Whitney Houston has died at age 48, her publicist confirmed on Feb. 11.
Although the cause of death has not been revealed, Jill Fritzo, a publicist of Whitney’s, told HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY that she had passed away, saying, “unfortunately, true.”
Houston died at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and l employees, tell TMZ .com … Whitney Houston was found dead in the bathtub of her room. As of 1 am set Feb 12, Houston’s body was still at the hotel, police sources confirmed to Hollywoodlife.com.
Sources say there were no obvious signs of foul play, but BHPD detectives have launched a full investigation. L.A. County Coroner Ed Winter tells HollywoodLife.com that it is too early in the investigation to tell what happened.
Whitney was one of the best-selling pop artists of all time, with over 55 million records sold in the United States alone. Furthermore, she had great success acting, with star-making turns in films such as the smash hit The Bodyguard , and Waiting To Exhale.
She was also known for her tumultuous relationship with her ex-husband Bobby Brown. Upon hearing of Whitney death, Bobby immediately began calling friends and family.
“He wanted to tell everyone about it before it hit the news,” one of his relatives told PEOPLE magazine. “He didn’t want any of us to hear about it on television.”
As Brown spoke to family members, the shock of Houston’s sudden death turned to grief. “He could hardly get the words out when he called me,” says the relative. “He was sobbing, and by the end of the call, I was sobbing too. He’s beside himself right now.”
Brown learned the news about his ex-wife while in Memphis, where he is currently on location for a New Edition concert. He is “shattered and beyond devastated,” says the source.
CNN spoke to Johnny Gill who is in Memphis with Bobby Brown for a New Edition concert. He told them: “Bobby is struggling and devastated” at hearing that Whitney has died. He has apparently spoken to their daughter Bobbi Kristina, 18, who Hollywoodlife.com has learned was with Whitney in Los Angeles and was “not doing well” Brown said.
Houston’s passing was confirmed by her publicist, and Beverly Hills Police Lieut. Mark Rosen said on Saturday, Feb 11, that the 48-year-old singer “was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. this afternoon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel,” following a 3:43 p.m. call from hotel security.
The best-selling pop artist wed soul crooner Bobby Brown in 1992 in a marriage that surprised many, given Brown’s bad-boy reputation. The following year, the couple welcomed a daughter, Bobbi Kristina.
After a tumultuous relationship that included a charge of domestic abuse against Brown in 1993, the two divorced in 2007.
Despite their breakup, the couple remained friendly, a relative of Bobby Brown’s tells HollywoodLife.com, ”They had Bobbi Kristina in common, and were determined to be co-parents to her. They didn’t hate each other. In fact, there was a lot of respect. So this has hit Bobby really hard. He is devastated. He loved her very much. This is a very sad time for him.”
She leaves behind a daughter, Bobbi Kristina.The last time Houston was seen publicly was at a pre-Grammys party, Feb. 9, where she sang , ‘Jesus, Loves You”.
Her professional mentor Clive Davis did not cancel his annual pre-Grammys party held at the Beverly Hilton – the same hotel where Whitney died- in Los Angeles tonight although a source tells Hollywoodlife.com that he did not attend. He has said: ”Whitney had one of the best voices of all time!” But guests at the party told Hollywoodlife.com that it was more like a funeral, than a party.
Several celebrities tweeted about the death shortly after the news went public, including Justin Bieber who 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 I am sadden to hear of the passing of Whitney Houston today…”
Miley Cyrus tweeted, “I LOVE Whitney : ( I’m not turning my tv on. just gonna stay @ home & listen 2 her records.
Mariah Carey expressed her condolences over a series of tweets, saying, “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.”
Her husband, Nick Cannon, wrote, “‘To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord’ RIP to Whitney Houston a true queen.”
The X Factor’s Melanie Amaro tweeted, “I love u sooo much Whitney Houston :’( u will always be in my heart and my mind an my soul your music made me the girl I am today :(”
Aretha Franklin said, “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 (Houston’s mother), her daughter Bobbi Kris, her family and Bobby (Brown).”
Dolly Parton, who wrote “I Will Always Love You,” Whitney’s greatest hit song, said, “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.’”
Quincy Jones, said he was “absolutely heartbroken…She was a true original and a talent beyond compare.”
Singer Keri Hilson wrote, “Watching the news now…it’s true. R.I.P. Whitney Houston. Ugh I hate that I’m even typing this…I’m shocked. She was my hero growing up.”
Actress Nina Dobrev also tweeted, writing, “#iwillalwaysloveyou is one of the most beautiful and iconic songs. It will be remembered forever. Rest in peace Whitney Houston.”
President of the Recording Academy Neil Portnow released a statement saying, “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. 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.”
We will miss Whitney’s talent, which she displayed in amazing songs like “I Will Always Love You.”
Just in…according to TMZ, Beverly Hills police have sealed off the room where Whitney Houston died and will not enter until they obtain a search warrant . The police want to conduct a thorough search of the hotel room, but are exercising caution by getting a warrant. We’re told one thing police are interested in is whether drugs are present in the room. Although police could seize items in plain view, we’re told they want a top-to-bottom search of the room.
Whitney’s on-again, off-again boyfriend Ray J celebrated Brandy’s (his sister’s) birthday today. According TMZ, Ray J’s publicist is saying that Whitney’s bodyguard is the person that found Whitney dead.
 |
| Whitney Houston sweats profusely and appears dishevelled as she leaves
the Tru Hollywood nightclub on Thursday night. She partied with a large
group of friends before 'clashing' with security guards, right, then
being driven away to her hotel, where she died yesterday afternoon |
 |
| Kim seen right
with actress Jane Fonda and, right, Diana Ross with Berry Gordy |
 |
| Davis decided to continue
with the party, despite his protege's tragic passing |
 |
| Miss Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina, left, and her ex-husband Bobby
Brown get into a car after an evening out at Crustacean restaurant in
Beverly Hills on February 2. |
 |
| Singer Alicia Keys consoles Miss Houston's long-time mentor Clive Davis,
also the Chief Creative Officer of Sony Music Entertainmen |
 |
| he singer joins her family after what will have been one of their last
nights out together |
 |
| Looking radiant in a white one-shouldered dress, Houston gives an
incomparable performance at the peak of her career when she was one of
the world's most popular singers |
 |
| Bowing out: Miss Houston lowers her head to the crowd during the
superstar-quality performance |
 |
| Houston, pictured in 1965, was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy
Houston, the cousin of 1960s pop diva Dionne Warwick and the goddaughter
of Aretha Franklin |
 |
| Houston sings with Jermaine Jackson during rehearsals for a TV
performance in 1984 |
 |
| In 1992, she became a star in the acting world with 'The Bodyguard'. The
story of a singer guarded by a former Secret Service agent was a
success |
 |
| She was a frequent winner
at the Grammys and other high-profile award ceremonies |
 |
| Houston collects one of the many
accolades she received throughout her career. |
 |
| South African President Nelson Mandela and Whitney Houston smile for
photographers in Johannesburg |
 |
| Houston with Mariah Carey, one of the young singers who followed in her
wake |
 |
| Houston performs with singer Bobby Brown, left. Their turbulent marriage
was the subject of tabloid gossip for years |
 |
| Winfrey and Brown met with Israel's prime minister Ariel Sharon on a
trip to the Middle Eastern country in 2003 |
 |
| Her emaciated appearance led to rumours she had died
the next day. Right, a year later, again in New York, the singer was
still struggling with a troubled relationship and cocaine abuse |
 |
| The I Will Always Love You singer suffers a waldrobe malfunction on the X
Factor in 2009 in what was supposed to be the start of her comeback
tour. Many of the subsequent shows were later cancelled |
 |
| A dark and tragic end: The body of Whitney Houston is wheeled out of the
suite of the hotel in Los Angeles where she 'drowned in the bath'
following two apparent evenings of out-of-control binges |
 |
| Danni Minogue, left, Simon Cowell, Whitney Houston and Cheryl Cole,
right, backstage on the X Factor. Whitney's performance raised concerns
for her health with Cowell saying the warning signs were clear |
 |
| It has been claimed that Ms Houston drowned in a bathtub, similar to
this one in a suite at the Beverly Hills Hilton, after accidentally
overdosing on a cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol |
 |
| A coroner's van leaves the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles,
California, this morning where Whitney Houston was found dead. She is
said to have 'drowned in the bathtub' |
 |
| The corridor on the fourth floor of the hotel close to the room where
Miss Houston died. Right, mourners gather at a makeshift memorial on the
corner of Santa Monica and Wiltshire Boulevards |
 |
| The award-winning R&B singer had taken a suite at the Beverly Hills
Hotel in LA to get ready for tonight's Grammys |
 |
| The scene outside the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles, California
today where Miss Houston was found dead in a suite on the fourth floor |
 |
| A police van pulls up outside the Hilton after Houston's death. Right,
officers gather outside the hotel as an investigation begins into the
causes of death |
