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A week after her sudden death singing superstar Whitney Houston will be laid to rest this weekend. Whitney was found dead in the bath of her Hollywood hotel room on February 11, 2012. After a long battle with drug abuse in the end Whitney's death initially appears to be accidental.

As investigations into her death began this week details of the funeral have continued to be revealed. The private funeral will take place at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, tomorrow Saturday February 18, 2012.. This will be like coming home for Whitney. In this church a young Whitney Houston performed in the choir and developed her powerful singing voice.

Los Angeles has been mourning the death of the star this week and feelings have been running high. Two LA  radio personalities have been suspended from work after being rude about Whitney and poking fun at her demise.

The private funeral service will have an "A list" of Hollywood celebrities attending. These will include Whitney's Bodyguard co-star Kevin Costner, singer Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Beyonce and rapper Jay-Z, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Cosby and Houston's mentor and record producer Clive Davis. Relatives and singing superstars Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick will also attend. There have been conflicting reports as to whether Houston's former husband Bobby Brown will attend. Some maintain that he has been excluded from the funeral.

Police are hoping to deter fans from generating into the area Saturday. They have advised the public to stay away and watch the events on TV. A single camera will be placed in the church and live Internet streaming will mean that fans can watch the events as they happen. The funeral is an invitation only affair.

After the funeral service Whitney will be laid to rest in the same cemetery as her father, that is the Fair View , Westfield, New Jersey. The funeral will begin at 12:00 EST (17:00 GMT) on February 18 and is expected to last 90 minutes.

In death Whitney has found musical fame again as sales of her music soared this week.
RIP

 
 
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In happier times
Sad news indeed from the world of music today. Whitney Houston one of the most successful female singers of the 80s and 90s has been found dead in her hotel room.  Born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, she was aged just 48.

Whitney's voice stunned audiences around the world with its powerful yet evocative style. Famous for singing the theme from the Bodyguard, in which she also starred, Whitney seemed to have it all. A battle with drugs and what turned out to be a volatile marriage to singer Bobby Brown put paid to that. Bobby and Whitney had one daughter from their marriage which ended in 2006.

For some time her singing career had been in the doldrums and an attempted comeback had failed. The substance abuse had took its toll on her voice. In 2010 Whitney claimed during an interview with Oprah that she was finally drug free. She was due to attend this weekend's Grammy awards and only last Thursday walked the red carpet at pre award party. She performed here in what many described as a mediocre performance which was ultimately her last.

Whitney shot to fame in i1985, with her debut album "Whitney Houston". The album spawned six hit singles, including "Saving All My Love for You" and "The Greatest Love of All." Her music was a  mix of gospel and pop which reflected her upbringing. Whitney was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston, the goddaughter of Aretha Franklin and cousin of Dionne Warwick. With such a background there is little wonder Whitney decided on a career in music.

As yet the cause of Whitney's death is not known and investigations are underway. She was found dead in her hotel room on the night of February 11, 2012. RIP