More than 100 gospel singers open Whitney Houston's funeral More than one hundred gospel singers have opened Whitney Houston's funeral in Newark, New Jersey. The New Hope Baptist and New Jersey Mass Choirs gave an emotional performance. Many cried as they sung. The Mayor of Newark Cory Booker was one of the first people to speak at the service. He told the congregation: "God is in heaven and with him is one of our angels Whitney Houston." Houston, 48, died in a Beverly Hills hotel room on Saturday on the eve of the Grammy Awards.