Whitney Houston funeral: Who’s performing and speaking?
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Whitney Houston’s funeral Saturday -- more properly a Baptist ‘home going’ service -- will start at 9 a.m. PST at the singer’s childhood church, New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J.
Here’s who will be speaking and performing during the service, which is expected to run for up to three hours, according to CNN, TMZ and others.
The New Hope Mass Choir and New Jersey Mass Choir will start things off singing ‘The Lord Is My Shepherd,’ followed by a reading of scripture by the Rev. Joe Carter, then the Rev. Donnie McClurkin singing ‘Stand.’
PHOTOS: Whitney Houston’s funeral
Director and actor Tyler Perry, who reportedly provided his private jet to transport Houston’s body back East after the autopsy following her death Saturday in Beverly Hills, will have remarks, followed by CeCe Winans singing ‘Stand’ and then comments by the Rev. T.D. Jakes.
The Rev. Kim Burrell, prominent in the gospel community, will sing ‘I Believe in You and Me,’ followed by remarks from actor Kevin Costner, who co-starred with Houston in ‘The Bodyguard,’ which featured her famous song ‘I Will Always Love You.’
[Updated, at 9:24 a.m. Feb. 18: Some changes were publicized as the service got going. Among the song selection changes were BeBe Winans singing ‘I Really Miss You,’ the Rev. Kim Burrell singing ‘A Change Is Gonna Come,’ Stevie Wonder singing ‘Love’s in Need of Love Today’ and CeCe Winans singing ‘Don’t Cry for Me.’]
Aretha Franklin, Houston’s godmother, was then to have sung ‘The Greatest Love of All,’ but her rep said Saturday morning that she was ill and would not perform. She’s scheduled to sing at Radio City Music Hall on Saturday night, CBS said.
FULL COVERAGE: Whitney Houston’s death
Clive Davis, Houston’s longtime music mentor, will speak, followed by bodyguard Ray Watson, and then ‘A Ribbon in the Sky’ will be performed by Stevie Wonder.
Before a medley by Alicia Keys, band leader Rickey Minor will speak, and R. Kelly will follow Keys’ medley with ‘I Look to You.’
Patricia Houston and Dionne Warwick will then speak on behalf of the family, followed by CeCe Winans singing and the Rev. Marvin Winans performing the eulogy.
The funeral will stream live online and will be broadcast on various TV networks.
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— Christie D’Zurilla
Twitter.com/dzurillaville
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