the show on time.

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Whitney Houston Private Viewing Set for TOMORROW

Whitney Houston's family has scheduled a private viewing for tomorrow at the funeral home where the singer's body is currently being held ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell TMZ, the viewing at Whigham Funeral home in Newark, New Jersey is invite only ... with an EXTREMELY tight guest list.

We're told Bobbi Kristina will be there -- it will be the first time she's seen her mother since she passed.

Sources say the family wanted to have a special moment together without cameras around ... and that's why the decision was made to have a viewing the day before the funeral.

TMZ broke the story ... Bobbi tried to get into her mother's Beverly Hilton hotel room the day she died -- but was denied access by law enforcement.

Whitney's funeral is still scheduled for Saturday at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark.

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I think it will be streamed on internet tomorrow.

[apples]

Whitney Houston Funeral to Be Streamed Live Online

               Whitney Houston’s fans will be given a virtual front-row seat for what's shaping up to be a star-studded funeral.

Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, announced Wednesday that The Associated Press will be allowed a camera at Saturday's private service at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J. Viewers can watch the funeral here (9 a.m. PST, noon EST).

Houston got her start singing in the choir of the church, whose pews can seat about 1,500. Houston's mother, Grammy award-winning gospel singer Cissy Houston, led the church's musical program. Houston's cousin, singer Dionne Warwick, also sang in its choir.

On Saturday, Grammy-winning gospel singer and longtime family friend Marvin Winans will deliver Houston’s eulogy. His siblings, the gospel duo BeBe & CeCe Winans (also Grammy winners), could sing at the event, according to the New York Daily News.

Houston's godmother, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder are slated to perform at the funeral, while record producer and longtime Houston champion Clive Davis will speak, according to People. 

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News on the latest developments with Houston's funeral preparations came as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie defended his decision for flags to fly at half-mast throughout the state Saturday in honor of the pop superstar.

In response to complaints that the honor should be reserved for fallen service members, Christie said he had ordered flags flown at half-staff for all 31 fallen New Jersey soldiers and every fallen police officer during his time in office.

He also ordered flags lowered last year for Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.

Christie called Houston, who was born in Newark and raised in neighboring East Orange, a “daughter of New Jersey.”

The Republican governor said he rejected other criticism that Houston "forfeited the good things that she did" because of her struggles with substance abuse.

"I am disturbed by people who believe that because her ultimate demise — and we don't know what is the cause of her death yet — but because of her history of substance abuse that somehow she's forfeited the good things that she did in her life," he said. "I just reject that on a human level."

Houston will be buried after Saturday's funeral at Fair View Cemetery in Westfield, N.J., according to her death certificate. Her father, John Russell Houston Jr., was buried there in 2003.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/celebrity/Whitney-Houston-Funeral-to-Be-Streamed-Live-Online-139429118.html?4

For the record I think this is OK.  He is the Governor and let him do this. She was a beautiful woman and had a beautiful voice. Give this to her family and fans. Get over it.

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Clive Davis to speak at Whitney Houston's funeral

Clive Davis, Whitney Houston's mentor and longtime friend, will speak at her funeral Saturday in Newark, along with other celebrities and colleagues who were close to the singer.

The music mogul, 79, signed Houston to his Arista label in 1983, and she rose to superstardom under his guidance.

Houston, a regular luminary at his annual star-studded Pre-Grammy Gala, was in Los Angeles to attend the party last Saturday night at the Beverly Hilton when her body was discovered that afternoon in her suite at the hotel.

Davis, Sony Music's chief creative officer, has been criticized by Chaka Khan, Sharon Osbourne and others for not canceling the party, but many Houston friends were in attendance and several celebrities told USA TODAY they felt the gathering was respectful and comforting.

"It's kind of like going to church," Tom Hanks said.

Gayle King added, "It's healing to be here, around people who understood."

Reports of tension between Davis and the Houston clan are utterly false, says Kristen Foster, a representative for the Houston family.

"The Houston family thanks God that Clive Davis has been by their side during this terrible time," Foster says. "He has been an unwavering source of emotional support for them, speaking with them hourly, helping them plan the funeral and just being rock-solid."

Also confirmed to participate in the funeral program at New Hope Baptist Church: Tyler Perry, Kevin Costner, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Rickey Minor, Alicia Keys, Dionne Warwick, Marvin Winans, CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin and Kim Burrell

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For the record my opinion  he should have canceled the event. Yet he did not and he didn't ask me........LOL

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Tempers Flare As Whitney Houston Fans Cry Foul Over Being Left Out Of Star’s Viewing

          “I’m a taxpayer in the city … born and raised in this city … They should stop treating us like animals. We’re taxpayers … We made this lady who she is today,” resident Floyd Bishop said.

“Cissy Houston should come out and wave to us and say thank you. She shouldn’t have them keep us away. We bought her music. We helped succeed in what she had done over the years,” added Charlene Williams.

“Taxpayers paying for all this, treating us like we’re from the street or something. Make no sense,” resident Shawn Holsted said.

Because of the Houston family’s request for privacy police have had no choice but to keep the crowds away. Many fans understood.       

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Speakers, songs celebrate Houston at funeral

      Newark, New Jersey (CNN) -- Family, friends and fellow stars remembered Whitney Houston's voice, love and -- most of all -- faith at her homegoing service Saturday at the New Jersey church in which she grew up.

A "who's who" of musical performers adapted lyrics in tribute to Houston, who died a week ago at age 48.

Virtually everyone in the program spoke of Houston's Baptist background and beliefs.

Patricia Houston, the singer's sister-in-law and former manager, said Houston retained her love for God.

"In her final days, she held on to what you taught her to believe in," Patricia Houston said. "I promise you she did."

Actor Kevin Costner received a standing ovation after he spoke of Houston's courage when she tried out for a starring role in the 1992 movie "The Bodyguard."

Speaking at the service in Newark, Costner recounted his own second thoughts of putting her up for the role. She was a novice, he said, and the studio had questions of whether choosing a person of color would be good for the box office.             

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Whitney is laid to rest: American icon's journey 'home' ends with private burial in New Jersey

Top security: The singer's silver casket can be seen inside the hearse, which was escorted to the cemetery by police

Following a very public farewell to Whitney Houston at a funeral attended by thousands yesterday, the late singer was laid to rest surrounded by just a select few in New Jersey today.

The star was buried in a private ceremony at the Fairview Cemetery in Westfield where her father, John Russell Houston Jr., was interred in 2003.

Houston's silver casket was transported to the cemetery in a gold-painted hearse on Sunday morning, closely following a black truck brimming with purple roses, pink carnations and white lilies.

The casket was reportedly watched over by 10 security guards after it left the invitation-only service attended by some of the music world's biggest names yesterday.

Tight security continued throughout the burial, with a heavy officer presence in and around the ceremony in anticipation of fans flocking to the site to say their final goodbyes.

 

Fans carrying banners, flowers and photographs of the late star were gathered along the route to the cemetery as police escorted the hearse. It arrived at the cemetery just before 11.45 a.m.

The driver appeared to be crying as she played the singer's greatest hit I Will Always Love You, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reported.

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Real Name: Whitney Elizabeth Houston
Birthday: 08/09/1963
Birthplace: East Orange, NJ, USA
Occupation: Singer
Sign: Leo
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Rest In Peace Whitney.