US News

Whitney’s guardin’ angel

Whitney Houston’s “Bodyguard” co-star Kevin Costner will headline the star-studded lineup that will bid the diva farewell tomorrow at the Newark church where she first performed.

Costner, whose Frank Farmer title character protected Houston’s pop singer, Rachel Marron, from a stalker in the 1992 romance, will speak at the service, People magazine reported.

ARETHA TO SING PRAISES

EX BOBBY BROWN INVITED TO FUNERAL

Although Costner was married at the time and Houston would settle down a year later with singer Bobby Brown, fans — even nearly 20 years later — remain enthralled by their on-screen sparks.

The film raked in more than $400 million at the box office and launched a soundtrack that sold 42 million copies worldwide, propelled by what would become the signature song of Houston’s career — thanks to her handsome co-star.

Original movie plans had Houston singing “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,” a Motown-produced Jimmy Ruffin classic.

But Costner insisted on inserting a Dolly Parton tune, with Houston singing the first few notes without accompaniment.

Houston blew the doors off Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” and the rest was movie-soundtrack — and music-industry — history.

“Dolly’s song was a song that I just always really, really loved,” Costner told ABC News in an interview in 2009. “And truth be told, the musical side of her camp was very unsure about this little country song.

“When we decided it would be a cappella for the movie, they said it would never play on the radio with this a cappella thing in front. I said, ‘I don’t really care. But I wouldn’t be too sure about that.’ ”

Houston’s version spent 14 weeks at the top of the charts and anchored what became the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time.

There were also doubts about how audiences would react to a mixed-race romance.

But Costner wasn’t worried about that, either.

“I remember when Whitney was cast, there was talk about should we make mention of it in a scene,” Costner recalled. “We said, ‘No, let’s not do that. This is a woman. This is not race. This was just about good, old-fashioned chemistry.’ ”

It was Houston’s first film role. She went on to perform in “Waiting to Exhale” in 1995 and “The Preacher’s Wife” in 1996.

She also starred in a remake of the 1976 movie “Sparkle,” which will was set to be released over the summer. Houston recorded two original songs for that film.

But it is “The Bodyguard” for which she will be best remembered on the big screen.

Costner, in the ABC interview, talked about the film’s climactic kiss on an airport tarmac.

“I kissed her once for everybody in America,” he said, “and I kissed her once for myself.”

Costner is likely to recall some of those memories tomorrow afternoon, when he will face the capacity crowd that is expected to fill Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church, where Houston first performed as a child under the guidance of her mother, singer Cissy Houston.

Attendance at the funeral is by invitation only, and the guest list already rivals any red-carpet showcase. Among those invited are Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Elton John, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Cosby, according to published reports.

They’ll be joined by the Rev. Al Sharpton, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Bishop T.D. Jakes, producer Antonio “L.A.” Reid, singer Brandy and Brandy’s brother Ray J, Houston’s on-and-off boyfriend, who was with her in her final days.

Fans hoping for a glimpse of the stars or the funeral procession will likely have to settle for a seat in front of their TV screens.

Police are setting up perimeters for two blocks north and south of the church and four blocks east and west.

“I would advise the public that there really will be nothing to see at the church,” said Newark Police Director Sam DeMaio. “The best thing to do is to stay home and watch the service.”

Despite the warning, police are still expecting large crowds.

Houston, who died in Beverly Hills on Saturday at age 48, will be buried at the Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, NJ, in a plot next to her father, John Houston.

Family friend Marvin Winans, a Grammy winner and minister, will deliver the eulogy. Staffers were bringing sound equipment into the church yesterday.

“We’re going to celebrate her life to the standard which she deserves,” said the Rev. Joe Carter, New Hope’s pastor. “This is a church, and we’re going to have some church. This is a celebration.”