whitney tried to be happy anyway. the good she did, she knew could be forgotten, but she did good anyway. even when she gave the best she had, it sometimes was not enough and she knew it, but she gave us her best anyway. she knew deep down that in the final analysis, it was always between her and god and it was never between her and the world anyway. [applause] today it is my prayer and that of my family that you will remember her with the love she gave to everyone no matter what will be going on anyway. to my mother-in-law, yes, you did everything you could, but

the choice was always hers. remember this, also, that there are people that jesus could not heal because they did not want his help. so god cannot do something you can feel confident that you are fine. to clive, you were the rock that held her together professionall professionally,. take your time. >> your wisdom of the music industry did not go unnoticed. and she referred to you as her industry father. she had more respect for you in one hand than she had for anyone else's entire being. you gave her hope. thank you for your excellence, your loving kindness, peace, dedication, and most importantly, your love for

whitney and this family for all these years. she loved you. [applaus [applause]. la reed much love and respect for you for many years i used to tease her, if clive was your industry father, l.a. is your industry uncle. we got a kick out of that. and record label, arista, and past and present never forgot the things that you did for her. the journey was more than incredible, it made history. she loved her craft. to her international fans, you were blessed to have her final tour in 2010. she would to you, she gave you hld dedica

to you, she gave you her best. with all of the obstacles and struggles, with weight gain and challenges she finished her tour like a champion. and never regretting the moment sharing her music with you. she'd always say, anyway you fix me, lord, i'll be satisfied. [applaus [applause]. one of her favorite songs was "home". home, america, and you were blessed with her last film. when we finally closed the deal with sony pictures in 2011, debra chase her producing partner, devon franklin and pastor jakes decided this film "sparkle" was going to happen. and six weeks of filming ssparankkle were some of the

happiest times of her life. the presence of god was in the midst of this project and in her mind it was ordained by god and the history of her fifil making, this movie inspired her to be devoted and dedicated, what she herself wanted to be as a mother, be obi kristina. and nicholas her work ethics were impeccable, she was on top of her game and on this day, i'm proud to say that she was a gift of light to many on that he set. she put the spark in spamany le and krissy, that was for you. [applaus [applause]. you were that spark. she wanted much for you. you know how she used to tell

you, say your prayers. did you read that scripture? i don't care what was going on with her, i donure care what it was, she stayed rounded in the word, mom you'd be proud. protoe]! protop. to her band members, past and present, thank you for never abandoning her. [applause] she had nothing, but love for you, for all that knew her intimately, our small circle of friends, all of you that were performing today, to tyl trfer, that comforting spirit,

that stayed with me when i needed you most, every phone call answered, anything that was necessary in the name of jes jesus, to oprah and diane, i thancholyo hl her lawyers, staffs, agents, especially nicole davis, business managers to a manager, travel, security, publicists, past and present, aunt bay and family, oh, aunt bay, to mary, , blysses, may, donna, my b brother ray, billy, and of

course cousin dionne, who i could call on anytime, tha, p you for always being there. the winnans family, i can't say enough, you're a second family. kim burrell, there are no words to describe. wasonny, we were in a team. we were a team. [applause] she would want to clap your hands, y'all, it's all rohht. i'cause our love is your love. my last conversation with her was at the beverly hilton.

we were having lunch, she had concerns about information she'd heard about her and i reminded her that in her 20's she gave the world her life with her golden device. in other 30's and 40's she gave her life to her husband and child and she was approaching her 5formas and it was time for her to live for whitney. she said because i can always face tomorrow and she had a huge smile on that oh, so beautiful face. to her brothers, gary, michael and johnnie, and her nieces and nephews whom she loved very much, a note reminding us that our dear sister, aunt, ofother, friend has been set-free, thank you. lendell. s ree from pain, free from

sorrow, free from crying, see from sin, free from death. we will see her again. , bntil then, shecerests peacefully in the lord's presence. for those of you that were unable to view her body, mantel her performing in the greatest love of all, the way that she looked. the way that she looked. may god's presence and his wornss comfort yo hl to the s amily, friends and extended music family, comfortable and , bluorgotable, my parnd se my sister, whind sey elizabeth houston, there are no words that can describe how i feel

right now. i didn't think that i could do it, but she is he' always telling me to stand, you stand, i need you. and today, i stand to say that the legacy that she left was ofusic, but what she leedt for you was her love for god and she had it and she was absolastte]! absffute. she was absolute about that and no worries. in her final days, she held ot to what you taught her to believe in. i promise you, she did. [applause].

i >> and then ask r. kelly to come. come. [applause]. ♪

i ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ i look to you ♪ i i gone ♪ ♪ in you i can be strong ♪ i i ♪ and when melodies are gone in you i hear a song ♪ i

♪ ♪ when all the melodies are gone ♪ ♪ i look to you

we love you whitney. [applaus [applause] >> i'd like to share a few words with you. the words that i feel are quite appropriate about how i feel about my whitney. don't grieve for me, for now i'm free. i'm following the path god made for me. i took his hand when i heard

him call. i turned my back and left it all. i could not stay another day, to laugh, to love, to work or play. half undone must stay that way. i found that peace at close of day. it's my par it's-- if my parting has left a void, then fill it with remembered joy. the friendship shared, alas a kiss, oh, yes, these things i, too, will miss.

be not burdened with times of sorr sorrow, i wish you sunshine on tomorrow. my life has been full, i savered much. good friends, good times, a loved one's touch. perhaps my time seemed all too bri brief. don't mention it now with undue grief. lift up your hearts and share with me god, god, god wanted

me now. he set me free. i'll ask cici winnans to come. [applause] ♪ ♪ here we are again ♪ ♪ that old familiar place ♪

♪ where the winds will blow, no ever knows the time or place ♪ ♪ don't cry for me ♪ ♪ don't tell us ♪ ♪ the times i share with you will always be ♪ ♪ and so when i go, you'll carry on ♪ ♪ don't cry for me ♪ ♪ no need to blame, oh, ♪

♪ don't carry-- the the reason why i came ♪ ♪ don't cry for me ♪ ♪ don't shed a tear ♪ ♪ the time i share with you will always be ♪ ♪ and when i go, you'll carry

on ♪ ♪ don't cry for me ♪ ♪ oh, don't cry when life is not the joy it should be ♪ ♪ don't cry,... ♪ ♪ and all the world will see ♪ ♪ don't cry for me ♪ ♪ don't shed a tear ♪ ♪ you see the times i've spent with you, will always be ♪

♪ and when i go, life carries on ♪ ♪ and don't cry for me ♪ ♪ we'll always be, don't cry for me ♪ ♪ oh ♪ ♪ don't cry for me ♪ (applaus (applause) >> everybody sing.

♪ yes, jesus loves me ♪ ♪ oh, yes, jesus loves me ♪ >> come on, everybody, all over the world, sing it. ♪ yes, jesus loves me ♪ ♪ oh, oh the bible tells me so ♪ >> i love you, whitney. [applaus [applause]

>> ricky, ricky. >> 30 years ago i met this young girl, 18 years old. with dreams of singing in the music business and i was a young 22-year-old hot shot bass player trying to show the girl a few things. and we were going to take the world by storm, we were going to figure out this music business and how to get in and how to kind of stay there and make a mark. it didn't take me long to

realize that i loved whitney houst houston. the not because she's pretty. i mean, she's pretty, 5-10, cocoa brown skin. (laughter) >> that face, that smile, those eyes, but that's not why i loved whitney houston. i mean, not because she can sing. i mean, the girl sang, all right? i mean, what a voice, not a voi voice. the voice, here me now. i loved whitney houston. could it be the the dancing? maybe not. maybe not that, but i loved whitney houston. i'm saying i love whitney houston. the hair styles? i mean, come on. dance with somebody, the hair, what about the bow in how will

i know? the bow in the hair? you know what i mean. i love whitney houston. could it be for the outfits? nobody can wear a gown like whitney houston. can i get an amen? sure. nobody can wear a gown like whitney houston, that style, that grace. that smiling face. i loved whitney for all of those things, but so much more. whitney houston changed my life forever. by entrusting me, ricky, monroe, louisiana with her career, with her music career. why? i believe that god sent her to me. she was my gift and i was

hers. and that we would go on to collaborate and work hard together and make music and laugh and cry, and fight. you know, i would bring something, what you got for me ricky, what you got, what you got? so i'd bring my idea i'd stayed up and worked on and i'd explain to her what we were going to do and how we were going to do it, and she said, as sweetly as she is, i'm not doing that. (laughter) >> so, we'd go back and forth, and until we finally got to the point where i said you're going to do it and you're going to love it. and she said, is that so? and i said, yeah, that's so. she said, okay. and we did it, you know? the memory i want to share is

really the turning point for both of us, which was the national anthem for the super bowl, and she was so excited. i mean, she was so excited to do it, but she had ideas right away, it wasn't going to be what everyone thought. and she came to me and said, ricky, did you ever see marvin gaye singing the national anthem? did you see that? i mean, he took his time, and had a beat under it. and so, can we have a beat? i said, you're whitney houston. you can have anything you want. so, we went on to try to figure out how to make this thing special. and i'll tell you, we didn't know. i mean, we didn't know, but god was leading us along the way. we didn't know what we were doing, we didn't know how to do it, but god said, go for it, go ahead. and it just changed my life and from that moment on, even

before then, that first day i knew that i loved whitney houston. on behalf of all the musicians and singers and dancers and actors, and stage crew and staff and all of us, on behalf of whitney houston, i want to thank john simmons, the first music director and mike baker the last music director for whitney and i want to releave you, knowing, because of you whitney-- because of you, i am here, because you were there. and may god bless you all. [applause].