Bobby Brown's Emotional Concert Tribute: I Love Whitney Houston "Like I Love God"

“I’d like to say thank you for your prayers,” singer tells fans two days before his ex-wife’s funeral. “[But] life is life. You have to move on sometimes"

By Rebecca Macatee Feb 17, 2012 4:16 PMTags

The music hasn't stopped for Bobby Brown.

Thursday night at a New Edition concert in Mississippi, Brown paid an emotional tribute to his ex-wife Whitney Houston.

"I'd like to say thank you for your prayers…I'd like to say thank you. Period. I'm gonna throw two up for Whitney," he told the crowd. "That's my love."

"Life is life. You have to move on sometimes," he continued. "I love her like I love God."

But Brown's next statement was a tad less sentimental.

"My name is badass Bobby Brown," he said, eliciting cheers from the audience.

New Edition is continuing on with their 30th anniversary tour, including a concert Saturday night in Connecticut, the same day Houston is being laid to rest in New Jersey.

Sources tell E! News that Brown plans to attend Houston's' funeral in support of their daughter Bobbi Kristina. Geographically, it is possible for him to attend the funeral in Newark and make it to his concert later on at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn.

Houston's private funeral is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET on Saturday. In addition to Houston's immediate and extended family, the guest list includes Clive Davis, Ray J, Brandy, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Diane Warren, CeCe Winans (brother Marvin Winans is conducting the service), Darlene Love L.A. Reid and Kevin Costner.

The late Grammy winner will be laid to rest Sunday at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, where her father, John Russell Houston Jr., is also buried.