Bobby Brown says he loves Whitney Houston 'like I love God'

New York, Feb 18 (ANI): Whitney Houston's ex-husband Bobby Brown paid tribute to her in a concert, saying "I love her like I love God".

Brown was on stage in Maryland Thursday night with his fellow New Edition members for the group's 30th anniversary tour when he made this declaration.

"I'd like to say thank you for your prayers. I'm going to throw two up for Whitney. That's my love," the New York Daily News quoted him as telling the crowd, before holding up two fingers in the air.

"Life is life... You have to move on sometimes. I love her like I love God ... My name is Bad A-Bobby Brown," he said.

Brown, 43, is to attend Houston's "invitation only" funeral service Saturday at Newark's New Hope Baptist Church. He will then resume his tour the same night in Connecticut.

Though many in Houston's family don't want Brown to attend the service, they can't stop him because of his link to his daughter with Houston, Bobbi Kristina, a source told ABC News.

Brown and Houston had a tumultuous 15-year relationship and finally divorced in 2007.

He said his 18-year-old daughter was recovering well after being hospitalized following her mother's untimely death at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 11. (ANI)