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Whitney Houston funeral underway now, how to watch online, Web site link

How to watch Whitney Houston funeral today live online, time and Web site link

Many San Francisco residents are woke up a little early today, Saturday, February 18, 2012, to watch Whitney Houston's funeral live online.  The service got underway a little before 9 a.m. PST with music from a Gospel choir. By 9:07 a.m. PST, nearly 120,000 viewers were tuned into the Ustream broadcast of the funeral.    Click here for a previous story that includes photos of a makeshift memorial that was set up in San Francisco's gay Castro district. 

Funeral to be broadcast live over the Internet, date and time

 
Whitney Houston’s funeral is being broadcast live over the Internet.   There has been some confusion over the time and the date of the funeral.   The funeral was streamed live starting  aroud 8:45 a.m. PST (11:45 am EST) on Saturday, February 18, 2012.    
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New Hope Baptist Church, in Newark, New Jersey
 
The funeral will be held at the New Hope Baptist Church.   The church is, of course, unable to accommodate the thousands of fans who want to attend.   Jumbo screens will be set up outside the church to accommodate those fans who want to be close to the church.   Of course, as mentioned, the entire service will be broadcast live online.  
 
Flags at half-staff
 
Government flags in New Jersey were ordered to fly at half-staff on Saturday by Governor Chris Christie. 
 
Who's who of Hollywood expected at Whitney Houston’s funeral
 
What stars are expected at Whitney Houston’s funeral?  Attendees will include Chaka Khan, Houston’s Godmother, Aretha Franklin and Houston’s cousin, Dionne Warwick.  Her Bodyguard co-star, Kevin Costner,  her mentor Clive Davis, Jennifer Hudson Elton John, Oprah Winfrey, Jay Z and Beyonce.
 
Hudson is among those who are expected to sing at the funeral.  Aretha Franklin had been scheduled to sing at the funeral but she was reportedly sick and unable to sing.  
 
Bobbi Kristina and Cissy scheduled to speak 

The funeral is expected to be a heart-breaking spectacle.   Houston leaves behind an 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina, who will be at the service, along with Houston’s mother, Cissy, who is expected to speak.
 
What about Houston’s ex-husband, Bobby Brown?
 
It is unknown whether Whitney Houston’s ex-husband Bobby Brown will be there.   TMZ.com first reported that that Brown was not invited to the invitation-only funeral service but TMZ.com later reproted that he was specially invited to the funeral after all.   In a statement, Brown said, “Any report or statement that does not originate from my office about Bobby Brown or his representatives, is not authorized by Bobby Brown. We are not focused on reports, stories or false reports for that matter."  Click on the video on the left for an AP story that preview's today's funeral. 
 
Brown is the father of the couple’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina.  There is reportedly tension between Houston’s family and Brown.   Many on Houston’s side of the family blame Brown for Houston’s deep slide into alcohol and drug abuse. 
 
Where can I watch the funeral online, what Web site, what time?
 
Click here to watch live streaming video of the funeral  And once again, the live stream will began on Saturday, February 18, around 11:45 a.m. EST, 8:45 a.m. PST or 16:45 UK time.   There is no word on how long the funeral will last, but if several of the stars on the funeral’s star-studded list speak, the service will undoubtedly last well beyond the hour or so that most funerals last.    The live streaming video will include all of the service without interruptions, regardless of what time it concludes. 

, SF Headlines Examiner

Ed Walsh has worked as a journalist in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1985. He's worked in television, radio, print, and the Internet. His e-mail address is edwalsh94105@yahoo.com

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