NEWARK, N.J. — Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder will sing at the private funeral Saturday of Whitney Houston in what promises to be a very musical service.
Publicist Kristen Foster also confirms that invitations went out to Houston's ex-husband, Bobby Brown; her co-star in "The Bodyguard," Kevin Costner; and Oprah Winfrey.
Houston's longtime musical mentor, Clive Davis, will speak at the funeral. The eulogy will be given by gospel singer and longtime family friend Marvin Winans.
Organizers were getting the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., ready Thursday for the musical part of the service, setting up speakers and drums in the aisles.
Fans without invitations will be kept far away. Newark police say streets will be shut down for six square blocks around the church.
Houston's millions of fans worldwide will be able to share in her homecoming service as they watch her private funeral on the Internet and elsewhere.
Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, announced Wednesday that The Associated Press will be the only video camera allowed inside at the funeral in Newark. The AP will stream the service on http://livestream.com/aplive. The event also will be available to broadcasters via satellite.
It will provide a much-needed connection for fans who have lacked a formal place to eulogize Houston, one of the world's best-selling artists who died in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Saturday. She was 48.
Some fans have gathered and placed flowers outside the Newark, N.J., church where the funeral will be held by invitation-only at the request of Houston's family, who wish to maintain some privacy. Others have stopped by the funeral home. But many have longed to share more fully in commemorating the superstar's life, and have shown their grief in one of the few ways available to them — by buying her music.
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