Whitney Houston died this afternoon - Saturday, February 11 - at age 48. This is really sad.
According to CNN (which I'm watching now), she was found at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Police arrived on the scene in two minutes. There's no information on the cause of death. Of course there's just a hint of speculation on the channel that drugs might have been a factor.
**Update: TMZ reports that Whitney was found in her hotel bathtub with her face underwater. Among those present were her stylist, hairdresser and two bodyguards. They reportedly got worried because Whitney had been in the bathroom for over an hour and it was time to start getting ready for Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party. She was pronounced dead at 3:55 PM.**
Whitney was once an incredible force on the music scene, a beautiful woman with a majestic voice, one of the greatest of her era. She inspired a generation of singers, including Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera.
She was born into the music business -- daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston, cousin of Dionne Warwick and goddaughter of Aretha Franklin.
According to the AP, she started singing in church as a child. As a teen, she sang backup for Chaka Khan and Jermaine Jackson. She was discovered by Clive Davis and in 1985, she exploded onto the scene with her self-titled debut album, which spawned the hits "Saving All My Love for You," "How Will I Know" and "Greatest Love of All." Her massive success continued with 1987's Whitney, and in the 90s she moved into movies, starring in The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale.
And, according to her website, she's sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide.
But around the late 90s she fell into a spiral of drug addiction, confessing to abusing cocaine and pills and becoming known for her erratic behaviour and for her tumultuous marriage to fellow star Bobby Brown. Her career declined and, musically, she sort of fell off the radar. Brown was arrested for domestic violence and they turned to reality TV with the show Being Bobby Brown.
Whitney recently made a comeback with the 2009 album I Look to You, which went platinum, but her voice during live performance was a shadow of what it once was, raspy, weak.
It was reported that the world tour she launched to support the record was marred by her inability to hit the high notes and people even walking out of her shows. The AP says cancelled dates led to speculation that she was using drugs again but she blamed illness.
Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown had a daughter, Bobby Christina, in 1993.
This is a very sad day for us in Toronto to know that a mother, a famous person at the age of 48 went to rest so early. I grew up to Whitney & now she's gone. Really someone tell me it's fake please.....
So so sad. A woman with so much talent and such a future ahead of her. Even though she had an addiction, she was still human and a wonderful lady, singer, mother, and superstar. God Bless Her and May she RIP. May God help all the addicts understand how beautiful life is without drugs. Sympathies to her family, too young, too beautiful, too early and this should never have happened at this time in her life. She will sing beautiful with the angels.
Very sad. Another young artist gone too young from drugs. . like Elvis, Hendrix, and Jim Morrison. Wake up people these stars were crying out. R.I.P. all.
What a great loss for the music industry. What a shame that such a bright star was snuffed out at such an early age. Goes to show that one wrong turn (or man) can really affect the rest of your life. Rest in Peace
Wow!!!!
That is all I can say.
Growing up with her in the 80's and I was a fan of her music though I did not want to admit it, this is a huge shock. Knowing her problem with drugs, etc I still felt she would rise above it. Sadly not. For those who blame Bobby Brown, DON'T!!!. He is a you know what head but she was her own person and made her own decisions. Sadly they were the wrong ones. RIP Whitney!!!
Its sad but in the real world the death of the Powell children is sadder event. Another case of celebrity self inflicted death from some chemical dependency. Has anyone reported on the many deaths tonight of homeless people from chemical dependency. Its time the world looked at real problems. Im not poor but wish I had millions so I could party my life away.
This is a very sad day for us in Toronto to know that a mother, a famous person at the age of 48 went to rest so early. I grew up to Whitney & now she's gone. Really someone tell me it's fake please.....
Posted by: Champagne | 02/11/2012 at 10:01 PM
The world just above to cried, because we just missed another music queen, another greatest voice in 80's. We all missed you ..
Posted by: cal | 02/11/2012 at 10:03 PM
she will be greatly missed, what an inspiring person. my heart goes out to her family, so very sorry...
Posted by: peter | 02/11/2012 at 10:05 PM
The one mistake in life is BOBBY BROWN!!!
Posted by: ED | 02/11/2012 at 10:06 PM
All that drug abuse finally took its toll.
Posted by: James | 02/11/2012 at 10:06 PM
wonder what her life would have been like if she NEVER got together with Bobby.. I BLAME HIM
Posted by: connie | 02/11/2012 at 10:07 PM
So so sad. A woman with so much talent and such a future ahead of her. Even though she had an addiction, she was still human and a wonderful lady, singer, mother, and superstar. God Bless Her and May she RIP. May God help all the addicts understand how beautiful life is without drugs. Sympathies to her family, too young, too beautiful, too early and this should never have happened at this time in her life. She will sing beautiful with the angels.
Posted by: Karyn | 02/11/2012 at 10:11 PM
Very sad. Another young artist gone too young from drugs. . like Elvis, Hendrix, and Jim Morrison. Wake up people these stars were crying out. R.I.P. all.
Posted by: J.P. | 02/11/2012 at 10:12 PM
How incredibly sad. Such a talent lost far to early.
Posted by: Marybeth | 02/11/2012 at 10:13 PM
wow, so sorry to hear. Beautiful voice but unfortunately something got the best of her.
Posted by: susan | 02/11/2012 at 10:14 PM
What a waste of a good life and talent.
Posted by: MeHook | 02/11/2012 at 10:15 PM
And the moral of this story is don't marry the loser, skank drug addict guy and have kids with him. It'll kill you.
Posted by: CanadianCutie | 02/11/2012 at 10:16 PM
What a great loss for the music industry. What a shame that such a bright star was snuffed out at such an early age. Goes to show that one wrong turn (or man) can really affect the rest of your life. Rest in Peace
Posted by: Liane | 02/11/2012 at 10:17 PM
beautiful woman and a magnificant voice, what a shame to pass so young
Posted by: soli | 02/11/2012 at 10:19 PM
The music world cries tonight.You were THE VOICE.
Posted by: Larry | 02/11/2012 at 10:19 PM
Rest in peace Whitney...
Posted by: Paul | 02/11/2012 at 10:23 PM
God bless you , Whitney.
Posted by: g.unsted | 02/11/2012 at 10:26 PM
Wow!!!!
That is all I can say.
Growing up with her in the 80's and I was a fan of her music though I did not want to admit it, this is a huge shock. Knowing her problem with drugs, etc I still felt she would rise above it. Sadly not. For those who blame Bobby Brown, DON'T!!!. He is a you know what head but she was her own person and made her own decisions. Sadly they were the wrong ones. RIP Whitney!!!
Posted by: Anderson Davies | 02/11/2012 at 10:26 PM
this is a sad day...she was an amazing talent.
Posted by: paola_perin_@hotmail.com | 02/11/2012 at 10:26 PM
R.I.P beautiful talented women!
Posted by: Maria | 02/11/2012 at 10:30 PM
Its sad but in the real world the death of the Powell children is sadder event. Another case of celebrity self inflicted death from some chemical dependency. Has anyone reported on the many deaths tonight of homeless people from chemical dependency. Its time the world looked at real problems. Im not poor but wish I had millions so I could party my life away.
Posted by: JRD | 02/11/2012 at 10:30 PM
The world has lost an incredible voice today:>(
Posted by: Pete s | 02/11/2012 at 10:31 PM
An amazing talent with a tragic ending. RIP my sweet songbird.
Posted by: Horizontal Bob | 02/11/2012 at 10:32 PM
Beautiful Lady I will always Love You.
Posted by: Reo Roy | 02/11/2012 at 10:39 PM
Never a fan and not surprised but a very sad day for her daughter and family. I hope she can avoid the path her mother took.
I wonder if Bobby Browne feels any guilt or remorse tonight.
RIP Whitney Houston.
Posted by: Kinz | 02/11/2012 at 10:39 PM