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Latest update: 12/02/2012
- entertainment - music - USA
Singer Whitney Houston found dead, aged 48
Pop diva Whitney Houston, famous for hits including "I will always love you", was found dead Saturday in a Beverly Hills hotel, aged 48. The cause of her death, on the eve of the Grammy Awards, is under investigation.
By News Wires (text)
REUTERS - Whitney Houston, whose soaring voice lifted her to the top of the pop music world but whose personal decline was fueled by decades of drug use, died on Saturday in a Beverly Hills hotel room. She was 48.
Her death came on the eve of the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles and at the same hotel where her mentor, record mogul Clive Davis, was holding an annual pre-event party at which she was scheduled to perform.
A dramatic scene unfolded at the Beverly Hilton Hotel as music celebrities arriving for the party expressed shock at her death, while reporters swarmed the hotel and fans gathered to pay their respects.
A Beverly Hills police officer told reporters they were called to the Beverly Hilton at around 3:20 p.m. PST and that emergency personnel found Houston’s body in a fourth-floor room, and she was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. The cause of death is under investigation.
“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.
Tributes poured in from around the world for a singer whose remarkable vocal range produced some of the most memorable music of her generation, including her signature hit, “I Will Always Love You.”
“Whitney Houston was not only an amazing artist but also a beautiful person. She was so smart and her knowledge and appreciation for the musical art form was remarkable,” Motown founder and R&B legend Berry Gordy said in a statement.
Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, which runs the Grammys, said event producers were working on ways to honor the singer in front of her many friends in the audience.
Standing on the red carpet outside the hotel, Portnow told Reuters they would “try to celebrate her life,” and called Houston a “one of a kind singer” whose body of work was “staggering.”
Throughout her decades in music, Houston won six Grammys, 30 Billboard awards and 22 American Music Awards. She released seven studio albums, sold some 170 million CDs, singles and videos that included smash hits “Saving All my Love for You.”
She also appeared in the movies “Bodyguard” (1992), “Waiting to Exhale” (1995) and “The Preacher’s Wife” (1996).
Houston was inspired to sing as a child by soul singers in her New Jersey family, including mother Cissy Houston and cousins Dionne Warwick and the late Dee Dee Warwick. Her godmother was Aretha Franklin.
“I just can’t talk about it now,” Franklin said in a statement. “It’s so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn’t believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen. My heart goes out to Cissy, her daughter Bobbi Kris, her family and Bobby (Brown).”
Stellar career, personal troubles
By the early 1990s, Houston reigned as the queen of pop, but her critical and commercial success on stage was accompanied by an increasingly troubled personal life. In 1992 she married singer Bobby Brown, who had a bad-boy reputation, and their tumultuous 14 years together were marred by drug abuse and domestic violence.
In 2000, she and Brown were stopped at an airport in Hawaii and security guards discovered marijuana in their luggage. In a 2002 TV interview, she admitted using marijuana, cocaine, alcohol and prescription drugs.
The pair also starred in a reality TV series, "Being Bobby Brown," which painted an often unflattering portrait of the couple.
The last 10 years of Houston’s life were dominated by drug use, rumors of relapses and trips to rehab.
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.
Despite her personal troubles she commanded great affection among her music industry colleagues, and emotional tributes flooded the media in the hours after news broke of her death.
“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.”
Pop star Rihanna posted on Twitter “No words, just tears,” and rapper Nicki Minaj tweeted “Jesus Christ, not Whitney Houston. Greatest of all time.”
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Comments (169)
WILL MISS YOU AND YOUR MUSIC.
WILL MISS YOU AND YOUR MUSIC. MY HEART GOS OUT TO YOUR FAMILY.MAY GOD BLESS.
whitney houston
how can any one start off saying sweet things about her and then in the next berath keep talking about her drug use one thing everyone should know talking about a person who use it only makes it worse so stop messing with her and her baby its one thing we dont do in the hood is mess with someones babies they dont have nothing to do with it so to all the media give it a rest
daughter
I cannot stop thinking about her precious young daughter. The pain that child must be suffering. I know the family will take care of her, but her mom cannot be there.
She mayb absent in body, but she will b present 4ever in spirit
We choose how to interpret our experiences. We choose to experience emotions both consciously and unconsciously at any one moment in time.
We choose to behave in accordance with how we Think about the world, other, events and ourselves.
whitney houston will always
whitney houston will always be my best singer
whitney houston
i saw her 1992 in rupp in lexington ky it was the greatest consert ever loved her!!!!!!
I need to say am sorry for yuo
I give you my simpaty
sad
dear whiteny you will always be the greatest singer in the world you sang when you was a little girl and grew up to be the worlds best singer ever but now you are dead but that does not mean we will forget you whiteny houston let lord give you peace and hope in heaven whiteny we will always love
good as michael jackson
so so so so sad
whitney houston deaded
a good singer as good as michael jaskson
love
am sorry but life gose on okey!love alway
Rest in Peace
Too sorry for her last 14 years and sudently death. Great person and great performance woman is last forever. RIP Whitney, we'll always love you.
Whitney Houston
What a beautiful person we have lost ! With a voice more beautiful then life it's self. Whitney you are loved by millions of people.You are one whom will never be forgotten and you will remain in many hearts for year's to come.I know your now in the arms of an Angel and God is watching over you. Rest In Peace Whitney, We love you and we will miss you! God bless you and your family.
death whitney houston.her family should watch her careful. they
whitney houston good singer. we would buried her if family got help for her.should got court order if that what they had to do. we would stay her life. lost wonderful person.
whitney houston
OMG!!!! she was kinda like my favorite singer of I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU....
" Remeber The Times"
My prayers and thought goes out to the huston's family. She was love by many people and has a lot of respect along the years. She will always be in our heart and prayers. I just want to tell the family look to the hills which come all our help. He there when nobody else is there. She in a better place and singing with the angels of heaven.
she brought love to life
I THANK GOD FOR HIS ANGELS LIKE WHITNEY.THE MORE THE LORD LOVES YOU THE MORE THE DEVEL HATES YOU.WHITNEY WAS A VICTOM TO THE CHEMICAL THIRST CREATED BY THE DEVELS GREED TO POISON ANGELS LIKE HER.WHITNEY KNEW LOVE AND SANG FOR LOVE THAT IS GOD.SHE GLORIFIED CHRIST THE MOST AND HE WILL GIVE HER THAT GLORY BACK IN HER THRONE OF SALVATION.SHE NEVER BETRAYED ONLY BROUGHT WORDS OF LOVE THRU HER BLESSED TALENTS TO ME AND THE REST OF HER FANS.WE NEED TO TREAT DRUGS LIKE ANTHRAX AND CHILDPROOF THIS COUNTRY.MORE DEATH AND MISERY THEN ANY TERRORIST ATTACK,GOD BLESS WHITNEY AND HER FAMILY
DEATH OF A MOST FAVORITE POPSTAR
i WANT TO SEND A DEEPEST SYMPATHGY TO WHITNEY HOUSTON i'd LOVED HER MUSIC SO VERY MUCH IT IS REALLY HURTING ME I LOVED YOU WHITNEY PLEASE REST IN PIEASE
Whitney Houston
I will always love you Whitney. I have sing the Greatest Love of all for Karoke for years. May God Bless your family.. You will be missed.
I MISS WHITNEY SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL PERSON RIP
I DIDNT NO WHITNEY PERSONALLY BUT IM SORRY THAT SHE HAS PASS ON BUT I NO SHE IS WITH GOD I JUST HAVE THAT FEELING SHE HAD HER FAULTS BUT SHE WAS ANNOITED BY GOD WILL THROUGH HER BEAUTIFUL VOICE RIP DIVA YOU WILL BE MISSED
Whitney Houston
Whitney will be missed every day. I feel horrible that the people that are left without her like her children and family. Whitney you have a voice like an angel, so now you will fly with them. Rest in Peace Whitney you deserve it you've been through a hard life now you will only feel at peace & serenity You will be missed terribly!
She was sooo Loved !!
Whitney,Is one of God's most loved children..IF people only realize how """BLESSED we were to be GRACED BY HER PRESENTS " THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF LOSS WE HAVE. THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN OUR PATH...
The world is now such a sad and lonely PLACE /NOW THAT SHE is not here. My Prayers , go are with her Daughter,MoM,and all the rest of her Loved ones she left behind...MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND COMFORT YOU...
Why Why Why someone like you
Why Why Why someone like you to leave the World behing but i do know you never will go away from out Heart and we will always Love you ... God Bless You
Whitney Huston
I am only 11 years old and was crying when whitney huston dead it's very sad the she's gone.
why
bobby brown is the one who got her started on drug
i wil always love you
to boby cristina she will always be there whit you love you and she always be in whe heart god bless you and family she is number one
Whitney Houston & Family with Love!
To God be the glory! Whitney you were a songbird sent from God! Your voice was a "one of a kind!" I will always love you Whitney! The family of Whitney: Again God has walked into His garden & picked one of His precious flowers and sat Whitney around about Him! Family, if God brought you to it, God will surely bring you through it! I pray that God will allow his spirit to speak into yours during those times that you are lonely at heart of your loved one! I pray that our Lord God will lift each of you up above every situation and circumstance of your pain, and just bless you all! I pray that our Lord God will continue to keep you all in his ever loving care! Be blessed Bobbi Christina! We love you & will be praying for & with you!
Evangelist Brenda Stinnett Gray & Family!
we love u Whitney Houston :[
we love u Whitney Houston :[
comment on whitney houston death
my heart and soul goes out to the family of miss houston's,i never knew her personnaly, but from one addict to another ,we do not need to be ashamed of our sickness,we can blame noone for it,but we can blame people or events for the start of it,i do not know miss houston's life story,but what i do know of it ,love was the beginning of it for what i know of her life she loved too hard ,she loved so hard that when that love was there nomore,she turned to something to comfort her,and it comforted her so much she just could not quit,yes she had money,fortune,fame,and family,but that 1 true love that comes around once in a lifetime was there nomore,so to the people that are there putting her name down,and trying to blame her mom,they need to put the blame on love,and we all know who that was,i'm talking about the kind of love that u find here on earth,not about the kind of heavenly love we all have no matter what it will always be there what and for that kind of love she is in no more sorrow or pain she has been greatly awarded i honestly believe that and her angelic voice is in heaven where god wants herfor he is coming back very soon and who knows she maybe part of that heavenly rejoicing that htere will be when it is time ,so don't be sorry for her ,be happy because she could be part of a beatyful thing just like she was here on earth.condolences to the houston family
Houston
I do not think Ms.Houston would like what is going on.
I know alot of people do!!
SINGER
ILOVE HER SO MUCH SHE WAS MY FAVORITE SINGER !! OMG
when is whitney houston
when is whitney houston furnedal
Whitney Houston
Hi i just want to say R.I.P. WHITNEY. YOU WILL BE MISSED. YOUR MUSIC MADE SOME OF OUR LIFES BETTER. LVE YOU ALWAYS. MY SORROWS GOES OUT TO YOUR FAMILY.
whitney hilson
its so sad how bobby brown did her she had the most betaful voice i was leastning to her right now and its hard breaking i will all ways love u rest in peace
whithney hilson
i love u whitney hilson rest in peace
whitney
I love you. and you will be missed. love gose out to your family
i love you
we will always love you:(!!!!!!!!!!
Love You Whitney
I know Whitney Houston had a beautiful voice.Her voice is made for God.She had bad times and good times,but the Lord knows best.And we all will face him one day.May she rest in Peace.
my wishes
i just wanna say may god be with ur family and protect them lift them up heal them give them what they need may u rest in peace and rejoice with our mighty god AMEN he took u away from all if thee suffering and struggles he felt as if ur job was done on earth and he didnt wont 2 see his child going threw it so he called u home 2 relax and celebrate what you've done R.I.P WHITNEY HOUSTON ill see you again me and my family loves u and urs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
r.i.p
whitney u were one of my fav singers u will be missed
Whitney Houston
So sorry about her death & for her daughter & the rest of her family Hope some people will learn from this. You can't fool with drugs, Legal or illegal Maybe this will help her daughter to know not to be fooling with drugs. Her music will be missed & I am sure her family will miss her very much. Her family in the Music world will miss her. She took Dolly Parton's song & made it famous & made Dolly money & will continue to do so, as long as her music is played.especially (I Will always Love you)
this is sad sad she was the
this is sad sad she was the best singer i love her so much but her hosben shuold get arestid becuse he wasthe one who got her on drugs
whitney
how did u die u were amazingly talented
Whitney Houston
Yes it is terrible, she was the best of female singers...just like M. Jackson...you got money, fame, and all the drugs you can get your hands on no matter what doctor (mjs doctor was not at fault, he mj would had got it some place else, as Elvis to. She did it to herself and she will be missed...she did it to herself, she is human just like you and I. Amy Winehouse is gone to, so is Janis, Jimi, Jim, the list will always go on...so sad, but it is her fault and her so called assistance who bailed her out of every late interview and kept people waiting, even fat ass Oprah.... Oh I can not wait to hear her account and response about Whitney...She is gone, rip baby rip with the lord....We all will be there, you were always fucked up every time I saw you...I ain't no angel either but when you do too much you do too much...shit, she interupted Clive and Brandys clip from the swimming pool. So what if you went swimming, do not do crazy shit like that....look at Brandys face right after Whitney gives her that note (that she won't reveal) it probably said i got you a line, I mean somes kilos upstairs girl...Brandy was looking at her like " girl you crazy bitch" in her head...READ BETWEEN THE LINES DUMB ASS PEOPLE!!!!!
the untied states
i don't agree with what the states in the united states have done, yes she was an amazing vocalist but tell me why the states lowered their flags once they found out about her death but they dont lower it when a single soldier fighting for our freedom and our country dies. In my opinion they should lower it for every soldier even if it means it staying lowered everyday... well guess what we are in a war and it should stay lowered for the lives that are taken day by day.
big fan
may god be with her now. we all love u. pray for her family of there love one.
To family,friends of Whitney Houston
She was an awesome lady and singer May God help ya all find peace and strength in each other no one can express the sadness we all feel Whitney will be missed and not forgotten God needed her more than we did Betcha the choir is singin now God Bless ya all
david_maynard54@yahoo'com
I LOVE WHITNEY HOUSTON I LOVE HER VOICE AND MUSIC LOVE DAVID MAYNARD WISH YOU RE HERE SO SEE BEAUTIFUL FACE AND EYES
death of whitney houston
it was tradjic and i wonder who did presentation at her mentors party
Death of Whitney Houston
I can't believe this has happened to Whitney. I have bought a lot of her music and will continue to do so. I'm still in shock and I would like to send my condolesences to Whitney's family. God Bless you! Bobbi Kristina, I pray for you each and every day. You look so much like your beautiful mother.
This is a terrible loss.
Sharon
2/17/2012
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