Kevin Costner, Alicia Keys Confirmed to Attend Whitney Houston's Funeral

Celebrity News February 16, 2012 AT 7:57PM By Zach Johnson

Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection

Kevin Costner shared an incredible bond with Whitney Houston after shooting 1992's The Bodyguard, and now the 57-year-old actor will honor her memory during her funeral in Newark, New Jersey Saturday.

PHOTOS: Whitney Houston's family album

Houston's rep confirms to Us Weekly that Costner will join Alicia Keys, Clive Davis, Aretha Franklin, Tyler Perry, Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Kim Burrell, Rickey Minor, Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Winans and Cece Winans at the New Hope Baptist Church.

The invitation-only funeral is being held at the same venue where Houston's powerful voice was first heard in the church choir. It will be broadcast online at noon.

PHOTOS: Whitney Houston's incredible legacy

Davis, 79, is expected to speak at the service. "He has truly been a rock for them," a family source tells Us. "They have been leaning on him and he's really taken charge and been a leader in organizing everything. He has been a strong emotional support. The whole family is devastated but trying to get through this."

Once the service is over, Houston will be laid to rest at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey; she will likely be buried next to her father, John Russell Houston, who died in 2003.

VIDEO: Remembering Whitney Houston (1963-2012)

Houston, 48, was found dead inside her Beverly Hills hotel room on February 11, leaving behind 18-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown. The results of Houston's toxicology report are expected in several weeks.

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February 21, 2012 - 7:35am Konadu Darkwah
may your soul rest in perfect peace whitney and may God be with your family
February 18, 2012 - 8:15am Tammy Decker
rip whitney you are and always be rememberd and never forgotten your beatiful voice woll carry all of us on for many many years god bless and our thoughts gout to bobbi christina, cissy,dionnie and aretha and clive davis whom was very close to whitney remember all whitney fans pray for all of you in her untimely passing,I will always llove you and never forget you rest in peace.
February 17, 2012 - 11:24pm Mary Corbin
whitney we all loved you but GOD loves you best no more problems no more heartaches no pain rip
February 17, 2012 - 5:35pm Kim Mc Donald
WOW well I will miss that vioce and smile and to know that she is still singing with God make me more happy /but let us be kind to all of her family her young daughter will carry on with what her mother started and will be the best at any thing she do she got her mother watching over her .Ms Houston R.I.P song for JESUS NOW!!!
February 17, 2012 - 5:27pm Poohbhear Lovebug
My prayers go out to Whitney's daugther Bobbi Kristina and her family...Whitney was beautiful and talented I enjoyed her songs... My prayers also go out to her close friends.......
February 17, 2012 - 4:59pm Ali Sharaf
May your family find strength that yo are at peace and watching over them. Bobbi Kristina and Cissy know you can always talk to her, her spirit will always be around you.
February 17, 2012 - 4:57pm Sandra Grave
Whitney was special to all her fans! She was one of a kind and was touched by God with a voice we will never forget. If we (her fans) care, it is only natural for us to try to speculate the reasons why she was taken from us. But none of us will really know because we cannot reach inside of a person. I can only say that her childhood was filled with her religious singing and upbringing and she was loved by everyone. Also, so vulnerable to be thrown out into the public eye - when singing on the Merv Griffin Show, for instance. And since then, she has had the world at her beckin call. However, experiencing a tumultuous and difficult marriage and trying to hold on so desperately to it, as well as jugle her worldwide singing career must have left her in a pressure cooker!!!! In my view - I honestly don't think she got over Bobbie Brown; and although the fault of the failure was from nothing she did or did not do - she still felt her marriage failed because of her. Think about the fact that Whitney Houston had money, fame, a voice to end all voices, and "to fail" was never in her vocabulary. Now after fighting so hard to keep her marriage, I think she felt she failed as a wife and mother after the divorce. I think it took it's tole on her because it was one thing she could never fix. and I don't think she ever got over Bobby Brown. Judging from his phlandering ways as she has admitted, it had to be a hurtful and gut renching existence. I just wish that there would have been some way she could have had more happiness here in this life and - within herself. She had everything the world could give her, but she made some bad choices and at the top of the tree was Bobby Brown. My opinion! I hope he stays away from her funeral; people go to funerals out of respect - he had none for Whitney in my view.
February 17, 2012 - 4:57pm Janet McDaniel
I too loved her beautiful voice, But, I feel so ANGRY that she didn't think enough of her Beautiful daughter to stay off drugs. She had plenty of people in her corner, who loved her. But it all came down to her selfish need for THE NEXT BIG HIGH! My prayers go out to her sweet daughter, that God will help her overcome this horrible loss and that Bobbi never uses drugs. Hang in there Bobbi, Jesus Loves you and is standing beside you. May you someday have a Happy Life. My prayers are with you.
February 17, 2012 - 4:29pm Lena Ellis
bless you Whitney., thanks for your songs, the athem could not be sung better..thanks also to Dolly Parton for her song.."I will always love you". you Were the Greatest and always will be.... God .Bless you.
February 17, 2012 - 4:22pm Debbi Higgins Lofton
This is not the time to be placing blame. Whitney was a lovely person, inside and out. Yes, she had problems, as we all have had problems. It is truly sad to lose such a talent. I think her heart probably gave out, from the earlier abuse. You might remember the same happened to Karen Carpenter. RIP Whitney....your angelic voice will outlive all of us. God Speed.
February 17, 2012 - 3:52pm Josh Grube
she obviously needed a bodyguard 24/7 - lots of blame to go around here
February 17, 2012 - 3:35pm Teresitz Lewis
RIP Whitney...The world love you and enjoy your voice. Now in Gods arms and sing with joy!. May God Bless you and your family.
February 17, 2012 - 8:27am Vicky Kujawa
RIP Whitney.
February 17, 2012 - 4:24am Franca Imasuen
RIP whitney. . .you are now singing with jesus who will always love you... you will be missed but never forgotten...Stay strong Bobbi Kristina, Cissy, Dionne, and Aretha - Whitney soars with the angels now. . .
February 17, 2012 - 12:42am Mag Payne
Whitney R.I.P. your true fans will always Love you... I send my prayers to Bobbi Kristina, Cissy, Dionne and Aretha and all your family and friends, as a fan of since you grace us with your beautiful voice, you are now singing with jesus who will always love you... you will be missed but never forgotten...
February 16, 2012 - 10:45pm Caroline Djordjevic
RIP Whitney. Stay strong Bobbi Kristina, Cissy, Dionne, and Aretha - Whitney soars with the angels now :))
February 16, 2012 - 10:45pm Courtney Puzzo
not surprised that Kevin was invited to speak at Whitney's funeral they've been friends for more than 20 years. the funeral starts at 9:00 am not noon
February 16, 2012 - 9:57pm Katia Calejo
Rest in Peace and God Bless your family.
February 16, 2012 - 9:57pm Katia Calejo
Rest in Peace and God Bless your family.
February 16, 2012 - 9:46pm Darren N Kim Horton
Mary- no one is taken before their time. God's timing is perfect.