Aretha wasn't Whitney's godmother at all.

Goodbye & God bless, beautiful lady.

Whitney Elizabeth Houston 1963-Forever

A beautiful home going. So happy her family allowed us to watch along.

I too, missed the service today. I've checked around and the only place that seems to be replaying it in it's entirety is the BET website.

Here's the link for anyone else that's interested.

http://www.bet.com/video/...elebrities

It is skimmable, in case you don't want to sit through all the BET News stuff.

I'll post the rest of my thoughts on the matter later. What I have to say now is...

I think it's really messed up, the way Bobby and his other children were treated. He didn't just show up with a bunch of "people". Most of them, were in fact, his children. For many years of their lives, they were Whitney's step children that she embraced as part of her family.

The BET stream early on shows one of Bobby's sons, after they left the church, standing outside crying his heart out. It was wrong...wrong...WRONG...WRONG!!! For them to be treated as if they didn't matter!

yanowha said:

Aretha wasn't Whitney's godmother at all.

So the Aretha being her godmother was a media creation along with that image, huh?

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

I too, missed the service today. I've checked around and the only place that seems to be replaying it in it's entirety is the BET website.

Here's the link for anyone else that's interested.

http://www.bet.com/video/...elebrities

It is skimmable, in case you don't want to sit through all the BET News stuff.

I'll post the rest of my thoughts on the matter later. What I have to say now is...

I think it's really messed up, the way Bobby and his other children were treated. He didn't just show up with a bunch of "people". Most of them, were in fact, his children. For many years of their lives, they were Whitney's step children that she embraced as part of her family.

The BET stream early on shows one of Bobby's sons, after they left the church, standing outside crying his heart out. It was wrong...wrong...WRONG...WRONG!!! For them to be treated as if they didn't matter!

NaughtyKitty said:

Goodbye & God bless, beautiful lady.

Whitney Elizabeth Houston 1963-Forever

Good bye Whitney I love you..

So to clear things up after 30 years of confusion:

Aretha was Whitney's "honorary aunt" (and she called her Auntie Ree, maybe that's where I got the name from, from Whitney) and Darlene Love was her real godmother.

Timmy84 said:

shellyk84 said:

Speaks volumes Timmy84

I don't know if it's because they can't afford to or just don't want to, I don't know...

Na Diana, Tina, Whitney fans would'nt have lots of money

but they still set them up Aretha's fans have nowhere to gather online

Thanks Cissy and Bobbi you did'nt have to share

[img:$uid]http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa149/bellaowen/gallery_10979_73_1342.jpg[/img:$uid]

shellyk84 said:

Timmy84 said:

I don't know if it's because they can't afford to or just don't want to, I don't know...

Na Diana, Tina, Whitney fans would'nt have lots of money

but they still set them up Aretha's fans have nowhere to gather online

Thanks Cissy and Bobbi you did'nt have to share

[img:$uid]http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa149/bellaowen/gallery_10979_73_1342.jpg[/img:$uid]

Beautiful picture of mother and daughter.

SUPRMAN said:

babybugz said:

The same backlash when Diana didn't show up at Michael's funeral . As long as they paid their respects in private it's fine. Some people don't like funeral's.

She committed to attending . . . .

right. she told Al Roker she would be performing. To back out of performance...okay I can get that.

To not go..... wow.

Timmy84 said:

babynoz said:

I honestly don't know what to think about Auntie Ree...I would hope that she would have cancelled a couple of shows but I don't know what her situation is.

Like I said, it was weird. If she didn't wanna go because she didn't wanna cause a scene then I understand but her reasoning just seemed suspect. Plus she does have a concert tonight. Maybe Aretha is just dealing with it her own way but I'm guessing she didn't alarm folks she wasn't coming and that may be where there's confusion. But Aretha's weird. I didn't wanna try to spite her for not attending.

Regardless of everything though, I'm glad the funeral didn't turn into a circus and that Whitney was giving her just due.

I saw Oprah Winfrey there ... no scene. Sorry, I just don't understand.

Here's what I don't get, now that I watched Aretha's interview...

All these years, it almost seemed accepted that Aretha was her "godmother" so all of a sudden when the interview happens and Al Roker tells of the interview, all of a sudden it comes out that she wasn't and Darlene Love was the real godmother. This is the first I had heard of this.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

I too, missed the service today. I've checked around and the only place that seems to be replaying it in it's entirety is the BET website.

Here's the link for anyone else that's interested.

http://www.bet.com/video/...elebrities

It is skimmable, in case you don't want to sit through all the BET News stuff.

I'll post the rest of my thoughts on the matter later. What I have to say now is...

I think it's really messed up, the way Bobby and his other children were treated. He didn't just show up with a bunch of "people". Most of them, were in fact, his children. For many years of their lives, they were Whitney's step children that she embraced as part of her family.

The BET stream early on shows one of Bobby's sons, after they left the church, standing outside crying his heart out. It was wrong...wrong...WRONG...WRONG!!! For them to be treated as if they didn't matter!

I saw it also. I thought they were goin inside the church and found out that the boy crying was after all bullshittery! There's a time and place for everything and that was DEFINITELY not the place. SAD, PETTY AND TACKY!

debbiedean2 said:

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

I too, missed the service today. I've checked around and the only place that seems to be replaying it in it's entirety is the BET website.

Here's the link for anyone else that's interested.

http://www.bet.com/video/...elebrities

It is skimmable, in case you don't want to sit through all the BET News stuff.

I'll post the rest of my thoughts on the matter later. What I have to say now is...

I think it's really messed up, the way Bobby and his other children were treated. He didn't just show up with a bunch of "people". Most of them, were in fact, his children. For many years of their lives, they were Whitney's step children that she embraced as part of her family.

The BET stream early on shows one of Bobby's sons, after they left the church, standing outside crying his heart out. It was wrong...wrong...WRONG...WRONG!!! For them to be treated as if they didn't matter!

I saw it also. I thought they were goin inside the church and found out that the boy crying was after all bullshittery! There's a time and place for everything and that was DEFINITELY not the place. SAD, PETTY AND TACKY!

I don't get taking Bobby and his family out to prevent drama yet invite Ray J to act a fool on her coffin... I mean I can understand his grief but REALLY?!

[Edited 2/18/12 16:37pm]

Ottensen said:

babynoz said:

I honestly don't know what to think about Auntie Ree...I would hope that she would have cancelled a couple of shows but I don't know what her situation is.

Exactly. I don't know either..but for all I do know she coulda been fell out on the floor in grief somewhere and heartbroken in a panic attack. I just think in a moment like this it's kinda messy to speculate. I just know how grief has overtaken me in a few choice instances in my own life and it wasn't pretty, so I'mma just have to leave Auntie Ree alone on this one.

Maybe. Aretha herself didn't give interview saying that she wouldn't be there. A statement was released on her behalf.

Maybe she was medicated and put to bed. Maybe doing concerts are easy for her, she can do it in her sleep so no problem getting on stage... but dealing with real life grief like this is much harder for her.

prodigalfan said:

Ottensen said:

Exactly. I don't know either..but for all I do know she coulda been fell out on the floor in grief somewhere and heartbroken in a panic attack. I just think in a moment like this it's kinda messy to speculate. I just know how grief has overtaken me in a few choice instances in my own life and it wasn't pretty, so I'mma just have to leave Auntie Ree alone on this one.

Maybe. Aretha herself didn't give interview saying that she wouldn't be there. A statement was released on her behalf.

Maybe she was medicated and put to bed. Maybe doing concerts are easy for her, she can do it in her sleep so no problem getting on stage... but dealing with real life grief like this is much harder for her.

It's interesting since Aretha has never been one to talk about her health problems. I'm surprised Aretha's rep didn't sue Patti LaBelle for her "I knew she had cancer" story. Something just doesn't seem right with Aretha, I don't know what. She did look fine in the interview I watched but I don't know.

babynoz said:

Ottensen said:

I don't remember who was sitting around Jesse. Wasn't that interested.

The blond woman is one of Whitney's former MD's (music directors) who plays keys and piano in her bands. She's been around almost as long as Ricky Minor, but it's late over here and her name escapes me at the moment. Jewish..but can't get the anme off the tip of the tongue, and hubby is falling asleep so I can't ask him

Thanks and congrats, btw.

Did you just get married Ottensen??? CONGRATULATIONS...

and sorry for the

I think regardless whether Aretha was Whitneys real Godmother or not if she had time she still should have went to the funeral. She was obviously very close to the family and Whitney. Whitney saw ReRe as a family figure and looked up to her I dont see why she wouldnt want to go if she didnt have any medical issues.

Timmy84 said:

So to clear things up after 30 years of confusion:

Aretha was Whitney's "honorary aunt" (and she called her Auntie Ree, maybe that's where I got the name from, from Whitney) and Darlene Love was her real godmother.

And yet Dionne Warwick repeated that Aretha was her godmother in the church today. Perhaps there are some who want that narrative for media purposes. Who knows, it doesn't really seem that important.

Timmy84 said:

debbiedean2 said:

I saw it also. I thought they were goin inside the church and found out that the boy crying was after all bullshittery! There's a time and place for everything and that was DEFINITELY not the place. SAD, PETTY AND TACKY!

I don't get taking Bobby and his family out to prevent drama yet invite Ray J to act a fool on her coffin... I mean I can understand his grief but REALLY?!

[Edited 2/18/12 16:37pm]

When did they show Hoe Ass J, oops I mean Ray J

119 said:

Timmy84 said:

So to clear things up after 30 years of confusion:

Aretha was Whitney's "honorary aunt" (and she called her Auntie Ree, maybe that's where I got the name from, from Whitney) and Darlene Love was her real godmother.

And yet Dionne Warwick repeated that Aretha was her godmother in the church today. Perhaps there are some who want that narrative for media purposes. Who knows, it doesn't really seem that important.

Jesus... now that I remember it... Dionne was the first to mention Aretha being a godmother. I just don't take that comment Aretha making about not knowing how that got out. I know it ain't important, it was just funny to me.

debbiedean2 said:

Timmy84 said:

I don't get taking Bobby and his family out to prevent drama yet invite Ray J to act a fool on her coffin... I mean I can understand his grief but REALLY?!

[Edited 2/18/12 16:37pm]

When did they show Hoe Ass J, oops I mean Ray J

I don't know but there's a YouTube video of him falling over the coffin. I don't know if he fainted or nothing (I read the video title that said "Ray J falling out at Whitney's funeral"). He was at the casket.

Aretha Franklin is 69 years old and not in the best of health herself. She was close to Whitney and her family, so I know this had to be an especially trying time for her. She's also contractually obligated to perform at whatever concerts she had booked before Whitney's passing. She said, she wanted to be at the funeral and sing but she couldn't because she needs her rest, to keep her moving on.

That's good enough for me and for anyone that doesn't like it...that's just too motherfucking bad! Because they'll be the same ones talking more stupid shit, if Aretha had shown up, turned the church out as only SHE could, still went to her show tonight and Heaven forbid, something tragic happened to her tomorrow.

For all those talking reckless about Aretha Franklin and what SHE should have done, it is my honor to say on her behalf!

.

[Edited 2/18/12 16:53pm]

My thing with Aretha is I can understand her not wanting to go because it hurts - I know I wouldn't, but it just seems Whitney's own people just wasn't told that she was gonna be there. I couldn't see Aretha canceling a concert. Hell Bobby has a concert with New Edition and he still showed up but I guess Bobby and Aretha are dealing with it in their own ways.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

Aretha Franklin is 69 years old and not in the best of health herself. She was close to Whitney and her family, so I know this had to be an especially trying time for her. She's also contractually obligated to perform at whatever concerts she had booked before Whitney's passing. She said, she wanted to be at the funeral and sing but she couldn't because she needs her rest, to keep her moving on.

That's good enough for me and for anyone that doesn't like it...that's just too motherfucking bad! Because they'll be the same ones talking more stupid shit, if Heaven forbid, Aretha had shown up, turned the church out as only SHE could, still went to her show tonight and something tragic happened to her tomorrow.

For all those talking reckless about Aretha Franklin and what SHE should have done, it is my honor to say on her behalf!

I love Aretha and all but I dont think that is an excuse. This wasnt a tribute concert to Whitney this was HER FUNERAL... Besides health reasons, NOTHING excuses that. There have been people in the middle of filming movies that change their whole schedule around to attend a movie or concerts thats not a good reason especially when she can always reschedule.

I'm watching BET right now, and it's amazing how much Whitney did for so many people. This girl said that Whitney paid all her medical bills when she was diagnosed with colon cancer.

I still can't believe she's gone. A truly amazing woman.

Love you so much Whitney.

This part here is what did it for me. Where her song was playing in the church as the pall bearers lifted her coffin. Starts at 3:45.....

Terrib3Towel said:

I'm watching BET right now, and it's amazing how much Whitney did for so many people. This girl said that Whitney paid all her medical bills when she was diagnosed with colon cancer.

I still can't believe she's gone. A truly amazing woman.

Love you so much Whitney.

This was a woman who had a Children's Foundation that she helped to organize. She was a loyal humanitarian from what I read over the years. So it doesn't stun me that Whitney had done so much. And also to me she was always loyal to anyone she was around.