Whitney Houston Dead at age 48

[mc1962]

*****News Flash*****

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Whitney Houston, who ruled 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.

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

News of Houston's death came on the eve of music's biggest night — the Grammy Awards. It's a showcase where she once reigned, and her death was sure to case a heavy pall on Sunday's ceremony. Houston's longtime mentor Clive Davis was to hold his annual concert and dinner Saturday; it was unclear if it was going to go forward.

At her peak, Houston the golden girl of the music industry. From the middle 1980s to the late 1990s, she was one of the world's best-selling artists. She wowed audiences with effortless, powerful, and peerless vocals that were rooted in the black church but made palatable to the masses with a pop sheen.

Her success carried her beyond music to movies, where she starred in hits like "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale."

She had the he perfect voice, and the perfect image: a gorgeous singer who had sex appeal but was never overtly sexual, who maintained perfect poise.

She influenced a generation of younger singers, from Christina Aguilera to Mariah Carey, who when she first came out sounded so much like Houston that many thought it was Houston.

But by the end of her career, Houston became a stunning cautionary tale of the toll of drug use. Her album sales plummeted and the hits stopped coming; her once serene image was shattered by a wild demeanor and bizarre public appearances. She confessed to abusing cocaine, marijuana and pills, and her once pristine voice became raspy and hoarse, unable to hit the high notes as she had during her prime.

"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 then-husband Brown by her side.

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 United States alone.

She seemed to be born into greatness. She was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston, the cousin of 1960s pop diva Dionne Warwick and the goddaughter of Aretha Franklin.

Houston first started singing in the church as a child. In her teens, she sang backup for Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson and others, in addition to modeling. It was around that time when music mogul Clive Davis first heard Houston perform.

"The time that I first saw her singing in her mother's act in a club ... it was such a stunning impact," Davis told "Good Morning America."

"To hear this young girl breathe such fire into this song. I mean, it really sent the proverbial tingles up my spine," he added.



R.I.P. Whitney, I hope you are at peace.

[SherylsShado]

When I turned my computer on this morning, I say the yahoo article saying her voice her voice would necer be forgotten but it didn't say that she had died.  I did a search and then found all the articles that said she had.  It's so sad, she was a beautiful person and SO talented...and too young to be gone. 

[pkrahmer]

That is so sad
What a reminder that life is short. Please enjoy it and spend time with friends and family.

[Cuppycake]

That is so sad
What a reminder that life is short. Please enjoy it and spend time with friends and family.

I do not see choosing to be a druggie as sad. I especially do not see that a person in her position choosing to be a druggie as sad. She was obviously stupid to start doing drugs to begin with. I do not feel sorry for her or have any sadness about her since she had no respect for her own life.

[snookems68]

I am so devastated over her death I never thought she would leave this earth at such a young age God Bless Her Family R.I.P whitney.

[mom2taz]

I have not yet seen any release of info about her actual cause of death....I know most are assuming her death was drug related because of her history....but regardless of the cause of death...it is sad that she had such a beautiful voice but her life ended up taking the turns it did...hopefully she will be remembered more for the positive aspects of her life and the great songs, movies, etc. than the down-turn her life took and the end result..
RIP

[kaitsilva]

Sad 

I was never a massive fan but I enjoyed her music and certainly didn't have any ill will against her.

Yes, her drug probably did have to do with drugs or complications from them, but it's extremely insensitive for people to say she deserved to die because she "chose to do" drugs. It's a a blame game until it someone you know gets addicted, THEN it's a medical issue, huh folks?

[geraldp1953]

Shocking to hear Whitney Houston of Death. She died to young.   

[mynevaeh]

That is so sad
What a reminder that life is short. Please enjoy it and spend time with friends and family.

I do not see choosing to be a druggie as sad. I especially do not see that a person in her position choosing to be a druggie as sad. She was obviously stupid to start doing drugs to begin with. I do not feel sorry for her or have any sadness about her since she had no respect for her own life.

Some people should show a little more respect for the dead.  Just because we do not agree with her life choices that doesn't give us the right to start bad mouthing her especially after she just past away.  My heart goes out to her family and friends and I hope she rests in peace.

[debidoo]

Sad very sad to think that maybe she wouldn't have died so young with a different lifestyle.  But we are put on this earth I believe for a pre-determined time because God knows what choices we are going to make and what we are going to do...............that is just how I believe anyway.  She had a big talent regardless. 

[smicket]

Can't believe it.   Well, I can believe it.  Haven't really thought about her lately.  But her existance will be missed. 

[patycake56]

she wil truly be missed

[Irmarie]

R.I.P 

[lucky382001]

Its a shame that this happened.

[bigedshult]

it she had not got drunk on alcohol and drug she may stile be hear to sing her song so stay a way from them!