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| Stars attend Whitney Houston funeral in New Jersey | Stars attend Whitney Houston funeral in New Jersey |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Some 1,500 family and friends are attending the funeral of music star Whitney Houston in Newark, New Jersey. | Some 1,500 family and friends are attending the funeral of music star Whitney Houston in Newark, New Jersey. |
| Her daughter Bobbi Kristina is at New Hope Baptist Church, with many celebrities also in attendance. | Her daughter Bobbi Kristina is at New Hope Baptist Church, with many celebrities also in attendance. |
| Stevie Wonder and Kevin Costner are among the celebrities paying tribute in person. Security is tight, with fans kept away - although the service is being streamed live on the internet. | Stevie Wonder and Kevin Costner are among the celebrities paying tribute in person. Security is tight, with fans kept away - although the service is being streamed live on the internet. |
| Houston, 48, was found dead in a hotel in Los Angeles a week ago. | Houston, 48, was found dead in a hotel in Los Angeles a week ago. |
| Officials are waiting for the results of toxicology tests that will help them ascertain how she died. | Officials are waiting for the results of toxicology tests that will help them ascertain how she died. |
| 'Private viewing' | 'Private viewing' |
| Flags on government buildings in New Jersey are flying at half-mast as the funeral of Whitney Houston is broadcast around the world from the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. | |
| The singer's career took her from this deprived New Jersey neighbourhood to Hollywood and the congregation reflects that journey. Gospel singers are mixing with famous names like Stevie Wonder and Kevin Costner. | |
| Tight security has not deterred the fans who want to see the scene outside the church for themselves. They have been reflecting on Houston's extraordinary talent and her turbulent life. | |
| The family are focusing on paying tribute to the woman who was one of the best-selling female recording artists ever. | |
| Police cordoned off streets surrounding the New Hope Baptist Church, with pockets of fans gathered outside the perimeter. | Police cordoned off streets surrounding the New Hope Baptist Church, with pockets of fans gathered outside the perimeter. |
| A golden hearse was used to transfer Houston's coffin from a nearby funeral home to the church. | A golden hearse was used to transfer Houston's coffin from a nearby funeral home to the church. |
| The coffin, draped with flowers, was escorted into church as a choir, dressed all in white, sang quietly: "Whitney, Whitney, Whitney." | The coffin, draped with flowers, was escorted into church as a choir, dressed all in white, sang quietly: "Whitney, Whitney, Whitney." |
| The church is where a young Houston sang in a gospel choir run by her mother. | The church is where a young Houston sang in a gospel choir run by her mother. |
| Actor Kevin Costner, who starred opposite Houston in The Bodyguard, paid tribute to what he called the "sweet miracle" of her life. | Actor Kevin Costner, who starred opposite Houston in The Bodyguard, paid tribute to what he called the "sweet miracle" of her life. |
| "Whitney returns home today to the place where it all began," he said and urged the nation to "dry our tears, suspend our sorrow and perhaps our anger". | "Whitney returns home today to the place where it all began," he said and urged the nation to "dry our tears, suspend our sorrow and perhaps our anger". |
| He spoke about how they built a friendship, despite their obvious differences, exchanging stories about their childhood and growing up in a Baptist church community. | He spoke about how they built a friendship, despite their obvious differences, exchanging stories about their childhood and growing up in a Baptist church community. |
| Stevie Wonder paid tribute to Houston by singing Love's in Need of Love Today. Alicia Keys performed Send me an Angel. | |
| Aretha Franklin was also due to sing at the service, but the Houston family said she would not be able to attend as she was unwell. | |
| There were also contributions from Clive Davis, her musical mentor, and Houston's cousin Dionne Warwick. | There were also contributions from Clive Davis, her musical mentor, and Houston's cousin Dionne Warwick. |
| Houston will later be buried beside her father, John Russell Houston, at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield. | Houston will later be buried beside her father, John Russell Houston, at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield. |
| A number of Houston's relatives attended a private viewing service at the funeral home on Friday night amid tight security. | A number of Houston's relatives attended a private viewing service at the funeral home on Friday night amid tight security. |
| Houston was one of the world's leading musical artists from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, selling 170 million records worldwide. | Houston was one of the world's leading musical artists from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, selling 170 million records worldwide. |
| Sales of her records have soared since her death was announced last Saturday. | Sales of her records have soared since her death was announced last Saturday. |