Whitney Houston Funeral: Aretha To Perform, Bobby Brown Asked Not To Attend

Becky Bain | February 15, 2012 3:43 pm

Plans are underway for Whitney Houston’s funeral, which will take place this Saturday in New Jersey. Aretha Franklin (who recently covered “I Will Always Love You” in tribute to her goddaughter) will sing during the memorial, in a performance that will be streamed live online. Other attendees at Saturday’s invitation-only event include Whitney’s friend and mentor Clive Davis and Reverend Jesse Jackson, but the most notable absentee might be the star’s ex-husband Bobby Brown, who is reportedly not welcome.

“People connected to the Houston family have reached out to Bobby to warn him that he shouldn’t attempt to attend the funeral because the family isn’t fond of him,” reports TMZ. Brown wishes to attend to support his daughter Bobbi Kristina (who was hospitalized twice since her mother’s passing), and hopes the family can put aside their differences so they can mourn Houston together.

Bobby and Whitney, who divorced in 2007 after 15 years of marriage, had a volatile — and very public — love affair over the years. Many of Houston’s close family and friends accuse Brown for enabling Houston’s drug and alcohol abuse.

The funeral will take place at Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church, where Whitney sang in a choir during her youth. The singer will be laid to rest in the plot right next to her father’s grave at the Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey.

Should Bobby Brown be allowed to attend the funeral? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments.

[Via AOL]