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EMOTIONAL: Alicia Keys performs a heartfelt tribute to Whitney Houston during the star's funeral service earlier today

A HOST of famous faces packed into a New Jersey church to say their goodbyes to Whitney Houston.

Celebrities including Stevie Wonder, R Kelly, Alicia Keys and gospel stars, Kim Burrell, Donnie McClurkin and CeCe Winans, performed emotional tributes to the 48-year-old who died last Saturday.

Stevie wonder, who admitted he had a “little” crush on the singer, moments before his performance, sang a reworked version of Ribbon In The Sky, which he had re-written especially for the late star.

R‘n’B singer, R Kelly, performed an emotionally-charged rendition of Whitney’s 2009 hit, I Look To You, which got mourners at The New Hope Baptist church in Newark, New Jersey, on their feet.

Alicia Keys found it hard to hold back tears as she sang the apt, God Send Me An Angel, her voice breaking when emotion took over.

“Showing Heart in a song beats out perfect vocals any day! Sing Alicia,” tweeted Erica and Tina of gospel duo, Mary Mary.

FINAL GOODBYE: Whitney Houston's coffin makes its way to the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey

Special tributes were read by Whitney’s long-time mentor, Clive Davis, who referred to himself as the star’s ‘industry father,’ actor and director, Tyler Perry and Whitney’s musical director, Rickey Minor.

Whitney's Bodyguard co-star, Kevin Costner, recounted stories from the set of the 1992 blockbuster and offered a candid insight into their friendship.

An impromptu performance from the Winans family, an African-American family of successful gospel music artists, brought a smile to the faces of those in attendance and got many mourners on their feet.

Their amusing rendition of Tomorrow was followed by a sermon from Marvin Winans, the fourth of 10 children, three hours after the service started.

“If you say Amen, I’ll get through this sooner,” Marvin joked.

Earlier in the service, American playwright, Bonnie Greer, who was speaking on Sky News also quipped: “This is a proper black funeral so it may go on for a bit.”

The singer's coffin was carried out to her 1994 hit, I Will Always Love You.

Whitney died last Saturday at the Beverly Hilton hotel just hours before she was set to appear at producer Clive Davis' pre-Grammy Awards gala.

Her cause of death is still unknown.

MEMORIES: Whitney Houston with singers, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson