14 DAY TRIAL // Whitney Houston was laid to rest over the weekend, in a 2-part ceremony that included a public wake and a private funeral. Aretha Franklin, her godmother, was supposed to perform at the wake but backed out because of health concerns.
Franklin was included among the many artists due to pay their respect to Whitney through her music but, sadly, her health did not allow her to honor said commitment.
She wanted to be there, she says in a statement released to People magazine, but she couldn't – not without putting her health at risk.
“Regretfully, I am so sorry that I was unable to be with you at Whitney's service today,” Aretha said in the statement.
She had been feeling ill the day before, when she performed and she told people in the audience she felt pain in her leg.
“I had every intention of being there. But unfortunately I had terrible leg spasms and locked leg muscles until 4:00 a.m. this morning following my concert last night, which I've been having for the last few days,” the Queen of Soul noted in the same statement.
“I feel it necessary and very important to stay off my leg today as much as possible until concert time this evening,” she added.
“My heart goes out to my dear friend Cissy, Dionne, Bobbi Kristina and the rest of the family. May God keep them all. – Aretha & the Franklin Family,” concluded the legendary singer.
She'd already spoken about Whitney's passing in a tribute written for People magazine, in which she urged fans to remember the hits and forget the misses, to always carry an image of Whitney as an accomplished artist, a loving mother and a gorgeous human being.
Alicia Keys and Kevin Costner, both friends of Whitney, were also special guests at the wake, as were Whitney's mentor and close friend Clive Davis and Rev. Al Sharpton.