Details of Funeral Plans for Whitney Houston

INSIDE EDITION reports from outside the church where Whitney Houston's funeral services will be held on the latest details of the service including the guest list.

INSIDE EDITION has details regarding the official invitation to Whitney Houston's funeral service, or as the family calls it, a "home going service."

The invitation read: "With heartfelt gratitude, the Houston family requests the honor of your presence at the home going service for Whitney Elizabeth Houston."

The invitation went out to a staggering list of celebrities: Oprah, Beyonce, her husband Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, and Oscar®-winner Jamie Foxx, are all expected to attend.

Mel Gibson has also been invited. He and Houston reportedly shared the same addiction counselor, but Gibson's rep told INSIDE EDITION: "Not 100% sure he'll be able to make it" due to scheduling conflicts.

Kevin Costner, Houston's co-star from The Bodyguard will speak at the ceremony.

INSIDE EDITION has learned that Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder will perform, as will Houston's godmother Aretha Franklin.

Franklin shared a poignant poem she wrote for Houston with the Today show.

"Twinkle twinkle superstar, we don't wonder where you are. Up above the world so bright, like a diamond in the night. Twinkle twinkle, she stood alone. I can't believe that she's gone," said Franklin.

And singers Monica and Brandy, who are also expected to attend the funeral, paid tribute to their idol on The Tonight Show . Monica even wore a shirt emblazoned with Houston's image.
 
On Saturday, the eyes of the world will be on the small church in Newark, New Jersey.  A police motorcade will escort all the guests to the front steps. Security will be extremely tight. Police are shutting down a six block perimeter around the church. No one without an invitation will get through.

Whitney's body will make the one mile journey from the funeral home to the church in a golden hearse.  Her fans can gather at two assembly zones not far from the church.

1,500 mourners will pack the pews at the New Hope Baptist Church. The service will be broadcast live on TV and on the internet.

And we now know that Bobby Brown will definitely be there, despite lingering ill will from Houston's family who blame him for her troubles. Brown paid tribute to his ex-wife at a concert in Maryland Thursday night.

Even though they were divorced, it seems Brown and Houston stayed on good terms. Houston sang at the funeral of Brown's mother almost exactly a year ago.  Who would have thought that her own funeral would follow so soon?

To watch funeral proceedings on the web, go to www.livestream.com/aplive