Gospel hymns and eulogies in remembrance of Houston filled the air during the four-hour service at the packed New Hope Baptist Church in Newark.
Friends, family and some of the biggest names in entertainment bid a tearful adieu to Whitney Houston at the hometown funeral of the legendary pop singer, whose death still remains a mystery.
Gospel hymns and eulogies in remembrance of Houston, who died a week ago aged 48, filled the air during the four-hour service at the packed New Hope Baptist Church in Newark in New Jersey, where she once sang in the choir.
Houston's signature single 'I Will Always Love You' echoed through the church as a star-studded crowd bid a final farewell to the doomed diva.
Houston was buried next to her father at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, south of Newark.
Mourners including singer Jennifer Hudson and Houston's mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston swayed and clapped along as gospel singers BeBe Winans and the Rev Kim Burrell joined with pop stars like Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder in paying tribute to Houston.
Her 18-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina sat in the front row of the church, near the silver casket blanketed in white roses and purple lilies in front of the main podium.
The invitation-only crowd of 1,500 filled the church.
Several fans gathered outside the church to bid her farewell, while thousands watched the funeral service that was streamed live online.
Other star attendees included Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Beyonce Knowles, Angela Bassett and Houston's The Bodyguard co-star Kevin Costner.
The actor remembered a fledgling movie star who was uncertain of her own fame, who "still wondered, 'Am I good enough? Am I pretty enough? Will they like me?'"
"It was the burden that made her great and the part that caused her to stumble in the end," Costner said.
Clive Davis, who became Houston's mentor, recounted his first meeting with Houston in 1983 and how he was floored by the singer's voice.
"You wait for a voice like that for a lifetime. You wait for a face like that, a smile like that, a presence like that for a lifetime. And when one person embodies it all, well, it takes your breath away," he said.
Singer Alicia Keys called Houston her angel as she told stories of her not only serving as an inspiration growing up, but a constant cheerleader for many young singers looking for support.
Keys said, "It's so obvious how she's crept into everyone's heart."
R Kelly sang a rendition of 'Look to You'. Stevie Wonder reworked his song, 'Ribbon in the Sky' for her.
Towards the end of the service, Reverand Marvin Winans said in his eulogy, "Father, we thank you for this life of Whitney Elizabeth 'Nippy' Houston. We thank you that she was a dear friend, and we echo all the sentiments of those who have come to show their love....
"Let us leave here recognising that Whitney left too soon. Let us leave her impacted by her life."
Houston's ex-husband, Bobby Brown, left the church in a dispute with his former in-laws.
The 48-year-old, whose once sparkling career was torn apart by drug abuse and personal problems, was found dead on February 12 at the Beverly Hilton, hours before her scheduled appearance at a pre-Grammys dinner.
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