Whitney Houston's voice soars at hometown funeral

NEWARK, NJ -  Whitney Houston will be laid to rest Sunday in her home state of New Jersey. She's to be buried next to her father, John, a day after her funeral, which came a week to the day after Houston's death in a Beverly Hills hotel room at the age of 48.

   The troubled superstar was remembered in a nearly four-hour service at the new Hope Baptist Church in Newark. The star-studded ceremony was presided over by Houston's cousin, Dionne Warwick, and featured words and music from such show-biz luminaries as Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, R. Kelly and mentor Clive Davis. Actor Kevin Costner remembered his "Bodyguard" co-star as someone who succeeded despite her self-doubts.

   Houston's ex-husband, Bobby Brown, appeared briefly but ended up walking out. He later said that he and his children were asked repeatedly to move, and that he wanted to avoid a possible scene.

   The service concluded with a recording of Houston's voice singing "I Will Always Love You" as her silver-and-gold casket was carried from the church. Her mother, Cissy, and daughter, Bobbi Kristina, followed the coffin, sobbing in grief.