Brown and Houston determined to stay friends

Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown are determined to stay friends amid their impending divorce and custody battle because they don't want to become part of another Hollywood circus.

Whitney and Bobby have prompted various reports of a reconciliation when they met up for dinner recently, but the 'My Prerogative' singer insists he and his estranged wife were just trying to maintain a friendship.

Bobby says: "We're trying to work everything out so the divorce goes right - not like a Hollywood divorce. We're friends.

"I'm really looking forward to her doing her thing, and me doing my thing. And that's raising a child. It's beautiful. Our child is beautiful.

"We just appreciate each other now that we know the direction that we both want to go."

Houston filed for divorce from Brown in October last year, ending their rocky 14 year marriage.