Kevin Costner Applauded for Emotional Speech at Whitney Houston's Funeral
Credit: C Flanigan/FilmMagic
The New Hope Baptist Church was filled with love on Saturday afternoon, as 1,500 family and friends joined together at Whitney Houston's childhood church in Newark, NJ to celebrate her life.
In addition to Houston's mother, Cissy, and her daughter Bobbi Kristina, several celebrities turned up to pay their respects to the late singer in the form of both tribute songs and heartfelt speeches.
PHOTOS: Whitney and Bobby's family album
Actor/director Kevin Costner told a lesson-laden story about casting the "I Will Always Love You" singer in the 1992 flick The Bodyguard, for which he revealed filming was postponed a year until Houston had wrapped her tour.
The 57-year-old actor reminisced how Houston took off the professional makeup and used her own, but the lights melted it right off during her screen test.
"I asked her why she did it, and she said I just wanted to look my best. I asked her to trust me, and she said she would," Costner said. "A half hour later she went back to do her screen test and the studio fell in love with her…Whitney, you weren't just good enough, you were great."
"To you, Bobbi Kristina, and to all those young girls who are dreaming that dream, thinking that maybe they aren't good enough, I think Whitney would tell you, guard your bodies. And guard the precious miracle of your own life. Then sing your hearts out."
Choking up and pausing as he ended his speech, he said, "Off you go Whitney, off you go. Escorted by an army of angels to your heavenly Father. When you sing before him, don't you worry. You'll be good enough."
NEWS: Why Bobby Brown left Whitney's funeral
Before belting out "Send Me An Angel," Alicia Keys remembered how she and Houston would call each other the nickname "Me Ma."
"She would call you for no reason at all, but just to say 'hi,' Keys, who struggled to hold back tears, said. "She was a beautiful human being -- really caring, beautiful, thoughtful."
PHOTOS: Whitney Houston, 1963-2012
Houston's music mentor Clive Davis added, "You wait for a voice like that a for a lifetime. You wait for a face, a presence like that for a lifetime. When one person embodies it all, it takes your breath away. That's what I felt in 1983 when your daughter shattered me with her version of 'Greatest Love of All,'" he said looking at Cissy.
Ray Watson, Houston's bodyguard for 11 years who found her body in her Beverly Hills hotel room Feb.11, said "I lost a friend, a boss, a sister." He wrapped his speech by saying, "We need to respect and love entertainers," adding that entertainers give their lives so people can have enjoyment. His comments we met with a standing ovation from the crowd.
VIDEO: Whitney's ups and downs
Stevie Wonder opened his two-song performance with lyrics, "I want to give praise to the Father for Whitney from God's choir of love."
Tyler Perry spoke of the singer's everlasting grace. "She had a grace that kept on carrying her all the way through her life. It was the same grace that carried her home."
Tell Us What You Think
29I loved me some Whitney, by the personality presence that was only accessible via TV and public appearances of photo shots and interviews! I knew I understood and related to Whitney, as did Kevin Costner, and now I know why? Just today I noticed her b. day is one day after mine. I'm Aug 8th and Aug 9th. Wow all this time I had never noticed that! I just always felt her, and knew what she was going through and just knew how she really felt and what was basically true and not true from media. I also could feel her happiness and understand her sadness and struggles, even to the point how she could and did unfortunately end up in some situations! LOVE, she loves for real and hard and True, so for that alone contributing to love to one another, she will be rewarding cos our lord came and caught her hand and took her own home. He knew her heart see, like I do and what a blessing in his arm she is enjoying. Peace, everlasting happiness. She knew of him, and very knowlegeable of his word and how he works, so that's why she was able to and endure go through all that until she peacefully was taken home. See A word saying in the bible meant: "It's better to not know him" then to know, and disregard that you know" Even though she made some wrong turns, because she dared to love so great! But she never forgot she knew him and of his word. She kept it and expressed it til she was at bottoms, and thought she was not good enough from things she had done, but at the end she still dared to remember and spoke of him to the end is why her success in the end is in the highest place, even higher than she could get here on earth. Isn't that something.She spoke of him (Heavenly Father) with Oprah, Diane Sawyer and to the end!
Awww,that Kevin.Classy gentleman. :)
Awww,that Kevin.Classy gentleman. :)
Kevin did a wonderful job. It was really sweet and touching and I almost cried.
tell me why do they have to say all the bad stuff about people when it was done and over befour this day came?if god can for give us for our wrong doing and let it be in the pass,why can"t we do the same,sure it is ok to say how you think some one left this world,but to talk about pass tence.none of us are prefection we all do wrong,so let the pass be the pass,talk about what she did as far as the good in her.she was a good person in heart and soul.she was a great mother,wife daughter,sister,and cous.if god can for give her so should you all.god bless all of gods angles he has called home,hope and pray that he calls you home. love from the brunson family.
The death of Whitney Houstin proves once again that life, love and happiness don't always go hand and hand and that we are all vulnerable to vision that the Lord has in store for all of us, no matter who we are and what we have accomplished in our very short and somtimes sweet lives. May God bless to all and especially to those who are touched by someone eleses life.
I found a great dating bisexual site DATEBI*C'O'M. It is a serious& safe dating site for the bisexual and bi-curious individuals to meet in a friendly and comfortable environment. It hopes that all members can make new friends and establish romantic relationships. I have to say DATEBI*COM the best site I have ever joined so far. They verify all members. Unlike other sites,NO scammers or fake profiles here, and you can meet many rich or mature women as well, including celebs, famous stars.BEST OF LUCK!
I found a great dating bisexual site DATEBI*C'O'M. It is a serious& safe dating site for the bisexual and bi-curious individuals to meet in a friendly and comfortable environment. It hopes that all members can make new friends and establish romantic relationships. I have to say DATEBI*COM the best site I have ever joined so far. They verify all members. Unlike other sites,NO scammers or fake profiles here, and you can meet many rich or mature women as well, including celebs, famous stars.BEST OF LUCK!
I found a great dating bisexual site DATEBI*C'O'M. It is a serious& safe dating site for the bisexual and bi-curious individuals to meet in a friendly and comfortable environment. It hopes that all members can make new friends and establish romantic relationships. I have to say DATEBI*COM the best site I have ever joined so far. They verify all members. Unlike other sites,NO scammers or fake profiles here, and you can meet many rich or mature women as well, including celebs, famous stars.BEST OF LUCK!
To Filomena Araujo. I am sure you meant well, but didn't think out what you were saying. Have you, or do you have a daughter that has been abused? What would make you feel like Bobby Brown should have been the one giving that speech. The man that gave the speech was quite careing. He had nothing to hide. Why would the color, black and white disturb you?? That day has gone forever ! I might be related to you! Think, Think, and I am black
To Filomena Araujo. I am sure you ment well, but didn't think out what you were saying. Have you, or do you have a daughter that has been abused? What would make you feel like Bobby Brown should have been the one giving that speech. The man that gave the speech was quite careing. He had nothing to hide. Why would the color, black and white disturb you?? That day has gone forever ! I might be related to you! Think, Think, and I am black.
Kevin really poured his heart out. Job well done!
Kevin Costner - definitely a class act, and a heartfelt send off for a classy lady. May more follow your lead.
Kevin, the world would be a better place if everyone strives for your heart and soul. Thanks for working with our African queen, Whitney Houston, over the years. Her concert in South Africa still keeps me wondering about her sense of justice and love for Africa. I grew up as a teenager listening to her music. Rest in PEACE, Whitney.
Well done, Kevin! One of the best eulogy I've ever heard..heartfelt sincere and enlightening, it brought me tears... Imagine if more celebrities were as open about their faith as they are being at the funeral... RIP Whitney
Kevin Costner came closer than anyone to explaining the horrible mystery of why this beautiful talented woman SEEMS to have taken her own life, "She didn't think she was good enough, which was both the reason for her successful efforts to excel and her self-doubts leading to the satanic 'comfort' of Lorazepam. I'm pretty cynical but the reason NBC kept with this service for 4 hours, was because there was substance coming from those speakers, and little if any grandstanding. Thank you for that memorable ceremony.
Thank you to the Houston family for allowing the fans to attend this memorial service. It was beautiful and perfect send out for Whitney. That being said am I the only one who felt Kevin Costner's speech was too long... he said "damm" in the church and it was too much about him! Did you see the Pastor's face? And Clive Davis... Who I know Whitney like a adopted dad... the man who still threw his party when her dead body was in the same hotel?!!! He too talked too much about himself and kept throwing in "my bungalow". You are in Newark, NJ! Nobody cares about your Beverly Hills Bungalow! You could see it on the faces behind him. I'm sorry... it just touched a nerve. Stevie Wonder's "Love's in need of love today" is such a beautiful song and I was very happy he chose to share it with the world in remembrance of the beloved Whitney. Everybody who sang was wonderful in their tribute. When they cued "I will always love you" when carrying out the casket, was the saddest moment and yet it was a perfect ending with her beautiful voice saying Goodbye...
This must have been a rehearsal or something, because Costner's suit was black and he was wearing a black tie and white shirt. I thought he did a really good job giving his speech, but he could have left out the Black and White comments. This service wasn't about Whitney being black and Kevin being white, it was about Whitney's accomplishments and her life. Other than that, I thought he looked good and did a fairly decent job. I would have really preferred to see Bobby Brown giving a speech at the service, but that's just me. I think a speech coming from the man who knew her best (Bobby) would have been much more profound than some guy she made a movie with 14 years ago.
I always thought her and Kevin would make a great couple off screen,his speech was perfect.
We will always love you, Whitney - RIP