Family members and famous friends of Whitney Houston have paid tribute to the singer during an emotionally-charged funeral in New Jersey. Whitney Houston's ex-husband, Bobby Brown briefly appeared at her funeral before leaving.

Brown arrived as the service began. He walked to the casket, touched it and walked to the back of the church Saturday. Brown says in a statement that he and his children were seated but asked repeatedly to move. Brown says he left because he didn't want to create a scene. As he left, Brown appeared upset. Later Saturday, Brown was performing in Connecticut with New Edition. He appeared energetic and smiling and thanked the crowd for keeping his spirits up. At one point, he pointed his finger to the sky and said, "Blessings to my ex-wife, Whitney Houston. I love you."

Houston died Feb. 11. A cause of death hasn't been determined. Houston and Brown were married 15 years and have one daughter together. Their tumultuous relationship ended in 2007.  Bobby has now released a statement through his representative, which details an entirely different account of events.

He says: “My children and I were invited to the funeral of my ex-wife Whitney Houston. We were seated by security and then subsequently asked to move on three separate occasions. I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continue to ask us and no one else to move. Security then prevented me from attempting to see my daughter Bobbi-Kristina. In light of the events, I gave a kiss to the casket of my ex-wife and departed as I refused to create a scene. My children are completely distraught over the events. This was a day to honor Whitney. I doubt Whitney would have wanted this to occur. I will continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how.”

Kevin Costner, her co-star in movie The Bodyguard, addressed the congregation at New Hope Baptist Church, in Newark, New Jersey, fighting tears as he spoke.

He told how Houston was insecure about her role in the 1992 film and feared she was "not good enough".

"I was your pretend bodyguard not so long ago and now you're gone," he said."So off you go Whitney. Off you go. Escorted by an army of angels and our heavenly father. And when you sing before him, don't worry, you'll be good enough."

The service ended with Houston's coffin being taken out of the church while a recording played of her best-known song, I Will Always Love You. The ceremony saw Stevie Wonder sing a reworking of his song Ribbon In The Sky and Love's In Need - after admitting he used to have "a little crush" on Houston.

A visibly emotional Alicia Keys also performed a song in her honour, while R Kelly sang I Look To You. A mass gospel choir got the ceremony under way with a series of rousing numbers, before Mayor of Newark Cory Booker spoke. "God is in heaven and with him is one of our angels, Whitney Houston," he said. The star's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, was seen with her arm around her grandmother and Whitney's mother, Cissy Houston, in the front row of the church.

Record mogul and Houston's mentor, Clive Davis, also spoke to the congregation. Looking directly at Bobbi Kristina, he told her: "She will forever be looking after you and will never let go of your hand." Her cousin Dionne Warwick and Tyler Perry spoke during the service, as did gospel singer Bebe Winans. He told mourners: "What I'm going to miss is crazy Whitney", before he told an anecdote about her buying various clothes for him and other members of his family. To laughter in the church, he said that when he asked why she had bought the items, she told him: "You're my brother and sister, right? And we love each other, right? And y'all broke right? I'm rich, right, so I can buy what I want for y'all."

Pall-bearers were earlier seen carrying the superstar's gold-handled platinum coffin into the church, where Houston sang as a child in the choir with her mother. The service took place almost exactly a week since the 48-year-old star died in a Beverly Hills hotel room.

Her family decided on a private, invitation-only funeral despite pressure from fans for a public memorial. There was a heavy police and media presence outside the church and fans were warned to stay away and watch on television. Houston's godmother Aretha Franklin was due to sing but cancelled at the last minute due to ill health, while RnB singer Mary J Blige was among mourners at the church.

Source://news.sky.com