Free Republic

New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie will reportedly plan a public tribute for famed performer Whitney Houston, who died Saturday at the age of 48. “Obviously, Whitney Houston was an important part of the fabric – the cultural fabric of this state,” Mr. Christie said at a press conference Tuesday, adding that Houston, a Newark native, is in the “pantheon of great New Jersey musical talents” like Frank Sinatra, Count Basie and Bruce Springsteen. “Her terribly premature death is an awful loss for her family and the incredible New Jersey musical family,” he said. “Our prayers are with her family,”...

For Whitney Houston and her family, God was always paramount. That's likely why her mother, Cissy Houston, eschewed a big, public memorial at New Jersey's Prudential Center for a private, invitation-only funeral on Saturday in the Newark church that launched her daughter's career. Newark Mayor Cory Booker confirmed Tuesday that the family has no "plans to set up a public viewing at the Prudential Center this Friday" despite reports to the contrary. He also said that the city won't be...

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced Tuesday that he plans to order flags on public buildings to fly at half-staff on the day of Whitney Houston's funeral to honor the songstress and Jersey native. "Whitney Houston was an important part of the cultural fabric of this state," Christie said during a press release Tuesday. Christie also said the pop legend belongs in the same category as Frank Sinatra, Count Basie and Bruce Springsteen. He said he will sign the order later in the week after Houston's family makes a final decision regarding time and place of the funeral. A Newark...

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he will order flags flown at half-staff Saturday in memory of Whitney Houston.

The media have no bleepin' clue how to cover the death of Whitney Houston. That's because she was slowly dying for years and many in the press simply averted their eyes. It was ultra-disturbing that a beautiful woman blessed with an extraordinary singing voice chose a self-destructive path in full view of the world. I mean, here is a person who signed a $100 million recording contract, actually sold 170 million albums and commanded high six figures to deliver a 90-minute concert. Houston was a genuine international star, and yet she often was seen in public disheveled and confused, her...

Two events will mark this year's Grammy awards, the never thought possible reunion of the Beach Boys and the Two events will mark this years Grammy awards, the never thouhght possible reunion of the Beach Boys and the death of the 80's diva Whitney Houston. One might wonder what would interest a religious writer about this celebrity's life and death. Let's just say it offers a cautionary tale.

Whitney Houston will be laid to rest after a private, invitation-only funeral at her childhood New Jersey church, instead of a public memorial at a Newark arena. The 18,000-seat Prudential Center had been planned as a setting for a public memorial, but the family decided overnight to keep services private, a source confirmed to NBC New York on Tuesday. "Whitney has shared her entire life with the public. This is her final farewell. Let her family share that time with her," said Carolyn Whigham, owner of the funeral home handling the arrangements. The private funeral will be held Saturday at...

TMZ reports that Whitney Houston‘s body was flown home to Newark, New Jersey on Tyler Perry’s private jet. The film-maker was reportedly in Los Angeles on a press junket for his upcoming film, Good Deeds. When he heard of Houston’s death, he immediately offered his jet as transportation.

The Race Detective makes a huge discovery again! At the Fox News article about Whitney Houston, he discovers racist comments. What’s odd is that I have seen Whitney Houston threads at various Conservative sites. Not once have I seen racist sentiments directed toward the death of Ms. Houston. But as we know, the Race Detective has henchmen like Killgore Trout and Hoosier Hoops who plant racist comments. Once again, The Race Detective is “tipped” off by posters and discovers racist comments!

White House press secretary Jay Carney on Monday offered President Barack Obama's condolences to Whitney Houston's family, following the singer's death over the weekend. "I know that his thoughts and prayers are with her family, especially her daughter," Carney said, referring to 18-year-old Bobbi Kristina Brown. "It's a tragedy to lose somebody so talented at such a young age."

Is there something toxic in the hair piece? Singer Tony Bennett isn't just a liberal, he's an embarrassing liberal who says the wrong thing at the wrong time. The Hollywood Reporter passes along that at the pre-Grammy bash of record producer Clive Davis, Bennett took the news of Whitney Houston's untimely death as an occasion for a political statement demanding America legalize drugs like the Netherlands. "First it was Michael Jackson, then Amy Winehouse, now, the magnificent Whitney Houston," he began. "I'd like every person in this room to campaign to legalize drugs." But it gets worse. "Let's legalize drugs...

Whitney Houston might have passed away Saturday, but it’s clear her fans will always love the legendary singer. Not surprisingly, news of her death catapulted some of her greatest hits to the top of the music charts today. On iTunes, Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” is currently the No. 1 download, while “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” is finding a place in the top 10.

Two days before her death, Whitney Houston gave what would be her final performance at a Hollywood nightclub, surrounded by friends and family. The 48-year-old music legend was at the "Kelly Price & Friends Unplugged: For The Love Of R&B Grammy Party" at Tru Hollywood nightclub on Thursday, February 9. Kelly Price called Houston up on stage and the pair sang a duet of "Yes, Jesus Loves Me" before Houston blew kisses to the crowd and walked off stage. "I invited a bunch of friends, Whitney Houston among them. ... All of my friends came out. They performed. They performed...

LOS ANGELES - Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.

Singer Whitney Houston died Saturday in Beverly Hills, according to law enforcement sources. Authorities are trying to determine a cause of death. [Updated at 5:46 p.m.: She was found in the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where emergency medical personnel were called sometime Saturday, said the sources, who asked to remain anonymous because the investigation is ongoing.] Houston, 48, was in the Los Angeles area for a musical tribute to music executive Clive Davis and had performed and spoken to reporters earlier in the week.

No details yet

Whitney Houston was almost kicked off a Delta flight yesterday when she refused to buckle her seat belt before takeoff, holding up the entire plane for people who understand the rudimentary practice of clicking one piece of metal into another. Then again, they could’ve all been physicists. Motherf______rs are everywhere… TMZ reports: We’re told Whitney refused and “got diva” on the crew member … until another crew member came over and warned Houston that if she didn’t buckle up, she would have to get off the plane. Whitney eventually allowed one of the crew members to grab the buckle and...

It was billed as a triumphant comeback, but Whitney Houston's tour is not exactly panning out that way. The 46-year-old singer, who looked bloated and sweaty on stage, delivered another disastrous performance in Denmark over the weekend.

Alexis Houston -- the singer who held a press conference last week to announce she never had sex with "Today" show host Matt Lauer -- had some interesting yesterdays. She used to be a man who called himself Wellington Houston. Whitney Houston sued Wellington (whose original name was Stuart) in 1996 because he was claiming to be her cousin. Whitney alleged that Wellington used the false relationship to defraud an elderly New York doctor of $100,000 using credit cards and forged checks, the AP reported at the time. Wellington resurfaced in 2001 with a demo CD titled "All's Well." The...

YouTube - Lin Yu Chun Sings Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You'