Celebs and fans mob JOAN RIVERS memorial – giving comedy queen a royal send-off.
Long time pal “King of All Media” Howard Stern delivered the eulogy, Broadway singer-actress Audra McDonald sang "Smile" and a legion of NYPD bagpipers played "New York, New York" at Joan Rivers' funeral yesterday at Temple Emanu-El that combined the glitz and glam of Hollywood, theater, fashion and media.
AP reported the New York City Gay Men's Chorus sang Broadway hits including "Hey Big Spender" before six-time Tony Award-winner McDonald sang her tribute to Rivers, a champion of theater for decades.
Tributes and reminiscences were delivered by TV anchor Deborah Norville, close friend Margie Stern, NY Post columnist Cindy Adams and Joans' daughter, Melissa, who thanked everyone for their outpouring of love and support from around the world.
“X-Men” and “Boy from OZ” star Hugh Jackman sang "Quiet Please, There's a Lady On Stage" at the memorial’s end end of the memorial, and bagpipers from the New York City Police Department played on the streets as mourners filed out of Temple Emanu-El, many dabbing their eyes.
Among the stars in attendance: comedians Kathy Griffin, Rosie O'Donnell and Whoopi Goldberg; E! network "Fashion Police" colleague and friend Kelly Osbourne; Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick; and celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz.
Theater stars Bernadette Peters, Alan Cumming and Tommy Tune were there as well music kingpin Clive Davis.
Fashion designers Carolina Herrera, Dennis Basso and Michael Kors were also in attendance.
Stars from TV such as Barbara Walters, Geraldo Rivera, Diane Sawyer, Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb, Paul Shaffer gave their last respects.
Even mega moguls Barry Diller, Donald Trump and Steve Forbes were among the mourners.
Not in attendance Liza Minelli who told press she’s in a wheel chair prepping for spinal surgery to replace a fused spine and Bobby Vinton, 79, who said he sadly was too ill – recoverting from a bout with pneumonia — to honor Joan’s much-publicized request to “hold her head and sing “Lonely Boy” at her final rites.
"She would love this,” Deborah Norville told AP. "We've all said this so many times: The one person who would really think this is the greatest thing ever is the lady who it's all about, and she's not here."
As The ENQUIRER reported previously the cause of her death is under investigation. Rivers was rushed to the ER on Aug. 28 after she went into cardiac arrest during a routine procedure at the Yorkville Endoscopy center for a routine procedure. Both The New York State Health department is investigating the circumstances, and the New York City medical examiner said the initial autopsy results to determine the cause of death were inconclusive.
