Whitney Houston’s funeral is set to take place in the very same Baptist church where she grew up singing in the choir.
The Queen of Pop will be memorialized in her hometown of Newark, N.J. at the New Hope Baptist Church on Saturday at noon, according to the Associated Press.
Funeral home owner Carolyn Whigham said the service will be invite-only because of the family’s desire to keep the memorial personal.
“They have shared her for 30-some years with the city, with the state, with the world. This is their time now for their farewell,” she said.
Whitney who died at 48 on Saturday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, is expected to receive a star-studded send-off at the church.
“The family has made it very clear there is going to be a strong musical celebration of her life,” pastor Joe Carter told the New York Daily News.
While he said he can’t name names, it’s expected that many famous musicians will be in attendance to help Whitney’s mom, Cissy, and her cousin Dionne Warwick give the pop diva a proper musical goodbye.
Her godmother is Aretha Franklin, and Whitney considered Chaka Khan one of her closest friends. R&B singer Kelly Price, who shared the stage with Whitney during her last performance, and Jennifer Hudson are also expected to attend.
Gospel singer Marvin Winans has been chosen to deliver the eulogy for his longtime friend.
Public memorial in N.J. canceled per family request
Whitney’s fans won’t be able to attend a public memorial that many thought would take place Friday in New Jersey.
Officials at the funeral home involved in the private service said there would be no public memorial at Newark’s Prudential Center, the sports arena that holds 18,000 people that the family had discussed as a possible venue.
The mayor of Newark, Cory Booker, said the town won’t be holding any event for the public.
“The Houston family has no plans to set up a public viewing at the Prudential Center this Friday. In compliance with the family’s wishes, the city is not moving forward with any public ceremony,” Booker said.
Hef’s son arrested for allegedly beating Playmate
Hugh Hefner’s son found himself in jail after he was accused of domestic violence.
The 2011 Playmate of the Year, Claire Sinclair, 20, filed a restraining order against Marston Hefner after officers were called to his apartment. The Associated Press reports that he was arrested after Claire was found with minor injuries.
“I don’t condone domestic violence, but if one ounce of good can come from this bad experience, then I can live with it and move on,” Claire tells TMZ.
“That is why I will not press charges against Marston Hefner if he keeps his word to give a public apology for physically abusing me on several occasions, and seeks psychiatric help for his anger issues.”
Marston has been released from jail after posting the $20,000 bail, according to police and jail records.
Oh Lindsay
Lindsay Lohan appears to be in tax trouble again. According to documents filed yesterday at the L.A. County Recorder’s Office, Lindsay never paid $140,203 in federal income taxes for 2010, TMZ says. Linds blamed her accountants for her 2009 tax trouble when she failed to pay $93,701. One guess who will be blamed this time …
Say What?
“So we’re not going to dwell on the weekend’s sad news, the passing of music legend Whitney Houston. This show can’t really process those types of stories properly with the right authority, class and grace. But you know what’s interesting, neither can CNN.”
– Jon Stewart during his show on a CNN reporter breaking the news of Whitney Houston’s death to people on the streets and capturing their reactions on camera
