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6:44am UK, Saturday February 18, 2012
Whitney Houston's funeral will be held today in her home town of Newark, New Jersey.
The service will take place at the New Hope Baptist Church, where an 11-year-old Houston sang in the gospel choir alongside her mother Cissy.
Fans have been gathering outside the church to lay flowers and write messages to the pop star, but the family has decided it will be a private ceremony, by invitation only.
Houston family friend Reverend Jesse Jackson told Sky News Online that Cissy Houston was a "strong woman of faith" who wanted to bring her daughter home.
He said: "I think the parents at some point just wanted to just have her for themselves for a moment. She's been out there so long, and people had her all these years.
"I think they finally wanted to reduce the circus atmosphere and make it about the church."
Houston's godmother, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder are among the stars said to be performing in tribute, with reports that Houston's Bodyguard co-star Kevin Costner will also speak.
One camera will be allowed inside the church to broadcast footage from the ceremony.
Ahead of the funeral, fans congregated outside the Whigham funeral home where Houston's body is being held.
They queued to sign a condolence book in front of a large poster of the star. one fan played her greatest hits for the crowd to enjoy.
Many fans expressed sadness that there are no plans for a public memorial, but were happy that the local girl-turned global pop icon was coming home.
Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder will perform during the private ceremony
Sherri Glover said: "Her music really touches your heart, touches your soul, she was a great person and she's one of us and we just love her."
Sharon Kane said: "She came home, and I think a lot of us feel that way. She's representing Newark, she came back to Newark and I am very happy about that."
Caliphia Rix said: "I'm right from the same block she's from. My son goes to her elementary school now and it's close to home, it's really close to home."
At that elementary school, which is now named after her, Houston's old head master Dr Henry Hamilton told Sky News he was proud but also very sad to be invited to the funeral of one of his students.
He said: "It's a sad occasion for the local community, and they wish nothing but the best for Whitney.
"She was an angel here, now she's an angel upstairs, and hopefully she's looking down and still singing those beautiful words."
Houston's family have reportedly chosen to bury the star at the Fairview cemetery in nearby Westfield. Her father John was buried there in 2003.
The singer's former husband Bobby Brown was not invited to the funeral, according to some reports, but later it was thought he was in fact going to attend.
He has an 18-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina with his late wife. She was rushed to hospital to be treated for stress following her mother's death.
Houston had been due to attend a pre-Grammy Award's party when she was found unconscious in the bath in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
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