Whitney Houston Dies At 48

Grammy-winning singer and actress Whitney Houston, one of the most talented performers of her generation who lived a turbulent personal life and admitted drug use, died on Saturday in a Beverly Hills hotel room. She was just 48.

The singer was found dead in the same hotel where stars like Alicia Keys had been prepping for the festive gala.

A Beverly Hills police officer told reporters they were called to the Beverly Hilton, in Los Angeles, at around 3:20pm PST and that emergency personnel found Houston's body in a fourth-floor room, and she was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m.

“She has been positively identified by friends and family (who) were with her at the hotel, and next of kin have already been notified,” Lieutenant Mark Rosen told reporters.

Police said there were no obvious signs of criminal intent at the scene and her death is under investigation.

Houston was in Los Angeles for the Grammy Awards, the music industry's biggest honours programme that will take place on Sunday night. She died hours before she was expected to perform at record producer Clive Davis's annual pre-Grammy party on Saturday, which is held at the Beverly Hilton

Remembering Whitney

Houston, inspired by soul singers in her New Jersey family, including mother Cissy Houston and cousins Dionne Warwick and the late Dee Dee Warwick, as well as her godmother Aretha Franklin, became one of the most celebrated female singers of all time, taking multiple Emmy, Grammy and Billboard Music awards.

Her popularity soared in the 1980s and 1990s with consecutive No. 1 hits including the smash single I Will Always Love You, from the soundtrack of the feature film The Bodyguard, in which she starred.

She also appeared in Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher's Wife (1996).”

By the early 1990s, Houston had become the queen of pop music, achieving great critical and commercial acclaim, but her personal life was becoming troubled. In 1992 she married singer Bobby Brown, who had a bad-boy reputation, and during their 14 years together had a tumultuous relationship fueled by drugs.

In 2000, she and Brown were stopped at an airport in Hawaii and security guards discovered marijuana in their luggage.

The pair also starred in reality TV series, Being Bobby Brown, which painted an often unflattering portrait of the pair.

The last 10 years of Houston's life were dominated by drug use, rumours of relapses and trips to rehab. In a 2002 TV interview, she admitted using marijuana, cocaine, alcohol and prescription drugs.

She launched a comeback tour in 2009 and in April 2010 she called media reports she was using drugs again “ridiculous.” In May 2011, Houston enrolled in a drug and alcohol rehab program.

Who was Whitney Houston:

•  Houston won six Grammys, 30 Billboard awards and 22 American Music Awards in a 25-year career. According to the Guinness Book of Records, she was the most-honored female singer with more than 400 awards.

•  She released seven studio albums, the most recent in 2009.

•  Her best-known hits include "I will Always Love You," "Saving All my Love for You" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" and she has sold more than 170 million albums worldwide.

•  Houston's movies included "The Bodyguard" in 1992 with Kevin Costner, "The Preacher's Wife" with Denzel Washington and "Waiting to Exhale." She had recently finished filming "Sparkle," described as the musical drama of a girl group dealing with fame and drugs, that is scheduled for release in August.

• Houston started out singing in her church gospel choir in New Jersey at age 11 and released her first album in 1985 after being discovered by record producer Clive Davis. Her extraordinary mezzo-soprano belting voice is credited with influencing singers ranging from Mariah Carey to Celine Dion, Alicia Keys and Beyonce.

•  Houston was the cousin of Dionne Warwick. She married Bobby Brown on July 18, 1992, and had a daughter with him. They divorced after a tumultuous, drug-fueled 14 years together.

•  The last 10 years of Houston's life were dominated by drug use, rumors of relapses and trips to rehab. In a 2002 TV interview, she admitted using marijuana, cocaine, alcohol and prescription drugs. 

• In 2009, she admitted lacing marijuana with rock cocaine. She launched a comeback tour in 2009 and in April 2010 she called media reports she was using drugs again "ridiculous." In May 2011, Houston enrolled in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program.

Stars mourn the loss of a superstar

Celebrities remembered Whitney Houston at Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy gala - an event she had been expected to attend.

Despite the death, the event went on as planned. Stars including Dr. Dre, Adam Lambert, Serena Williams and Kim Kardashian were in attendance.

India.Arie said Houston "set the standard for what it is to be a great female artist."

Producer Jimmy Jam says her death was a "bittersweet irony" given that Davis introduced Houston to the world at the event more than two decades ago.

Reactions came pouring in from fans and friends in the music industry.

“I am absolutely heartbroken at the news of Whitney's passing,” legendary music producer Quincy Jones said in a statement. 

“... I always regretted not having had the opportunity to work with her. She was a true original and a talent beyond compare. I will miss her terribly.”

Neil Portnow, chief executive of the Recording Academy that gives out the Grammys, called her; 

“one of the world's greatest pop singers of all time who leaves behind a robust musical soundtrack spanning the past three decades.”

Pop star Rihanna posted on Twitter “No words, just tears,” and rapper Nicki Minaj tweeted “Jesus Christ, not Whitney Houston. Greatest of all time.”

Dolly Parton, whose song "I Will Always Love You" was covered by Houston, said,

"I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart,"

Houston's godmother Aretha Franklin said,

"Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed. It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen." 

Mariah Carey;

"Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston. My heartfelt condolences to Whitney's family and to all her millions of fans throughout the world. She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth."

Toni Braxton;

 "My heart is weeping...RIP to the Legendary Diva & Icon Whitney Houston!!!!! Such an incredible influence over music as a whole!"

Last Public Appearnace Of Whitney Houston Paints A Not So Pretty Picture

   

The pictures were taken on Thursday 9th Feb as Whitney left a nightclub in Hollywood. 

  

It was reported that she had gotten into a physical altercation with another woman.  

Blood is visible on her wrist and legs in photos taken as her friends escorted her out of the club.

Hollywood Reporter reported this on the story: 

According to a source, after Francis performed an Etta James tribute and Houston joined Price on stage, the two were reintroduced in the VIP section. “It didn’t seem like Whitney remembered her, but she was cordial at first.” 

The scene changed minutes later when R&B star Ray J, who Francis had met over the years, stepped into the conversation. “Whitney just got belligerent,” an eyewitness tells The Hollywood Reporter. 

“Ray was trying to defend Stacy, telling Whitney, ‘Stacy’s family!’, but Whitney was feeling crowded out and hands were raised.” 

Fortunately, the situation was diffused without any punches thrown, but says the source, 

“You didn’t know which way it could go there for a minute.” 

When contacted by THR, Francis didn’t deny that the incident happened, but would only say, “I have the utmost respect for Whitney Houston and her talent.” {via The Hollywood Reporter} 

In case you think this is not a true story or that the tabloids are making this up, Stacy Francis has already confirmed the story via twitter, and you can check out those tweets at iLuLu Online…