Whitney Houston's funeral takes place in New Jersey

A host of famous faces joined the late singer's family to mourn her death

A host of famous faces joined friends and family of late singer Whitney Houston over the weekend, to pay their last respects at her New Jersey funeral.

The private ceremony, which was streamed live over the internet, took place at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark on Saturday.

WHITNEY HOUSTON: A LIFE IN PICTURES

Houston's body was transported to the church in a golden hearse, where loved ones, including her daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown, were waiting.

Mary J Blige, Jordin Sparks and Tyler Perry were among the famous faces in attendance, while the late singer's Bodyguard co-star Kevin Costner gave a moving speech.

'Whitney returns home today to the place where it all began and I urge us all inside and outside to dry our tears, suspend our sorrow and perhaps our anger just long enough to remember the sweet miracle of Whitney,' he said.

Among the performers were Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder and R Kelly, who all paid emotional tributes during the ceremony.

Although the singer's ex-husband Bobbi Brown was in attendance, it's thought he left before the ceremony began, after a row with security over seats.

'We were seated by security and then subsequently asked to move on three separate occasions. I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continued to ask us to move,' Brown said afterwards in a statement.

'Security then prevented me from attempting to see my daughter Bobbi Kristina. In light of the events, I gave a kiss to the casket of my ex-wife and departed as I refused to create a scene.'

Today reports have claimed Houston's distraught daughter Bobbi Kristina was 'found getting high' after the funeral ceremony, but the singer's family has since refuted the news, stating: 'She needed some time alone.'

WHITNEY HOUSTON RETROSPECTIVE

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