Whitney Houston, whose soaring voice lifted her to the top of the pop music world but whose personal decline was fuelled by years of drug use, died on Saturday afternoon in a Beverly Hills hotel room. She was 48.
The pop superstar died on the eve of the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles at the same hotel where her mentor, record mogul Clive Davis, was holding an annual pre-event party featuring scores of music industry celebrities.
Beverly Hills police said they were called to the Beverly Hilton at around 3:43 pm PST, and fire department personnel who were already at the location responded immediately. Houston was in her fourth-floor room but was unresponsive to CPR, and she was pronounced dead at 3:55 pm.
Cause of death
Police said there were no obvious signs of criminal intent. Typically, coroners conduct an autopsy within a day or two, at which point they might release some preliminary information about the death. If drugs or alcohol are involved, however, an official cause of death would not be released until after toxicology tests, which could take six to eight weeks.
Personal turmoil
By the early 1990s, Houston reigned as the queen of pop, but her critical and commercial success on stage was accompanied by an increasingly troubled personal life. In 1992 she married singer Bobby Brown, who had a bad-boy reputation, and their tumultuous 14 years together were marred by drug abuse and domestic violence.
In 2000, she and Brown were stopped at an airport in Hawaii and security guards discovered marijuana in their luggage. In a 2002 TV interview, she admitted using marijuana, cocaine, alcohol and prescription drugs. The pair also starred in a reality TV series, “Being Bobby Brown”, which painted an often unflattering portrait of the couple.
The last 10 years of Houston’s life were dominated by drug use, rumours of relapses and trips to rehab. She launched a comeback tour in 2009, and in April 2010 she called media reports she was using drugs again “ridiculous”. However, in May 2011, Houston enrolled in a drug and alcohol rehab programme.
Music world stunned by death of Whitney Houston
It’s a tragedy. Whitney Houston was the greatest singer I’ve ever heard and she will be truly missed.
Singer Tony Bennett
She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth
Singer Mariah Carey
I’m speechless...I’m in shock right now. Just pray for her and the family
Singer Chaka Khan
We have lost another legend. Love and prayers to Whitney’s family. She will be missed
Singer Christina Aguilera
One of the greatest voices in the history of music. I will always love her
Recording artist Smokey Robinson
Just heard the news, so crazy. One of the greatest voices ever just passed. RIP Whitney Houston.
Singer Justin Bieber
So devastating. We will always love you Whitney, RIP
Singer Katy Perry
Not Whitney Houston. Greatest of all time.
Rap artist Nicki Minaj
No words! Just tears
Singer Rihanna
This is terrible news... I’m sick to my stomach. Nobody sang like Whitney
Musician Bruno Mars
Source: AFP & Twitter
Published in The Express Tribune, February 13th, 2012.
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Whitney lives on! She's left an indelible mark on our souls who first listened to her back in the Grammy evening where she recd so many accolades for I wanna dance with somebody and then came along bodyguard.... I still feel singers / performers of her genre cannot reach the pitch she reached during I will always love you. Sorely Missed.
There were voices .........and then...... there was Whitney Houston.