Whitney Houston dies at Los angeles Hotel

RIP Whitney...

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/whitney-houston-superstar-records-films-dies-15565063

Whitney Houston, Superstar of Records, Films, Dies

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Text Size- / +By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY AP Music Writer
LOS ANGELES February 12, 2012 (AP)

Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.

Publicist Kristen Foster said Saturday that the singer had died, but the cause and the location of her death were unknown.



http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/02/whitney-houston-died-beverly-hills.html
Singer Whitney Houston died Saturday in Beverly Hills, according to law enforcement sources.

Authorities are trying to determine a cause of death. [Updated at 5:46 p.m.: She was found in the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where emergency medical personnel were called sometime Saturday, said the sources, who asked to remain anonymous because the investigation is ongoing.]

Houston, 48, was in the Los Angeles area for a musical tribute to music executive Clive Davis and had performed and spoken to reporters earlier in the week.

Poor Whitney.

6:41am UK, Sunday February 12, 2012


Award-winning singer Whitney Houston has died at a hotel in Los Angeles at
the age of 48.


The news was first announced by her publicist Kristen Foster but the cause of
star's death is currently unclear.

Lieutenant Mark Rosen from Beverly Hills Police told KABC-TV that Houston was
pronounced dead in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton hotel at
3.55pm (local time) on Saturday afternoon.

It is thought she was found by her bodyguard and could not be
resuscitated.

"She has been positively identified by friends and family that were with her
at the hotel, and next of kin have already been notified," Lieutenant Rosen told
reporters.


Amateur Video: Houston's Last Performance








The death is not being treated as suspicious but the cause is being
investigated.

On Thursday night the star was pictured looking dishevelled and
worse-for-wear as she attended a pre-Grammy party in Hollywood.

But earlier in the evening she had received a standing ovation for performing
a duet with host Kelly Price.

Houston died hours before she was expected to perform at her longtime mentor,
record producer Clive Davis's annual pre-Grammy party, which is held at the
Beverly Hilton.

Davis decided to continue with the party and stars including Alicia Keys and
Serena Williams were seen arriving at the hotel.


Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston



The Grammy Awards, taking place on Sunday night, are the biggest event in the
music industry's calendar.

The ceremomy is now likely to be a sombre, subdued affair that pays tribute
to Houston's huge contribution to music.

Plans for the evening have already been altered with Jennifer Hudson and
Chaka Khan expected to perform a tribute to the artist.

At her peak in the 1980s and '90s, Houston was the golden girl of the
entertainment industry and one of the world's best-selling artists.

Among her hits were How Will I Know, Saving All My Love for You and I Will
Always Love You.

Her success carried her beyond music and she starred in movies, including
most famously, The Bodyguard with Kevin Costner.

The soundtrack won the 1994 Grammy for Album of the Year.

Houston was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston, the cousin of 1960s
pop diva Dionne Warwick and the goddaughter of Aretha Franklin.

Houston was married to singer Bobby Brown for 14 years but the pair divorced
in 2007 following a turbulent relationship that included claims of domestic
violence.

The couple had one daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown.

Franklin tweeted: "I just can't talk about it now. 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."

She won two Emmys, six Grammy awards and 22 American Music awards and 30
Billboard awards as her successful career spanned three decades.

But for many years Houston struggled with drug addiction and financial
problems.

She admitted using marijuana, cocaine and prescription drugs.

Towards the end of her career her lifestyle took its toll on her stunningly
powerful voice which became raspy and hoarse and she saw sales of her records
plummet.

There was speculation that the singer, who was once worth an estimated £100m,
may have been heading towards bankruptcy.


Houston and Bobby Brown in 2003



"The biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy,"
Houston told ABC's Diane Sawyer in an infamous 2002 interview with Brown by her
side.

She launched a comeback tour in 2009 and performed on the X Factor but there
were concerns about her appearance and behaviour at the time.

In April 2010 she called media reports she was using drugs again "ridiculous"
but in May 2011, Houston enrolled in a drug and alcohol rehab programme.

It was a tragic fall for a superstar who was one of the top-selling artists
in pop music history, with more than 55 million records sold in the US
alone.

Reaction to her death has been pouring in from friends and
fans.

Pop star Rihanna posted on Twitter: "No words, just tears."

Mariah Carey wrote: "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.."

What's the betting it's drugs......poor poor children.

Poor children.

kitti wrote:What's the betting it's drugs......poor poor children.

Morning kitti, yes , Brown was not much help was he, drugs and violence her way of life., so sad.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-17001548

US singer and actress Whitney Houston dies aged 48Comments (126) American singer and actress Whitney Houston has died at the age of 48
Continue reading the main story
Whitney Houston 1963-2012In pictures: Whitney Houston's life
Rise and tragic fall of superstar
Stars react to Houston death
A life steeped in soul
Watch
American singer and actress Whitney Houston has died in Los Angeles at the age of 48.

Police said she died in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where she had been staying as a guest.

Houston was one of the most celebrated female singers of all time, with hits including I Will Always Love You and Saving All My Love For You.

But her later career was overshadowed by substance abuse and her turbulent marriage to singer Bobby Brown.

Police spokesman Mark Rosen told reporters Houston was pronounced dead at 15:55 pm (23:55 GMT) in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Fire department personnel and members of hotel security were attempting to resuscitate her when police arrived at the scene, he said, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

"She has been positively identified by friends and family that were with her at the hotel, and next of kin have already been notified," he added.

The cause of her death remains unclear but Mr Rosen said there were "no obvious signs of criminal intent".

'Finest voice'

Houston's background was steeped in soul and gospel music.

Her mother was gospel singer Cissy Houston, she was cousin to singer Dionne Warwick and goddaughter to Aretha Franklin.

"I just can't talk about it now," Ms Franklin said in a short statement. "It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen."

Continue reading the main story
Analysis
Peter Bowes

BBC News, Los Angeles

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The music industry, hours before this years Grammy Awards ceremony, can scarcely believe the news. Whitney Houston had been planning to attend a pre-Grammys party thrown by her mentor and close friend, Clive Davis.

Guests have begun to arrive for the party, but it is unclear whether the event will go ahead. The scene at the Beverly hotel is frenzied. As well as police and the authorities, fans and the world's media have begun to gather.

The cause of Houston's death is unclear, with the police saying investigations are ongoing. It may take days or even weeks for tests to return with conclusive answers.
Having grown up in New Jersey, Houston began singing in church and then in the night clubs of New York, and was a model before being signed by Arista Records.

At the height of her career in the 1980s and 90s she won many awards and enjoyed several number one singles and albums.

Artists from Mariah Carey to Christina Aguilera have tried to emulate her bravura performances, but none of them were as good as the original, music critic Paul Gambaccini told the BBC.

Houston also enjoyed success acting in blockbuster films such as The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale.

In recent years drug use took its toll on the star and her voice - once acknowledged as one of the finest in pop music - was badly damaged.

"She did have it all, but the record is there of the decline into drug use and the damage done from drug use," said Gambaccini.

Her marriage to Brown, with whom she had a daughter, Bobbi Kristina, ended in divorce in 2007. The marriage had been a tempestuous one, with allegations of domestic abuse.

Houston was found on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton hotel "The biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy,'' Houston told ABC's Diane Sawyer in a 2002 interview.

Correspondents say Houston's death will undoubtedly overshadow the music industry's Grammy Awards, due to be held in Los Angeles on Sunday.

She had been expected to attend the ceremony and her close friend and long-time mentor Clive Davis had recently hinted she might perform.

"It's her favourite night of the year ... who knows by the end of the evening," he had told AP.

Continue reading the main story
Houston's career highlights
170m records sold worldwide
11 US number one hits
Won six Grammys, including three for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Won 30 Billboard Awards and 22 American Music Awards
I Will Always Love You is the best selling single by a female artist of all time
Civil rights activist Rev Al Sharpton said that on the morning of the Grammys, "the world should pause and pray for the memory of a gifted songbird".

Country singer Dolly Parton - who wrote one one of her most memorable hits, I Will Always Love You - said in a statement: "Mine is only one of the millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston."

"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, 'Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed'."

A great artist and will be sadly missed
RIP Whitney.

sky news


8:06am UK, Sunday February 12, 2012


Simon Cowell has led the entertainment industry's tributes to singer Whitney
Houston just hours after she was found dead in a Los Angeles hotel room.


The 48-year-old singer was in the city for the Grammy awards
which are due to take place on Sunday night.

Music mogul Cowell, who was rumoured to be considering Houston as a judge on
American X Factor, has spoken as other stars poured out their grief on
Twitter.

"It's really, really horrible," he said in an interview with Heart FM."She
was a delight to work with."

Speaking of her infamous appearance on the British X Factor in 2009, he said:
"She probably wasn't altogether there but it was still Whitney Houston and you
knew you were in the presence of a legend. I'll never forget that day."


Police cars outside the Beverly Hilton hotel in
LA



Many of the celebrities due to attend the Grammys have taken to Twitter to
express their condolences to Houston's family and show their love for her.

Katy Perry wrote: "So devastating. We will always love you Whitney, R.I.P."
and Rihanna said: "No words! Just tears #DearWhitney."

Rapper P Diddy echoed the same sentiments saying: "Whitney Houston!!! OMG!! I
really can't believe this.. This is one of the saddest days ever.."

Mariah Carey sang the track When You Believe with Houston in 1998 for the
film The Prince of Egypt.


Mariah Carey's tweets about Houston



She tweeted: "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."

And Justin
Bieber wrote: "Just heard the news. so crazy. One of the GREATEST VOICES
EVER just passed. RIP Whitney Houston. My prayers go out to her friends and
family."

Soul legend Aretha Franklin told reporters: "I just can't talk about it now.
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."

I just can't talk about it now. 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.

Aretha Franklin


Mitch Winehouse, whose daughter Amy died last year after a long battle with drink and
drugs, said: "We are in LA and just got the news about Whitney. We are
absolutely devastated. Rest in peace Whitney."

And Michael Jackson's sister La Toya wrote: "I can't fathom the fact that
#whitneyhouston has died! My heart goes out 2 her mother, daughter
& her love ones. #Whitney U will be missed!"

"Six-time GRAMMY winner Whitney Houston was one of the world's greatest pop
singers of all time who leaves behind a robust musical soundtrack spanning the
past three decades," said Neil Portnow, president and CEO, The Recording
Academy.

"Her powerful voice graced many memorable and award-winning songs. A light
has been dimmed in our music community today, and we extend our deepest
condolences to her family, friends, fans and all who have been touched by her
beautiful voice."

Singer Lionel Richie told CNN: "She was just a gift in voice ... She was just
so innocent in the business, and that voice was so pure and her life was so
pure. That's what I'm holding on to. I think what we're going to do in the long
run of her life story is focus on the voice, not the tragedy, but the
voice."

In memory of happier times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3-hY-hlhBg

Not Born Yesterday wrote:In memory of happier times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3-hY-hlhBg

Thanks NBY, Iv"e just been watching a couple of the videos, Witney was so beautiful.....such a shame. Wasn't she an Aunt to another famous Singer?

Panda, you might be thinking of her cousin Dionne Warwick who is sometimes described incorrectly as her aunt.

Not Born Yesterday wrote:Panda, you might be thinking of her cousin Dionne Warwick who is sometimes described incorrectly as her aunt.

Yes.NSU.that's her thanks.

GRAVE ROBBERS WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE JEWELLRY BURIED WITH HER.
GUARD HAS BEEN PUT ON GRAVE.

It's hard to believe how low some people will stoop! Who remembers when Charlie Chaplin's body was stolen?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/17/newsid_2512000/2512129.stm

Sad news about Whitney's daughter.

http://web.orange.co.uk/article/news/bobbi_brown_s_boyfriend_under_investigation

So very sad and waste of a young life.

Yes very sad.
RIP Bobbi Brown xx