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Mel Evans / AP
Candles burn at a memorial to Whitney Houston outside New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., early Saturday.
Editors note: Further updates on the Whitney Houston funeral will be posted here.
Updated 10:05 a.m. ET: Hearse carrying Whitney Houston's casket has arrived at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, a church where Houston sung as a child. Watch live video from the New Hope Baptist Church here.
Updated 9:45 a.m. ET: Whitney Houston's casket has departed Whigham Funeral Home in a gold hearse, escorted by a police motorcade, NBC News reports.
Soul, gospel and pop music greats from the past and present are set to mourn Whitney Houston Saturday, a week after the sudden death of the singer whose spectacular voice and best-selling albums made her one of biggest pop stars of her era.
Houston, who died in a Beverly Hills hotel room last week, recorded stirring love songs and vibrant, dance tunes during a 30-year career that peaked with her 1992 signature hit "I Will Always Love You."
She was due to be honored by family and friends at a funeral service in her native Newark, New Jersey. While the world knew her as one of the greatest artists of her generation, to her family and friends, she was just "Nippy."
NBC's Reheme Ellis reports.
A nickname given to Houston when she was a child, it stuck with her through adulthood and, later, would become the name of one of her companies.
There was a heavy police presence outside the invitation-only funeral on Saturday and streets were cordoned off.
Houston's body was expected to leave a nearby funeral home under tight security en route to the church. Fans have been urged to stay home and watch the funeral on the Internet or television.
Keys, Wonder, Franklin, Warwick
The funeral is for invited guests only. Houston is scheduled to be buried next to her father, John Houston, in nearby Westfield, N.J.
Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Houston's cousin Dionne Warwick will sing and speak at the New Hope Baptist Church, where Houston sang as a child in the choir with her mother, Cissy Houston, who was a backup singer for Franklin.
Hollywood stars Kevin Costner and Tyler Perry and Houston's mentor, record producer Clive Davis, were also scheduled to speak. Oprah Winfrey, Elton John, Beyonce and Bill Cosby were expected to attend the service.
In this TODAY exclusive, singer Aretha Franklin talks with TODAY's Al Roker about her reaction to the death of Whitney Houston, her close friend.
Houston's family decided against a public memorial, but fans were expected to crowd the streets around the church and nearby cemetery where she is due to be buried.
Many have left flowers, cards and balloons dedicated to the singer who became a global star with her 1985 debut album that included the hits "Saving All My Love For You," "How Will I Know" and "Greatest Love Of All."
Houston was among the greatest singers of the 1980s and 1990s, but her personal life and marriage to singer Bobby Brown was tumultuous. She admitted to heavy use of cocaine, marijuana, alcohol and prescription pills.
Read more on Houston's death:
Franklin jumped out of bed at Houston news
Source: Houston was under 24/7 supervision
Inside Houston's last recording session
Her death at age 48 shocked her family, fans and the music industry. Houston was found underwater in a hotel bathtub on the eve of the music industry's Grammy Awards. A cause of death has yet to be determined.
Houston grew up surrounded by gospel and soul music legends like Franklin and Warwick. She later forged new territory for a black, female artist who brought R&B and gospel touches into pop music's mainstream.
After her debut, her popularity grew exponentially with her second album, "Whitney" (1987), with all four singles -- "Didn't We Almost Have It All", "So Emotional", "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" -- hitting No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Coping with fame
Her music videos featuring her 1980s style and innocent, fun-loving image made her wildly popular around the world. In the 1992 movie "The Bodyguard," co-starring Costner, Houston played a character not far removed from her real self: an international singing sensation coping with fame.
She made other films including "The Preacher's Wife," but the 15-year period when she was married to singer Brown coincided with a decline in the quality and frequency of her albums. The couple, who have an 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, divorced in 2007.
Houston's powerful voice suffered in recent years. On her last world tour in 2010, she struggled to hit high notes.
She spoke publicly about her struggles with addiction.
In a 2002 interview, TV journalist Diane Sawyer asked Houston what was the "biggest devil" among her failings. Houston answered: "Nobody makes me do anything I don't want to do. So the bigger devil is me, I am either my best friend or my worst enemy."
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Farewell and Peace at last.
SELFLESS SERVICEPut the welfare of the Nation, the Army and your subordinates before your own.
Selfless service is larger than just one person. In serving your country, you
are doing your duty loyally without thought of recognition or gain. The basic
building block of selfless service is the commitment of each team member to go a
little further, endure a little longer, and look a little closer to see how he
or she can add to the effort,.
I am pretty sure anyone in the United States Armed Forces live by this rule. I served for over 30 years and all I would like is a thank you. RIP Whitney Houston my prayers go out to you and your family and the US MILITARY HOORAH
"... the troubled singer"
Couldn't have said 'the singer'... had to say '...the troubled singer'
MSNBC = No Class
SELFLESS SERVICEPut the welfare of the Nation, the Army and your subordinates before your own.
Selfless service is larger than just one person. In serving your country, you
are doing your duty loyally without thought of recognition or gain. The basic
building block of selfless service is the commitment of each team member to go a
little further, endure a little longer, and look a little closer to see how he
or she can add to the effort,.
I am pretty sure anyone in the United States Armed Forces live by this rule. I served for over 30 years and all I would like is a thank you. RIP Whitney Houston my prayers go out to you and your family and the US MILITARY HOORAH
We can thank Christie for the half mast BS ....great singer and greater cocaine user yeah donate to the hall of fame for all of them users.
Forget the guys risking there lives so they can sing ......IT takes .....Balls man
seal team 6: SELFLESS SERVICE ???
While "IF" you "really did serve anywhere" let alone with the Navy Seals, I, as most, would "want" to thank you for "your supposed 30 years of service", but your moniker and "all about me and my service" message leave far more questions than answers.
#1. I've met plenty of "lifetime veterans" from all branches of the service and I have yet to meet any, especially "Navy Seals" who would flaunt that in any way, let alone use it as a moniker?
#2. If your "supposed service" was "so SELFLESS" and "without thought of recognition or gain" as you put it, WHY are you even asking for a "thank you"? Your contradictory statements make no sense. The fact that your "all about me and my service message" was posted twice raises causes even more skepticism.
#3. Most of all, while "IF you did serve" that is a great thing... TODAY is NOT about "your service, you, or the U.S. Military or HOORAH", this article TODAY is about Whitney Houston.
RIP Whitney
Finally, her funeral is today. For a week, this non story has dominated the MSN homepage. So, MSNBC, can we PLEASE have some real newsworthy headlines tomorrow??
And what business is it of yours Speedy concerning the military background of seal tean 6? As for veterans not flaunting their military service, have you ever been to a Vets Day Parade, American Legion meeting, or Military Birthday Ball? Most are very proud of their service and many take every opportunity to tell their story. The way I perceived SLT'6's comment was that as a former member of the armed forces, he wanted to say RIP to Houston. Get a grip Speedy, today IS a day to perhaps examine the use and meaning of Ms Houstons life and not dissect why someone uses a particular monitor on a blog. As for Houston, Bill O'Reilly is 100% right; in addition to what a gift Whiney Houston had and shared with the world, she was VERY troubled, and when all is said and done, I have sure that drugs, alcohol, self-serving people in her employ, and perhaps "friends" all had a role in her premature death. MSNBC uses the world "troubled" to describe people that are basically impaired in some way, and have used it to describe Kurt Cobain, Elvis Presly, Anna Nicole Smith, Michael Jackson, Marylyn Monroe, Jimmie Hendrix, Jim Morrison, John Belushi etc etc etc. - al people that God gave incredible talent, fame, and wealth which, consumed them in the end. Enough said!
Judy Garland died at the age of 47
Elvis Presley died at the age of 42
Whitney Houston died age the age of 48
***********
Three different generations. All three known as the greatest voices of their generation. All three beloved by their fans. Their talents were unlike any others.
Sad losses.
these are only 3 of many beautifull and super talented people who died too young. all had problems with alcohol and/or drug abuse. what made them do what they did? only god knows. may they all rest in peace and sing in heaven to our almighty one.
Pat Boston, MA,
Sad losses, all druggies.
Flags are not lowered for the person who died, they are lowered for all the people left behind who cared about the person. Whether its a nation, a state, or just a family.
You're wrong Freedon4Everyone. The lowering of the flag IS most certainly to honor the deceased who did something for his/her country in a honorable way. Too many posters on this board have no clue what half staff means in this honor. Americans have been so dumbed down that they don't even know their own country. Now as for Houston the druggie/alcoholic, I think having a flag flown half staff is just stupid and shows what the idiot governor of the state knows as far as traditions in his country. Fly whatever flag you want, however you want. She's still not coming back because she's dead by her own choice. She had it all, now she has and is nothing. She was a selfish self serving egotist who cared only for her own wants and desires. Nice mother too. Look how much she cared for her daughter. Selfish woman. Her own friend who threw her under the bus said that Houston was doing drugs way before Bobbie Brown came into the picture. What a wasted life. I feel for her daughter, but that is it. Her own mother didn't even try to help her. What a messed up family. Six months down the road Houston will be a memory and the American people will be on to another tragedy to whine about.
Omg the Funeral has been going on for what, 3 hours or so now ? I would be bored out of my mind to be at anyone funeral for any length of time. Every ones face, just looks blank or boredom. This is crazy media coverage. I dont think the president passing away would get this much attention
Granted, she was a talented singer, but this entire b.s. about Gov. Cristy DISREGARDING the rules of etiquette with regards to the lowering of our Nation's flag---that really gripes me. She didn't defend our Constitution. She never fought any enemy--foreign or domestic. She sang. She also was very busy disrespecting herself by smoking crack, snorting coke and lord knows what else.
Lowering our flag is to be for only those who SERVE this country and have given the ultimate sacrifice. Hers was no 'sacrifice.' Hers was from stupidity and an overdose.
I believe it was xanax that killed her. She passed out in the bathtub & drowned. Just going by what I've read.
Seal team6 sorry I used your name please accept my ApologyI repsect all SPEC ops units.@Speedy, Palm Harbor, Florida People read to much into things and you are making contradictory statements, but alls good Be safe and you are right it about Whitney Houston.
No one knows exactly how this happened with Whitney Houston.. The half mast flag flying, I agree, she didn't serve our country, so, I don't think they should have done this deed.. As far as everyone condeming her for drug and alcohol abuse. You, I and no one else knows exactly what killed her. Only GOD and Whitney knows!!! None of us knows why or how any singer or star dies. It just happens. It's not for us to condemn or judge!! I loved her music and that's what she was good at. RIP Whitney!!!
drug addict aka loser good bye not much of a loss
I can remember the very first time i heard her sing. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Her voice was so beautiful and pure. She was a true talent. Along with Elvis, Micheal Jackson and Judy Garland, these gifted, talented people gave their public and private lives to us until it tortured them. I know there isnt alot of sympathy in here, but try to remember that behind every doppie, every coke snorter, crack smoking, and God knows what else individual, there is a broken, chemically inballanced, chronically depressed,self medicating hurt soul. The Dopamine helps. They mourn for the Whitney they once knew. The real Whitney. Its easy to judge something you dont understand or have never tried to understand. I pray for those people who search for happiness and can't find it, for all the people looking for peace and calm inside that never comes. We are all guilty of looking in the wrong places for that piece of the puzzle that makes us complete. We are impatient and push our fate before it is time and we become dissapointed in failure after failure until we give up on something that just wasnt ready to happen. Relax people, sometimes you just need to shut your mouth and open your heart and believe it or not, God will give you the answers. I promise you it will not be harsh or uncaring.
Absolutely an entire state needed to lower our proud American flag to half-mast for this person.. When was the last time a state had to issue overtime for extra police protection when our soldiers come home in an unfortunate state of defending our country?
We're just so damned prioritized in this country...
You Must Be Interested..You Surely~~~Wouldn't Waste Yr Valuable Time!!!````Worring about this Story...Be Cause I just know~~U feed Someone Homeless..Paid Someones Rent~~or Bought Some Less Fortunate..Soldier..Medicine..or Paid their Medical Bills ...did you!!...Ms Whitney Did!!!!......Thank God for You/You Are A Good American/Samaritains!!!!!Etc...
Why is the media and NJ glorifying an arrogant self proclaimed drug user. Is this, the message we want to send to our children? In her interview she said I don't do crack. I make to much money. Crack is whack I do cocaine and she was very proud of it. Great voice yes. She had choices, like we all do. She chose the one of self destruction. This is a disgarce to our country to fly the American flag at half mast for this individual.
Lemans, You are not the first to compare soldiers to the death of Ms. Houston. Unfortunately that is comparing apples and oranges, unless you are saying that no soldier ever broke the law, took alcohol, or drugs? Both have there places in our hearts for different reasons and while I don't live in New Jersey, I am sure that sadness and pride are abundant there. Rest in Peace Whitney and God speed! (Your demons are no longer your burden.
They don't lower the the flag for lower enlisted soldiers. You have to be high ranking to get that flag lowered, or a politician, drug addict celebrity.
PDNET;:that was very well put. I live in Colorado Springs, where we have 5 military bases. I know first hand the good and the bad of soldiers in the community. Police are given overtime for Ms. Houstons' service, simply because she's VERY POPULAR. If the extra force wasn't there, it would be a mess (traffic, spectators, etc.). You don't have to be a fan for that to make sense.
Whitney Houston- Singer, drug addict, alcoholic. Dies from being hardheaded. Gets massive funeral turnout, media coverage and NJ flag at half staff.
Typical American serviceman- Fought for your freedoms, brave soul that gave his life for America. Gets no recognition when his casket comes home, private funeral that is interrupted by protesters and no media coverage. No flag at half staff here.
Simply ridiculous.
Yes, lowering the flag to half staff over Whitney is truly questionable. She was not a member of the Armed Services killed in action. She was not an important representative of The State like a former president, congressman or ambassador. So here's a fair question to ask: did America fly their flags at half staff when Elvis died? Yes or no?
It's truly shameful that our society is filled with ignorant idiots who think whitney houston was some kind of hero...truth is, she was an entitled fool that threw away her god given talent because she favored huffing blow all of her pathetic life. In this crapbasket country full of stupid people, true hero's are ignored while shockingly ignorant people are glorified despite thier obvious weak and worthless personalities...it is no wonder that this country is swirling around the rim of the toilet on its way into the sewer that it has become..
What in the heckfire is wrong with you people? Regardless of how she died, she still died and she has family, friends and fans that will forever be indebted to the gifts that she brought to their lives. To jump into a comment thread and trash somebody's life that no longer has an opportunity to defend herself is fairly shameful. You talk about how we glorify superstars, yet not one of you commented on what YOU to remedy the situation on military funerals or how you contribute to the military families struggling while their loved one is defending our country. Sounds like you have a lot of confidence when behind a keyboard, but proof is in the pudding. What have YOU done lately???
People in glass houses shouldnt throw stones.
Lemansowner- NO AMERICAN FLAGS FLEW AT HALF STAFF ANYWHERE! It was the New Jersey flag. Don't get upset until you get your facts straight.
I don't recall this amount of outrage when the Governor of New Jersey ordered flags flown at Half Staff in honor of Clarence Clemons.
It is the NJ State flag that was lowered to half mast, NOT the American flag (but don't let the facts get in the way of a good rant).
All you people who don't have anything good to say and criticize "Singer Whitney Houston the best of all times" on the day of her funeral. Shame on you ppl. Your posts are disgusting and what makes you ppl think you are sooooo perfect!! RIP Whitney, my heartfelt condolences to your family.
Did the president get an invite?
Masts get lowered whenever someone who meant something to the people of an area dies. Whether it was service member or a celeb or joe blow. Lots of people have had flags lowered for them, not just service members.. Whitney Houston gave millions of people joy and happiness through her music. MILLIONS of people have her "I will always love you" song as their song at their wedding. THAT is why the mast is lowered. Her personal problems are irrelevant.
If you dont want to teach kids, then stfu about her drug use. Because they wouldnt know if you didnt open your yap. And you are simply using this crap as an excuse to bad mouth Whitney Houston and troll people.
RIP Whitney, and condolences to her family, friends and fans.
The world would be an excellent place if people would just shut up! Whitney Houston Never Asked You For Anything, not even your sorry comments...... Peace Be Still! Peace Be Still! Peace Be Still!
Whitney Houston is not alive, because of the self-destructive ex-husband Bobby Brown, (domestic abuse of mind and soul) who was another Addiction for her. Everyone around her stole her life, from prescription drugs, Agents who fleeced her. She was broke---in debt for $100,000,000. .
What a louse--now her daughter is an "orphan". I feel so badly for the life she may encounter. Hopefully, she will have her extended family watching over her.
Whitney is an Icon who voice/music cannot be replaced in this Generation nor decades to come.. Very sad; she was a lovely woman who got dragged into the mess by one man, and enablers who surrounded her on the pretense of being protected. They loved her money..
Bobby Brown will go to her funeral, then immediately head out to do a concert. Is that respectful?
Private funeral? Fans attending. What Fans of Whitney's.
Whitney Houston is finally at Peace. "IMAGINE".
So you're saying addicts are not responsible for their own behavior and those around them are? That is ludicrous and absurd. No one is responsible for another person's behavior.
And you weren't there, she obviously loved Bobby Brown.
I must admit; I understand that debt. I think we're heading in that direction quickly. Then, of course, we had to have the rich mother-in-law call this morning and remind us of how much we're screwed. Thanks for cheering us up!!
I agree with your comment...especially about Bobby Brown! She was so torn while married to this "crack" crazed maniac. He was so jealous of her fame and fortune...I hope Bobbi Christina gets all the help she can...poor baby!
Do you Go Back To Work!!
I fell for the BS of loving a "bad boy'. I indulged with whatever he indulged in for the sake of "love"...the truth be told...had I not indulged he would have been off doing his own thing and leaving me home alone to live a married life alone. I chose being alone (within one year of marriage)to the self-humiliation of drug addiction and fair weather friends. But he made good money and I could do what I wanted when I wanted. This dragged on for 27 years until I finally had enough courage to end the insanity and stop "selling" myself to an unhappy, materialistic lifestyle. Looking back now...where in the world was I and why did I wait so long? I have noone to blame but myself for the time involved but I knew I didn't want the drugs and didn't do them. You are absolutely right...no one is responsible for another person's behavior but some folks are too emotionally weak to stand up for themselves or too lazy to make it on their own and not get dragged down into a pit for love and acceptance.
Bobby Brown is a POS who introduced Whitney to her demons. If I were the family, I'd have banned him from attending. He treated her like $#it. She deserved SO much more and better in a man this nation (or world for that matter) could have offered her.
In any event, I hope all you people out there that want to legalize drugs are happy now.
You are blaming all the people in her life for her destruction, drug use and stupid decisions? You are crazy. Whitney Houston stated in an interview, which is stated also in this article which reads like this...--- Houston answered: "Nobody makes me do anything I don't want to do. So the bigger devil is me, I am either my best friend or my worst enemy.".. People make ecisions in life everyday. So you are saying that I can blame anyone I want, including yourself, of my life downfalls. HELL NO! Bobby has his problems but Whitney didn't have to do what he did. I drink occassionally but it doesn't force my wife to do that. Whitney finally divorced Bobby in 2007. I would say it was about 15 years to late. Again her decision to stay with his sorry ass. So stop blaming others for her misfortunes. She had a mind of her own. Granted Whitney was an amazing singer and at times did some amazing great things in her life to help alot of people but again that was her decision to good as it was her decision in the end to act like she did. I'm not trying to degrade the person that Whitney was while she lived on this earth, but just stated that every decision was hers. She had the final say in her life and she chose the life she got. RIP Whitney Houston!
**************** NEWSBREAK *******************
For all of those who don't know, It was not Bobby Brown who introduced the former Ms. Brown to cocaine. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence from her friends that she was doing narcotics BEFORE she ever met/dated/married Bobby Brown.
****************Please get your facts straight before posting******************
@ unbelievable
That is what I understand as well. I was listening to an interview the other day that talked about how she used before her career ever started and used throughout her career. Supposedly she was never supposed to be on the reality show that he had and kept insisting on making it her show too and forcing herself into scenes that were filmed.
True she was an awesome talent and may well have been a born again Christian. In the latter years of her career she came across like a drug addicted diva.
Why flags at half-mast? This is horrible. She didn't die or serve her country!!! She was a drug addict who squandered her talent. I very sorry she's dead and terribly sorry for her daughter, but an "invitation only" funeral? That alone is screwed up. Where were all of those people/fans who weren't buying her last album? Give me a break. Fair-weather people.
But the flags! Lower them for someone who served!
I agree, flags at half-mast should only be for military, policemen/women, firemen/women or anyone who sacrifices their life for someone else.
I could not agree more!! Do you see a serious problem with where are priorities are in this country? I sure do!
Did you know that flags were flown at half-staff in New Jersey for Frank Sinatra and Count Bassie when they died. This for Whitney isn't the first. Several of you write half-mast, that's done only on ships in the ocean. Half-staff is done on land.
My theory is that Govorner Buffoon did not sign gay marriage into law and ordered flags flown at half staff for Whitney Houston's funeral day for political reasons.
Seems pretty obvious, and cynical, but certainly not surprising, to me.
Hey, whiners... Did Clarence Clemons serve his country? He was only a 5-times married man in a rock band. There were half-mast flags for him too!
Frank Sinatra was a male whore, who huddled with known thugs & mobsters. Flags were at half-mast for that native son of NJ! So what?
Quit worrying about how New Jersey honors it's celebrities! You haters are always dumpin' some crummy morality on every little thing that doesn't concern you.
So pathetic...!
~~Treat Others~~As you Expect 2 B Treated~~Judge Not~Lest Ye Be Judged..~Ms Whitney has Meet Her Judge~~Just Be Ready 4 YR Turn!!!!!!!!!!!!!AIN'T THIS THE Bible Belt..Guess Not
Amen, lowing flags for washed up drug addicts just shows the path this country is on. Downhill for the foreseeable future..............
Eve- People judge others every day. If you dont, you are a fool. You judge other drivers by how they drive, you judge people walking down the street every day. Hang out in the streets where gangs reside, then tell me you shouldn't judge others......
What really is the big deal all of a sudden people want to talk about flags being half-mast who really cares we have lost a very talented Whitney and she will always be cherished and missed and flags being half-mast or not will not bring her back.. And let’s get off the blame box and stop blaming Bobby for Whitney’s battle with addiction she quoted herself that no one made her do anything basically she made her own choices let’s stop judging and throwing stones for those that have suffered from addiction know how it is and for those who haven’t well you may just a minute or day from having to conquer or fight some type of addiction bottom line we all live in glass houses.. My condolences to Whitney’s family and close friends and to her daughter please keep your head up and move forward hold on and cherish your memories my God bless you always.
Thank you JanG-732272. That is the exact, word for word, point I've been making to some people. For a lot of people complaining it just boils down to whether they liked her or not. I don't recall any complaints when Sinatra and Bassie died (both of whom I liked a lot). I'll tell you this; when Stevie Wonder dies, I hope these same people just shut up, and let the couple of days of people mourning pass!
Bobbie Brown Crackhead KILLED her a long time ago!
Gov. Christy has as issued executive orders for flags to be flown at half staff for every enlisted soldier and police officer that has died in combat or duty since he took office. The decision on Whitney was indeed questionable, but the comments that soldiers are not honored the same way is not accurate.
Whitney you will be missed.The music world will forever mourn you! You weren't a celebrity...you were an icon... a female "Michael Jackson"! Your songs songs moved us...a voice of an "angel"...
April - BS.........
j burk...how is that BS? Just because you may not agree, doesnt make it BS
You're home now, so rest in peace Whitney!!!
She went where she deserved to go, and it isn't where you are thinking........
How cruel can you be?!!! But your opinion really holds no weight anyway. Surprise!!!
Rest in peace Ms. Houston.
Please do not feed the trolls Lucy....they only come back for more. Dont let stupid comments get you started...I almost did myself and realized that they are so not worth it.
j burk injudicious sagacity Whitney unconstrained peregrination to a attribute benevolent as her endowment moved the world...what do you know about where she went idiotic doltish
Yawn!!! wake me when all the silliness is over.....
who knows~~~~you may not wake up~~be careful what you Speak...
RIP, Ms. Houston.
Now comes the pathetic name-callin' and socio-political BS from the haters and "perfect people". No doubt...!
You are so right. After all, the drugs/alcohol in her system were forced into her mouth and up her nose at gun point. And the person with the gun made her take a bath and drown. Get over it, she was a drugged out has been and you want to keep her memory alive? Shame on you. Play her music, but keeping her memory alive only promotes what every hater (as you call it) talking about her self destructive lifestyle. You want her to rest in peace? Play her music and leave it at that.
Uhh, Sues. She wasn't a criminal. You have the toxicology reports? Please post 'em. No guesses on your part.
Gimme facts of her death. Play your Elvis, Sid Vicious, Judy Garland, Janis Joplin, & Johnny Cash, & Willie Nelson music.
See post# 5.5, then continue your whine...!
CD - maybe not "a criminal", but for sure a loser drug addict, that believed her money somehow made her different........
Her money did make her different, j burk. Money made Elvis, Judy Garland, Sid Vicious, and a host of others different.
That's why they lived in mansions, and you don't. That's why you're sittin' a a cheap keyboard, like me & everyone else postin' here.
Keep lookin' for silly, little holier-than-thou BS to justify your pathetic, negative whines.
BTW: Did you do as much for charities and the troops as Ms. Houston did? Kindly expound.
I think glorifying the death and live streaming the funeral of a drug addict is a marker to just how low our society has sunk. It's deplorable that her funeral would become something akin to a national figure passing---
This is not Mother Theresa we are talking about, this is a drug addict who just happened to sing well...for a while.
Her funeral should have been a private affair.
She was loved and admired by more then just her family and people that was close to her. She inspired a lot of people. She was a person who had some downs. So you telling me that if you are a addict you are benenath people? You really need to watch what you say because everyone does not live a perfect life and I am sure there are somethings you done that you are not proud of!!!
I got news for ya pal.....Mother Theresa wasn't what the world thought she was either....
Am I reading you correctly? Houston had some downs? Really? And if you are an addict you are beneath other people? Um, yes, you are. Being an addict is a choice. You can't become one if you don't choose to start taking drugs or drinking alcohol in the first place. Do we not have enough examples of destruction of drugs and alcohol on TV and other forms of media aside from all the crime wrought from such behavior? You must be 12 years old, if I'm reading your post correctly. The Houston woman was an alcoholic and drug addict whose own friends have said so on national television. Grow up.
Aubrey- the answer to your question, YES, she was beneath other people. Thats what drug addiction does for ya......
Sues & j burk: The epitome of internet "trolls" who like to stir up trouble. I will go back to ignoring them now. I advise anyone with half a brain to do the same.
Enough Already! She didn't fight for this country, she didn't find a cure for cancer, she didn't feed, clothe or house the homeless with her money (she spent it on 'good' drugs) Why does this country and it's people insist on making these people into SAINTS???? She sang, she entertained and then she let her fame, money and good looks destroy her life!! And for that we, as a nation are supposed to mourn??? If more people cared like this about the people closest to them the world would be a better place.
No one is trying to make her a saint!!! People are trying to remember her for the good things. Just like we do people that we know who have passed on. Its respect and makes the heart feel better to remember the good times. How do you like if when you die all you hear is the bad that you did? Its not right. What would make the world a better place if people cared about all people no matter their status in life. Just caring about ones close to you will not make the world a better place. Some people need to stop pulling all the negative out and start being positive about people.
Aubree - You are waaay too funny. When you're dead you don't hear. I'm wasting time on your posts I will never get back trying to make you understand. I'm done with you. But you are entertaining to read.
Aubree, you are either very young or have an low IQ! This is a person who didn't and wouldn't care a rats A*% about you or anyone else yet we idiolize them??? So please tell me just what GOOD thing she did for you personally besides entertain you with her music which, yes was very good when she could still sing. But there is such a thing as going overboard about someones death and think of the young people who see this drug-using woman getting SO much attention. Not too much positive there I don't think.
Sues and CSTMHA...in the interest of troll feeding, I will buy the $5 zoo pack. Nobody really cares who you are done with and in fact, I should have been done with you long ago...HOWEVER, you begin to rankle me. Aubree made a very good point....would you not want to say something good of the dead? If not, don't comment...simple enough. Regardless of Whitney's years of poor choices, she still sang like an angel and had an impact of many lives. Now does this mean she impacted yours? Well...duh...obviously not BUT who are you to dictate an explanation to others or comment on someone's IQ when they speak of their own impacts? While you sit on this"holier than thou" throne, waving your amazing and "witty" comments around, I don't recall you being voted in as the be all, end all of opinion. Well, at least I wasn't asked to vote. With regard to CSTMHA, young people seeing this attention is a PERFECT opportunity to have these sort of discussions with your children! Show them that fame and fortune do notnecessarily = a fabulous life. A very sad tool, but a tool none the less.
I continue to shake my head at where we stand as a society.
SweetAZ Thanks a mil for reading my posts. Wish I had the time to do the same to yours instead of just skimming. And as for you zeroing in on me and another poster, read others who share my feelings. As for head shaking over today's society.............I do it every day as I am out in the world EVERY day. I see closed minded people like you every day who would rather tell others who are trying to make this a better place, than to join in and do likewise.
Sue...apparently you did read my comment. You think you are the only one out in the world...arrogant little thing arent you? You know nothing of me nor my contributions to society as a whole. Judge not lest you be judged. As far as me being closed minded...again you dont know me...so when commenting, try to stick to the facts. There are some of us that do good and don't feel the need to speak to it, brag about it...simply because it is the right thing to do. A person that has to continually tout their accomplishments is not altogether altruistic.
Enough is enough! Lowering the national ensign for a self-destructive, chronic drug and alcohol abuser, who couldn't have cared less about herself or her family? Just shows how far and to what depths the PC world will stoop. Let the dead bury their dead and get on with more important things. I'm tired of this nonsense.
I understand what you all are saying about the flag. Yes, she was a singer, an entertainer and a drug addict. We all know that. But there have been others who have done just as much wrong that had this kinda media coverage and the flag lowered. John F Kennedy was a blatant cheater and he also was into drugs and alcohol. But the flag was lowered and his death is still talked about. AND he is still treated as if he was one of the best people ever born. Wrong is wrong is wrong. His brother Teddy left a woman to drown in a car, was into drugs, alcohol, cheating, you name it. My point is, yes our priorities are screwed, but we can't accept one's wrongdoing and condemn another's.
What a fool. Despite her obvious demons Whitney Houston was one of the most talented singers EVER. We don't deny military funerals to drug addicted soldiers do we. BTW, a healthy percentage of our soldiers killed in Vietnam smoked grass - or worse. How about Kennedy. He screwed everything in a skirt he could get his hands on - in and out of the White House - and he was awarded the greatest state funeral ever in this country. Whitney should be celebrated for her accomplishments, which far exceeded those of the overwhelming majority of people, not demonized for her human feailty.
The U.S flag was not lowered, only the NJ state flag. Only POTUS can order the lowered of the national flag.
Regardless of which flag, I still think it inappropriate and unnecessary.
A singer/musician who overdosed on drugs. It is sad, but how many marines, soldiers, sailors, etc. have died in the line of duty protecting us, with no fanfare?
i didn't know they released the cause of death yet. who told you it was an overdose?
RiDonkuless all this clatter and attention. She was done, washed up, and full of excuses for her tattered Character. The Masses that blame Bobby Brown and her "life style" are the same type excuses that kept her on Crack. Her last 3 Concerts were shameful, disgusting, and lack any resemblance to Talent. She not anyone else ruined a charmed life given to her. There is no realty here for all the accolade's being given this Tramp!
Wow..such Hate...God woke u up..this morning..good thing we don't have a say in that...
eve...................how did you get hate? I did not hate her nor have I ever had that type of emotion. Truth is what Truth is. Every day is very fulfilling for me and the Thousands of people I deal with. No drugs, No booze, No One to blame. Never have had a "bad day" As for your God comment..................God has had nothing to do with my life nor Whitney's nor Yours but you believe that it is the "Grace of God" so you have your excuse! Funny how God has some control now and then.....................She still died a Tramp......Your God must have wanted it that way!
Mddr....I would think Eve got hate from comments such as "tramp" "disgusting" ummmm "shameful". I dunno, but Im thinking the the context in which they were presented could be construed as hateful. Just sayin.
My flag flys proudly for America. I fly my flag at half mast for someone who died serving their country, not this tripe. Another troubled person is dead because of drugs, period.
i fly my flag at half mast for people who deserve it. and most of the times that flags are flown at half mast for politicians mine is not.
Don't get me wrong Bobby Brown is what we all know he is. But Whitney Houston was an adult and made her own decisions (and they where incredibly poor).
put her in the ground already,so in years to come we can spend millions digging her up to find out how she really died.she was a junkie plain and simple.great singer ,yes.mentor ,no.
Let us all celebrate the life and mourn the death of a drug addict.
How many lives were lost ensuring she was delivered her supply of drugs? How many lives ruined so she could get her next "line"?
And what do we hear from Hollywood and the music industry? Nothing about how drugs ruin and shorten your life of course. Nothing about how if instead of glorifying drugs they instead demonized them this might not have even happened. Instead we'll have the geniuses out there talking about how if drugs were legal this never could have happened.
And we'll get the usual hangers on like Jesse Jackson that use incidents like this to keep their face in the news.
Ah yes, let us all "celebrate" the life of Whitney Houston, a talented singer that used that talent to no good end for anyone, except the nearest drug dealer.
Another talented person who threw her life away by abusing booze and drugs. A pathetic tale that has been told over and over again. I won't be missing her or her music.
No matter who sings I Will Always Love You better, the fact is that the author (Dolly Parton) gets the money - as it should be. As for me, I've always liked her version better anyway. Houston did a nice job with a lot of drama, i.e., modulation, but it was Dolly's song and she sang it with the feelings she meant it to have. Even Dolly said once that she didn't care which one was best as long as she got the money. Love that. Dolly is a very smart woman. Helped raise and educate many a family member, no drugs, no comebacks (because she never left to take a drug induced vacation from her talent), and private life without drama, married to the same man for over 40 years. I have to respect her for that. Houston, not so much. She was a mess of a person who made very, very bad choices who was surrounded by people who also made bad choices. Now everyone is sad but didn't do anything to help the woman of bad choices. Now the state of New Jersey is continuing to make even worse choices by flying the American flag at half staff. Really? An honor usually reserved for someone who served our country with honor and dignity is now being given to the likes of a drug addict. Got it, Gov. Christie. It should be the Jersey not the flag of the country. And that Houston family should have told him no thanks, which they didn't. Another travesty. In six months or so Houston will be nothing more than a distant memory played on you tube. So, does Dolly get any money for that as well?
Agree totally with you Sues...people forget, it IS Dolly Parton's song,she gets all the revenue for the tune,at least we know Dolly's not going to use the royalties to stick drugs up her nose. Dolly has more class in her little finger than whitney could have ever have hoped for. LOL..."Dolly smart,whitney stupid".
And at least Dolly's alive to sing another day,which is more than I can say for the other one...
dolly is so glad whitney sang it...cause she wouldn't be getting paid...dummy!!..so sick of u all ...great god fearing..do~righters!!!..ck yr family/stay in yr lane!!be respectful...let me know when u have a loss..so we can critique....thier/yr life....saddened about the mean spirit...we have for others...she has a mother/daughter....would u want ppl to put all this so yr child can read it....its done....my grandmother taught.....me..if you can't say something nice.....don't say...anything..everything u think..souldn't be spoken....karma is gonna kick alot of ppl in their rear`end...god bless all of you..man we are in trouble.....
Hope you 2 feel the same way about Elvis Presley!!
POTUS Tricky Dick asked THE WHOLE COUNTRY to fly their flags at half staff/mast when he died on the toilet, but fallen off onto the floor, where he lay in a pool of his own vomit..................
The point being, the focus today is on her accomplishments in life. The way she positively touched so many people's lives.
So they were both junkies and drug abusers..... They did good for many others in their own way. Just because you are not a Firefighter or a Police Officer or a Lawmaker, doesn't mean you didn't contribute to the society as a whole.
Then again there are always some "Negative Nancy's" among us.....
Dolly didn't have any personal shortcomings as far as I know but ONLY a deaf, redneck bigot would think she sang "I Will Always Love You" better than Whitney. And, BTW, The flags should be lowered just for Whitney's rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, indisputably the best EVER.
Hey Hammer - FYI I'm from Bay Ridge Brooklyn (that's in NYC in case you don't know) and as for who sang IWALY best doesn't matter. It's Dolly who gets all the money and is alive to spend all the money. And it's Dolly who says cha-ching every time someone sings it or buys it, or it gets used in anything. Dolly even said it herself that it's ok if Houston does a better job, "I still get paid for it." So see, even dead, your little worker bee will be making Dolly lots and lots of money for a long time. Have a great day. And no matter what Houston sang, she's still dead by her own doing.
Why is it when a derelict "celeb" dies, it's supposed to be a nation moving tragedy??
Whitney Houston was a nobody, a there and then gone "pop star". She never changed the world, she never did anything great, she was a alcohol/drug addicted prima donna. And everyone blames someone else for her demise, but we all make our own choices, even she did.
The fact that people have to defend this trainwreck of a human being from the obvious truth that she WAS a trainwreck is hilarious. Are their lives so miniscule that they need to obsess over painting a picture of a woman that is all lies?
I remember watching the Super Bowl in 1991 and hearing her sing the Star Spangeled Banner and how it sent chils down my spine and marveled at the talent she possessed. Music can bring people together and it that very emotional period of time with our soldiers going over to Baghdad she stirred a patriotism that is within all of us as Americans.
If you don't think she brought joy and love to people then you are sadly mistaken. That in a nutshell, is what life is all about.
Couldn't have said it better socialDisorder !!! What an embarrassment to America lowering the flag!
SocialDIsorder, your are a pathetic creep!!
@Germ- LOL too funny. I'm not a creep, I'm a realist A-Hole. I live in the now with no need to be held in awe of or even regard by anyone ever. Do me a favor and peruse the obits of the thousands of daily papers accessible online and tell me why the thousands of funerals being held today matter less than the celebration of burying another trainwreck "celeb".
Tell me why the family of this trainwreck sold the media rights to this funeral? I can tell you why, it's so people like you can hide from your own existance anfd get lost in the fog of some INfamous person's life.
If anyone is pathetic here, it's you.
Talented women? Absolutely!
Tragic situation? Very much so.
National Hero? Not.
Men and women serving in our military and dying honorably to protect our freedom (without drugs, alcohol and now without so much as a blurb in the paper). Where have the priorities been given.
Her demise was about was about choices.
I can't also believe they wanted us to fly our flags at half staff, c'mon. For what? To support our falling drug abusers? My flag is just gonna fly even HIGHER!!!!
I like the way you think, but we may be missing the point. This whole thing could be meant to distract us from the real problems we face. I wonder if some sort of new legislation is quietly being passed. Just a thought.
lol,heres a good one .do you think we should have had our flag at half staff when jerry garcia died ??
We did when Elvis died........ Why not Jerry? He touched and influenced many people!!
why not?
Although Elvis was one of my favorite performers, he too self destructed from the use of drugs. He was much more influential to music than Garica or Whitney. He was an entertainer and that alone did not entitle him to receive the accolades he got upon his death. Save the half staff for your personal heroes (father, mother, brother, sister) on your own property. The government should only fly flags at half staff when somebody in the Gov't or military passes away. The government should never do this for an entertainer who self destructed, continually broke the law and threw away incredible talent hurting many family members in their selfish path of destruction. Why is it that it's ok to have your gov't praise law breakers on a local and national level when they die, but you can't put up a Merry Christmas sign on gov't property? I guess if your a drug addict and a singer you should be forgiven and glorified when you die, if your a child molester and a singer you should be forgiven and glorified when you die, if your a criminal and a singer you should be forgiven and glorified when you die. Oh, I forgot, they are still forgiven and glorified while they are still alive. Want proof - do they still sell out concerts and sell records? Buying their products is supporting their lifestyle giving your approval to the same.
How were Elvis, Garci, Lennon, M. Jackson, Whitney, etc influential to people in a positive manner? Sure their music was great to listen too, but that doesn't make it a good influence in peoples lives. Their lifestyle and actions hurt more people than helped (not even close). Next thing you know, you'll be telling us that Jane Fonda deserves tremendous accolades and praise when she finally dies, because she helped a lot of women get in shape (let's not forget she profited from those workout video's). Of course I'm sure the poor soldiers in the concentration camps in Vietnam will praise and forgive her too, because after all, she was a product of the Free-Love drug crazed 60's and 70's and she helped people get in shape.
MEH....... let me know when someone important dies okay?
like u
Maybe when it happens to you mom or dad or child you'll understand. Remember your words then.
Why lower the flags for Whitney Houston? They certainly didn't do the same for Ella Fitzgerald or any other singer that died. I'm sorry, but I can't see why she should have such honors. What I see is a singer who self-destructed and we should not put her on a pedestal.
My theory is that Govorner Buffoon did not sign gay marriage into law and ordered flags flown at half staff for Whitney Houston's funeral day for political reasons.
Seems pretty obvious, and cynical, but certainly not surprising, to me.
Don't you mean Governor Butt head?
That pissed off allot of people including myself. Two Marines from my town were laid to rest and they never got what this celeb did. Very bad decision on the Gov Buffoon. I feel sad for her family. My condolences.
@mountainbike8265: If those Marines were from NJ and died in active duty, then they did indeed have the flag lowered when they died. Christy issued executive orders for flags to be flown at half staff for every enlisted person that has died in active duty since he's been in office. If you are not from NJ, then you should take up the issue of your state not showing the same respect with your own governor.
Look the point is you don't go out and order the state flag at half staff for a celeb. This was clearly done to suck up to the African American vote down the road. Prime example of a typical snake oil politician. So tell me old wise one who pays for all the police presence at the funeral, it sure wasn't the ex- husband no it's the tax payer.