"So off you go, Whitney. Off you go," Costner said in closing. "Escorted by an army of angels to your heavenly father. And when you sing before him, don't you worry. You'll be good enough."
Costner said Houston's own story could help a new generation of young girls who dream big.
"Maybe they're thinking they aren't good enough," he said. "I think Whitney would tell you: Guard your bodies. Guard the precious miracle of your life. Then sing your hearts out, knowing that there's a lady in heaven who's making God himself wonder how he created something so perfect.