Topic: Whitney Houston Dead At 48

Los Angeles (CNN) — Legendary pop singer Whitney Houston died at a Beverly Hills, California, hotel at age 48, officials said Saturday night.

The entertainer was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. (6:55 p.m. ET) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel despite resuscitation efforts, a police spokesman said

Beverly Hills Police Lt. Mark Rosen said there were "no obvious signs of criminal intent" and that the cause of her death is being investigated.

Houston died on the eve of the 54th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

According to her official website, Houston, who struggled with addiction problems over the years, sold more than 170 million albums, singles and videos over her career.

Houston was set to appear in this year's "Sparkle," a remake of the 1976 hit, which was loosely based on the story of The Supremes. It was her first movie role since 1996's "The Preacher's Wife."

News of her death elicited a flood of reaction on social media, from fans and fellow celebrities alike.
Whitney Houston seemed 'in good spirits'

Music producer Russell Simmons wrote he was "deeply saddened by the death of Whitney Houston," while singer Gloria Estefan said she was "shocked we've lost the immensely talented" entertainer.

Another music legend, Quincy Jones, said he was "absolutely heartbroken" by the news. "She was a true original and a talent beyond compare," he said.

Houston's body of work includes seven straight Billboard No. 1 hits in the 1980s, including "Saving All My Love for You," "How Will I Know," "Greatest Love of All" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go."

Billboard put her soundtrack to the movie "The Bodyguard" as one of the top 10 biggest-selling albums of all time. She also starred in the film.

The daughter of singer Cissy Houston, Whitney was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey. Famed music producer Clive Davis reportedly spotted Houston 20 years later in a New York nightclub, signing her on the spot, according to her website.

The singer's rendition of the national anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl, days into the first Persian Gulf War, earned raves and cemented her place in the American musical landscape.

After "The Bodyguard," Houston went on to appear in several more films in the 1990s, including "Waiting to Exhale."

In 2000, Houston earned her sixth Grammy for best female R&B performance and, a month later, she was named female artist of the decade at the "Soul Train" Music Awards.

Her career stalled, however, in subsequent years as she entered rehab for addiction problems.

In May 2011, Houston got help for her much-publicized struggle with drugs and alcohol, her representative said at the time.

In a 2009 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Houston recalled how her mother arrived one day at her doorstep at her daughter's house with sheriff's officers and a court order in a drug intervention. She talked about doing cocaine and smoking marijuana.

"(My mother) says, 'I have a court (injunction) here," Houston said. "Either you do it my way, or we're just not going to do this at all. We are both going to go on TV, and you're going to retire.'"

Houston had a high-profile and tumultuous marriage to Bobby Brown, a former "New Edition" star who has had multiple brushes with the law. The couple appeared together in the mid-2000s on the reality show "Being Bobby Brown."

Davis steered Houston's career for more than 25 years, also serving as a mentor.

Condolences goes out to her family and fans

That's sad to hear

@Swiket I get that you're trying to be funny, but death, no matter whose, is tragic and shouldn't be used to make a joke. smh

I loved Whitney, shame to see her decline over the years. RIP.

Sad. When the inevitable day comes for me, I want to be buried in a jacket like Kenny's from South Park. I want a few laughs at my funeral.

I never been a fan of her, but she had an amazing voice in her prime. Her prime was in the 1980's to the early 90's. She got her start at a time that you really needed singing talent to make unlike today's music industry back in the 1980's. She was one of the best ever for doing an edition of the national anthem.

I am not shocked she died because of her past with drugs in terms of taking a toll on her health. Her prime ended when she was with Bobby Brown.

I remembered hearing talk about her doing drugs dating back to the late 90's at least. If She didn't do drugs starting in the 1990's, she would have been looked at being one of the top 5 or 10 female vocalists of all time based if her career continued like it did before the drugs instead being looked at being a what if question.

Even though I may not have been a big fan of her music, I do acknowledge that she had amazing talent. So many admired her and aspired to be like her. She was a legendary diva and modern day pop icon. I am saddened by this news and I hope that she will enjoy everlasting peace in the afterlife. My condolences go out to her family. RIP Whitney.

I im not shocked of her past with drugs. I im very shocked of her died. I'm so very saddened by the news, still just don't believe it. Fan or no fan (im her fan) we lost an amazing talent person. She is still a legendary diva and a pop icon. My condolence goes out to her family & friends. My heart goes out to her daughter! RIP Whitney Houston we will always love you.

I was really shocked to her she's dead. Despite still being an early teen now, I grew up around both modern music and 80's, as my family loved that era of music. Whitney Houston was one of the artists I listened to a lot, and I have to say, she's one of the greater singers with a real voice. It was rather unfortunate to see her declining over the years with her addictions, but I never expected to see her go so soon. Rest in peace, and condolences to her relations.

R.I.P mz.houston...

Tragic, incredible singer!!

i was shocked when i first read about this. i think bobby brown ruined her life and it's a shame that she did drugs and displayed some erratic behaviour on her part. having said that, she was a great singer who had a number of hits under her belt.

also, i wanna dance with somebody was the first song i heard that got me into listening to pop music.

but yes, R.I.P

I was disappointed when I heard she died, too. Really liked her voice. RIP.

So young, so tragic...

I can't believe it...

Lolololol!

I hate it when people die. Yet it's unevitable.

i don't think the comic is making fun of a celebrity's death so much as pointing out the nonsense that often goes on in the reporting of it and it's spot on.

Sony Music under fire after cost of greatest hits set on iTunes rises by more than 60% after singer's death

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/feb/13/whitney-houston-a...

I wasn't around the internet this weekend and I happened to overhear someone saying that WH had passed. As someone who grew up in the 80's, her voice, her beauty, and her smile will never be forgotten by me. RIP, baby.