Singer Whitney Houston dies at 48

12 February 2012 01:59 am - 33 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Legendary pop singer Whitney Houston was found dead Saturday at a Beverly Hills, California, hotel, officials said. She was 48.

The entertainer, whose incredible talent was discovered at an early age, 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's bodyguard found her body, said Courtney Barnes, publicist for hip-hop artist Ray J, who was dating the pop diva.

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."

Her body of work includes seven straight Billboard No. 1 hits in the 1980s, including "Saving All My Love for You," "Greatest Love of All" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go." Billboard puts 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."

Producer Clive Davis steered Houston's career for more than 25 years, also serving as a mentor. (Source: CNN)

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Comments - 33

Roy Rogers Sunday, 12 February 2012 03:23 PM

R.I.P for a wonderful soul Whitney Houston, the article did not mention the gravest mistake she did was getting married to the drug addict Bobby Brown who introduced her to hard drugs and ruined her career, for a short time her family kept a distance from her in anger.

CDH Sunday, 12 February 2012 04:11 PM

Those were the days when we had stars like Whitney Houston, Micheal Jackson, Lionel Richie, Elton John, Cliff Richard etc..

charith Sunday, 12 February 2012 08:14 PM

This a sad news indeed and world will be mourning.

may she rest in peace!

the Undertaker Monday, 13 February 2012 12:11 AM

May Her Soul Rest in Peace

Weha Sunday, 12 February 2012 02:17 AM

Damn I love her songs and voice :(
May she rest in peace.

Bud in Oz Sunday, 12 February 2012 02:52 AM

When she performed here last year I thought she was doomed. Such a talented singer wasted her life to drugs. RIP.

suthan.s Sunday, 12 February 2012 02:53 AM

Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use....see how popular figures life is ravaged by drug and other unhealthy behaviors.

Bhathiya Waduge Sunday, 12 February 2012 02:59 AM

Oh boy, what a loss, this is not like the loss of Amy, 90's she blew the world with her voice and talents.. I still can remember I was playing her album "My Love Is Your Love" over and over for thousand times when I was a teen...

gorakaya Monday, 13 February 2012 01:51 AM

Very sad news indeed.
RIP Whitney.

fazli Sunday, 12 February 2012 03:23 AM

She was a gem in her days. So beautiful her songs were.

gorakaya Monday, 13 February 2012 02:03 AM

Her husband Bobby Brown destroyed her life.

Dinesh Sunday, 12 February 2012 03:54 AM

Peerless talent. the voice of my youth. R.I.P. Whitney

gamage Monday, 13 February 2012 03:26 AM

R.I.P FOR WITERNY YOUE MY DIVA

Noor Sunday, 12 February 2012 04:58 AM

We are missing a another talent.

Invictusrilankan Sunday, 12 February 2012 05:04 AM

End of yet another music legend! We will always love your Music!!! R.I.P

Imran Hussein Sunday, 12 February 2012 05:12 AM

What a great singer. I feel sad.

Sathayapala Sunday, 12 February 2012 05:14 AM

A what a loss to the Sri Lanka.
Government should declare a day of mourning fro this.

Sammy Sunday, 12 February 2012 05:19 AM

So sad! I was a fan of her singing. What beautiful voice and talent she had. May she be in peace.

Muhammedh Sunday, 12 February 2012 05:55 AM

Those who run after fame... learn this lesson - you end up taking drugs and getting into awful lot of depression..

Lanka atapattu Sunday, 12 February 2012 05:57 AM

R.I.P. Whitney

chin Sunday, 12 February 2012 05:57 AM

She was one of the great entertainers we had seen in our days. We all have our bad sides. Lets appreciate what she has given to us and being on top for may years is not easy.

faqi Sunday, 12 February 2012 06:47 AM

Sad early end to a legend. What a beautiful voice? RIP Whitney.

Janaka Sunday, 12 February 2012 06:55 AM

I get so emotional baby, what a song...wouldn't stop playing in my mind.. R.I.P

Matalan Sunday, 12 February 2012 07:06 AM

With cocktails of drinks and drugs you live up to the 'American way' of going sky high in no time. Sadly, you also come crashing down.(........yes, in no time).

Johny POLAND Sunday, 12 February 2012 07:24 AM

tHAT'S MY FAVORIT SINGER!!!
YOU ARE HUGE !!! I always love you!!!!! R.I.P. Whitney... [*]

ajith Sunday, 12 February 2012 09:41 AM

Great singer with a beautiful voice but she made her life miserable with drugs...

Sri Lankan/south afr Sunday, 12 February 2012 09:48 AM

Drugs destroyed one of the best female singer of all time

Darrel R C De Motte Sunday, 12 February 2012 10:37 AM

Rest In Peace Whitney!
I will always love and miss your lovely voice.
You were one of the greatest. The world will miss you!!!
Good Bye Whitney!!!

Dane Asmone Sunday, 12 February 2012 11:35 AM

Yet another talent snatch by Drugs... Recent past it was Emmy Winehouse...now Whitny..who is next..Adel ? Guess she is a chain smoker..

Engineer Sunday, 12 February 2012 12:37 PM

I thought she died a few months ago. i'm confused.

Nilame Sunday, 12 February 2012 01:51 PM

Really Really Sad. You are no more alive. But your songs will be alive forever. RIP , Whiyney.

sxhabeeb Sunday, 12 February 2012 02:39 PM

RIP - My diva

gajan99 Sunday, 12 February 2012 03:10 PM

No. That is why some our politicians are busy with drugs.

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Singer Whitney Houston dies at 48

Comments - 33

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