NEWARK, N.J. — Kevin Costner will reportedly speak at Whitney Houston’s funeral on Saturday, two decades after he starred opposite the singing superstar in “The Bodyguard.”
The 1992 movie was Houston’s film debut and its soundtrack, which featured her signature rendition of “I Will Always Love You,” sold more than 17 million copies in the United States alone.
Costner played a bodyguard tasked with protecting Houston, who starred as a pop singer threatened by a stalker in the romantic thriller.
People magazine, citing a family source, said Costner planned to speak at the invitation-only service for Houston at her childhood church in Newark, N.J.
Other entertainment industry heavyweights reportedly will participate in the funeral, with Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder slated to sing and Houston’s record producer Clive Davis expected to speak.
Jay-Z, Beyonce, Elton John, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Cosby also were invited to attend the service, a city official told The Star-Ledger.
It remained unclear if Houston’s ex-husband Bobby Brown would be in attendance, though People magazine’s sources said he planned to be at the funeral. Brown was married to the singer for 14 tumultuous years and the couple had one daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, 18.
There is rumored to be animosity between Brown and Houston’s family, which blames the rapper for the drug and alcohol problems both his ex-wife and daughter experienced.
Houston was found dead in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton hotel on Saturday. She was 48.
Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church, the venue for Saturday’s noon service, is where Houston first developed her talent, singing in the choir as a child.
Though the service is private, it will be broadcast live to give fans around the world the chance to say their farewells to the singer.