This was SO moving. The 2012 Billboard Awards took place overnight and Whitney Houston received the 'Millennium Award'. But first, Whoopi Goldberg spoke about her late friend.
Then, the really moving part, when John Legend and Jordin Sparks (her rendition of 'I Will Always Love You' sounds so much like Whitney, it's uncanny) sing her songs.
It's especially emotional when they cut to Whitney's daughter, Bobbi Kristina crying and mouthing the words to her late mother's most famous tune.
Here is the clip of the speech Kevin Costner gave at Whitney Houston's funeral, or 'home going' as her family called it - the common term used for a memorial service in the African American community.
Kevin's words are all beautiful, deeply moving... with some fun anecdotes and surprising stories, like getting the film studio to wait a whole year to shoot their famous movie 'The Bodyguard' because Whitney had touring commitments.
And Whitney's nervousness at being able to perform her role well.
His final words are very emotional:
And here is the original trailer from The Bodyguard (who hasn't seen this movie several times?):
With fans of the late Whitney Houston desperate to honour the singer in any way they can, they have now been granted their wish with news the singer's funeral is to be televised around the world, including Australian TV.
The memorial is set for Saturday (US time) at the New Hope Baptist Church in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey, and will be invitation only – to be attended by a congregation of 1500 people, consisting of family and close friends.
To ensure that her millions of fans get a chance to say goodbye, Houston's family has agreed to make the service available for television broadcast. E! will air three hours of live coverage, commercial free, including commentary from the E! News studios and a live memorial feed on Sunday, February 19th at 3:30am AEDT.
On the guest list will be: Chaka Khan and CeCe Winans, songwriter Diane Warren, R&B singers Brandy and Darlene Love, record producer Antonio “L.A.” Reid, and Houston’s co-star in The Bodyguard Kevin Costner, who a family source tells E! News, will speak along with Houston’s mentor, music mogul Clive Davis. Brandy's brother and Houston's recent party companion Ray Jis also on the list.
Whitney's godmother, 'the queen of soul' Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder are both expected to sing at the funeral, which is being planned by Houston's cousin, singer Dionne Warwick.
Pastor Marvin L. Winans, a close friend of the Houstons, will preside over the service. He also officiated the marriage of Whitney to Bobby Brown in 1992.
Whitney Houston Memorial airs Sunday, February 19th at 3:30am AEDT (no repeats) only on E! (channel 121 on Foxtel and Austar).
Whitney Houston's death last week was a shock to her millions of fans.
And now, all the magazines have started delivering their editions honouring the singing superstar.
In a 20-page special, Who magazine pays tribute to the talent - and the tragedy - of the pop icon and troubled singer, reflecting on her life in pictures, her musical achievements and her addictions... which ultimately claimed her life at the age of just 48.
The issue chronicles Whitney's life: from her teen model years, to her transition to music, and her rapid rise to global fame, including her notorious marriage to rapper Bobby Brown.
The issue also unearths details of Whitney's last few days, and reveals what really happened in her shocking final hours.
Aretha Franklin tells Who mgazine: "Let us all applaud and remember Whitney. Remember the hits. Forget the misses. A true superstar has gone on."
Indeed.
The public's appetite for all things Whitney is currently insatiable (who hasn't logged onto YouTube to revisit her songs, her interviews, even clips from controversial show 'Being Bobby Brown' - I have) and this week's edition of Who is definitely a collector's issue (I have already snuck a peek at the other weekly mags and as always, Who's version is the most comprehensive of them all).
On sale now and until Thursday next week.
Here is the entire Diane Sawyer interview with Whitney Houston, where Whitney infamously coined the phrase: "Crack is whack".
