Multiple Grammy Award Winning Songstress Whitney Houston, whose soaring voice lifted her to the top of the pop music world but whose personal decline was fueled by years of drug use, died on Saturday afternoon in a Beverly Hills hotel room at the age of 48. The pop superstar died on the eve of the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles at the same hotel where her mentor, record mogul Clive Davis was holding an annual pre-event party featuring scores of music industry celebrities.
A dramatic scene unfolded at the Beverly Hilton hotel as guests arriving for the party expressed shock at her death, while reporters swarmed the hotel, fans gathered outside to light candles in her memory and helicopters hovered overhead.
Beverly Hills police said they were called to the Beverly Hilton at around 3:43pm PST, and fire department personnel who were already at the location responded immediately. Houston was in her fourth-floor room but was unresponsive to CPR, and she was pronounced dead at 3:55pm.
"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. Los Angeles County coroners removed Houston's body from the hotel after midnight through a backdoor to avoid the crush of media set up to cover her shocking death. Typically, coroners conduct an autopsy within a day or two, at which point they might release some preliminary information about the death. If drugs or alcohol are involved, however, an official cause of death would not be released until after toxicology tests, which could take six to eight weeks.
Brilliant career
Tributes poured in from around the world for a singer whose remarkable vocal power and range produced some of the most memorable music of her generation, including her signature hit, I Will Always Love You.
"I don't have to mask my emotion in front of a room full of so many dear friends," Davis told a somber crowd at his gala dinner and party just hours after Houston's death.
"I am personally devastated by the loss of someone who has meant so much to me for so many years."
Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, which runs the Grammys, told the audience at Davis's party that Jennifer Hudson would sing a tribute to Houston at Sunday night's Grammy Awards.
"We will do something appropriate tomorrow, and nothing could be more appropriate than having Jennifer Hudson sing on stage for Whitney," Portnow said.
"In our community, we celebrate things ... let's celebrate Whitney Houston."
Outside the hotel in the wealthy enclave of Beverly Hills, a phalanx of hotel security personnel guarded the perimeter to prevent reporters and fans from entering.
Some of Houston's admirers gathered on the sidewalk, lighting candles and singing her songs.
Over the course of a 30-year career in which she established herself as one of the most-admired and influential singers of her time, Houston won six Grammys, 30 Billboard awards and 22 American Music Awards. She released seven studio albums and sold some 170 million CD's, singles and videos.
The soundtrack for a hit movie in which she starred, The Boydguard, was among the best-selling soundtracks in movie history.
Her 1985 debut, Whitney Houston, became the best-selling debut album by a female act at that time, and spawned several hits including How Will I Know.
Her second studio CD, 1987's Whitney, became the first album by a female artist to debut at No 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
She crossed over from music success to TV and movies, appearing in The Bodyguard (1992), as well as Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher's Wife (1996).
Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1963, Houston was inspired to perform as a child by soul singers in her 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)."
Personal turmoil 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, Houston 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."
Barbra Streisand said in a statement: "She had everything, beauty, a magnificent voice. How sad her gifts could not bring her the same happiness they brought us."
Pop star Rihanna posted on Twitter "No words, just tears."
Watch and reminisce on her best selling hit "Will Always Love You" via youtube through this link
And Ex-Husband Bobby Brown weeps for Her.....
"Second, I would like to say, 'I love you Whitney.' The hardest thing for me to do is come on this stage."
Bobby Brown took to the stage just hours after Whitney Houston's death, amid reports that the late singer's ex-husband was devastated by the news of her passing.
Brown was scheduled to perform in Mississippi as part of New Edition. The controversial R&B star was said to be in "crying fits" over the news, and broke down shortly after taking the stage.
"First of all, I want to tell you that I love you all,” he said to the crowd. "And Secondly, I would like to say, 'I love you Whitney.' The hardest thing for me to do is come on this stage."
In another mini-tribute during an intermission in the show, Houston's 1985 single "You Give Good Love" blared over the speakers.
Brown and Houston were married for 14 years, and the relationship's turbulent moments played themselves out in the public eye. Brown was charged with misdemeanor battery after a 2003 incident. Houston appeared in court with a bruise on her neck but stayed by Brown's side.
In a later interview with Oprah, Houston described Brown as her "drug," explaining that "whatever we did, we did it together." (Brown has often been portrayed as a corrupting influence on Houston, who fought a long battle with substance abuse).
Houston's self-titled debut album, released in 1985, sold 25 million copies worldwide. In total, she released seven albums and three film soundtracks; a winner of six Grammys, Houston sold over 200 million albums and singles worldwide. She earned 30 Billboard Awards, 22 American Music Awards and two Emmy Awards. "We Will Always Love You"
