Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder to perform at Whitney Houston's funeral

Whitney Houston’s voice has touched the lives of many for decades, and now, as the singer will be laid to rest on Saturday, stars will come forward to pay tribute to the friend and family member that will forever remain in their hearts.

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, has been asked to sing at Houston’s Saturday funeral, reports MSNBC Entertainment. Along with Franklin, Houston’s mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston, has also asked Stevie Wonder to pay tribute to the late singer and actress.

Franklin also told Today’s, Al Roker, that Houston’s former Bodyguard co-star Kevin Costner, Clive Davis, Tyler Perry, R. Kelly, Alicia Keys and cousin Dionne Warwick have also been invited. Franklin clarified rumors that her ex-husband, and father to Bobbi Kristina, Bobby Brown is expected to be at the funeral. She states, “[It’s his] responsibility to step up to the plate and be responsible [for daughter Bobbi]."

ABC reports that Bobby has been with his daughter a majority of the week, helping her deal with the stress and anxiety of losing her mother. Brown released an e-mail statement saying, “My daughter Bobbi Kristina is doing much better…We continue to provide love and support to Bobbi Kristina. She is dealing with the tragedy of her mother's death and would prefer to do it outside of the public eye. I ask again that our privacy be respected."

Franklin told Roker on Today that she doesn’t “have an opinion” if the rapper is to blame for leading Whitney down the wrong path through their marriage, but she does state that what is important is, “ Parents have to really talk to their children before they leave home.” She adds, “She left home with all the right things; she just kind of lost her way along the way somewhere."

Houston’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday in Newark, NJ and, despite claims that it will be a private affair, it will stream on TV.