Whitney Houston 1963-2012

Many big names in entertainment are planning to say goodbye in person at the funeral for Houston, which will be held in Newark, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. Houston passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, February 11th in Beverly Hills.

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Bobby Brown

Houston's publicist Kristen Foster confirms to AP that invitations went out to Houston's ex-husband, Bobby Brown (pictured with Houston).

(Photo credit should read VINCE BUCCI/AFP/Getty Images)

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Cissy Houston

Friends and family members will gather Saturday at the New Hope Baptist Church for the service.

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: Singer Cissy Houston and daughter singer Whitney Houston attend the 2010 Keep A Child Alive's Black Ball at the Hammerstein Ballroom on September 30, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Cousin, Dionne Warwick and Daughter, Bobbi Kristina

Pictured here with Whitney Houston...

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 12: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) (L-R) Singer Whitney Houston, Singer Dionne Warwick and Bobbi Kristina Brown arrives at the 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute To Industry Icons Honoring David Geffen at Beverly Hilton on February 12, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

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Godmother, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder

UPDATE: Aretha Franklin is no longer planning to sing at the funeral for Whitney Houston today in Newark, N.J. Franklin, Houston's godmother, had been expected to perform. A person close to the Houston family but not authorized to speak on the record says Franklin is no longer planning to attend because she is sick.

(Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)

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Ray J

Rumored to be in a relationship with Houston during the time of her death.

LAS VEGAS - APRIL 19: Performers Whitney Houston and Ray-J sit ringside for the Joe Calzaghe of Wales and Bernard Hopkins light heavyweight bout at Thomas & Mack Center on April 19, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by John Gichigi/Getty Images)

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Music Industry Legend, Clive Davis

Pictured here with Whitney Houston...

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Music mogul Clive Davis and singer Whitney Houston arrive at the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party held at the Beverly Hilton on February 10, 2007 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

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Kevin Costner

Co-starred with Houston in "The Bodyguard"

(Photo credit by DAVID HECKER/AFP/Getty Images)

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Alicia Keys

UPDATE: Keys to step in to perform for Aretha Franklin. Franklin stepped back from performing at Whitney Houston's funeral due to exhaustion..

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 11: Singer Alicia Keys performs onstage at Clive Davis and the Recording Academy's 2012 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Richard Branson held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 11, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Oprah Winfrey

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: TV personality Oprah Winfrey presents the BMA Hall of Fame Distinguished Career Achievement Award to Cicely Tyson (not pictured) onstage during the Film Life's 2006 Black Movie Awards at the Shrine Wiltern Theater on October 15, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

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Bill Cosbyla

Comedian Bill Cosby (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 06: Comedian Bill Cosby speaks at the 20th anniversary of Rev. Al Sharpton's organization the National Action Network on April 6, 2011 in New York City. President Barack Obama was also a speaker of the event. With about 19 months to go until the 2012 presidential election, President Obama launched his reelection campaign last Monday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Rev. Jessie Jackson

US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson (C) leaves after delivering a speech to a crowd at the St. Paul's Occupy London camp on December 15, 2011. Anti-capitalist protesters celebrated two months camping outside St Paul's Cathedral in London and vowed that they will stay into next year. (Photo credit by BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

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Rev. Al Sharpton

NEW YORK - JUNE 25: Reverend Al Sharpton attends a memorial for the one-year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death in front of the Harlem State Office Building on June 25, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Henry S. Dziekan III/Getty Images)

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Chaka Khan

Pictured here with Whitney Houston...

Chaka Khan (left), and Whitney Houston perform during the finale of the VH1 DIVAS LIVE '99 at the Beacon Theatre in New York on Tuesday, April 13. Other performers include Brandy, Tina Turner, and Cher, with a special performance by Elton John. (Photo credit by Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)

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Bebe and CeCe Winans

HOLLYWOOD - MAY 23: Bebe Winans (L) and CeCe Winans pose in the press room during the American Idol Season 6 Finale held at the Kodak Theatre on May 23, 2007 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Songwriter Diane Warren

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - DECEMBER 07: Songwriter Diane Warren arrives at The Hollywood Reporter's Annual "Power 100: Women In Entertainment Breakfast" held at The Beverly Hills Hotel on December 7, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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Darlene Love

CLEVELAND - MAY 14: Darlene Love performs during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 'It's Only Rock And Roll' benefit concert and Women Who Rock exhibit opening concert at the Cleveland Convention Center on Saturday May 14, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum)

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Bishop T.D. Jakes

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 04: Executive producer Bishop T.D. Jakes arrives at the premiere of TriStar Pictures' "Jumping The Broom" at the Cinerama Dome Theater on May 4, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Antonio "L.A." Reid

NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Chairman of Island/Def Jam Antonio "L.A." Reid during a press conference to announce the launch of the Russesll Simmons Music Grougp (RSMG) at S.I.R. Studios April 13, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)

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Brandy

NEW YORK - JUNE 03: Singer Brandy attends 2010 VH1 Hip Hop Honors at Hammerstein Ballroom on June 3, 2010 in New York, New York. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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Whitney Houston

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 22: Singer Whitney Houston performs onstage at the 2009 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 22, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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