Country star Joe Nichols will perform at Anna Nicole Smith's funeral later this morning (02MAR07) in the Bahamas. Nichols will perform his song I'LL WAIT FOR YOU and Smith's favourite tune WINGS OF A DOVE at the grave side after being invited to sing by the tragic model's longtime companion HOWARD K. STERN. Nichols, who met and befriended Smith after meeting her backstage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee in 2005, admits he's treating the invitation to sing at her funeral as a huge honour. He says, "It's been an emotional time for the family with the recent death of her son, followed by her own sudden death. "I hope to bring some comfort through music to the people who were closest to her during this sad time." Smith, who died in Florida on 8 February (07), will be buried next to her son DANIEL at Lakeview Memorial Gardens + Mausoleums on Nassau. More than 300 are invited to attend the funeral service. Meanwhile, Eric Clapton's TEARS IN HEAVEN will be played over a video montage created from home video footage of Smith at play.