Singing superstar Whitney Houston is dead, aged 48 - leave a tribute
Tragic: Whitney Houston is dead, aged 48. Photo: AP Photo/Las Vegas News Bureau.
MUSIC fans were waking to tragic news today - the death of American singer and actress Whitney Houston, aged 48, writes Graham Walker.
Los Angeles police said the troubled singer, who had battled with drug addiction, was found in her hotel room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton.
The cause of Houston’s death is unclear, but detectives have launched an investigation.
Detectives said paramedics unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate the singer, who was pronounced dead at 3.55pm local time.
Tributes have been pouring in for the Grammy award-winning star, who was one of the world’s best-selling artists in the 1980s and 1990s,
Thousands of South Yorkshire fans filled Sheffield Arena to see Houston, at the heigh of her career, back in November 1993.
Her latest album has just sold 23 million copies, everybody on the planet had seen her major film role opposite Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard and she entertained the crowd to songs including The Greatest Love of All, Saving All My Love For You, Wanna Dance With Somebody, I’m Every Woman, Love Will Save The Day and her signature song I Will Always Love You.
During the spectacuar two hour show she introduced her then husband Bobby Brown and eight-month-old baby, Bobbi Kristina Brown, who wore foam yellow earplugs and could not be persuaded to give up sucking the microphone.
Tell us your memories of that night, other live performances and pay your own tribute to the star with a comment at the bottom of this story.
Her career began to unravel as she battled with drug addiction, spending various spells in rehab. Her powerful voice began to suffer because of her demons prompting record sales to nosedive and in 2007 she split from husband Brown after 15-years of marriage.
Last week Houston was pictured looking dishevelled and disorientated as she left a Hollywood nightclub with her daughter Bobbi Kristina after performing at a pre-Grammy party.
News of her death comes on the eve of this year’s Grammys ceremony. Fellow celebrities and contemporaries lined up to pay their respects.
Music mogul Simon Cowell described Houston as “one of the greatest singers of all time”. He wrote on Twitter: “I am so sad to hear about Whitney. We have lost one of the greatest singers of all time.”
Mitch Winehouse, the father of late British singer Amy Winehouse who died last year, also paid tribute to Houston and the recently deceased Etta James on the social networking site, writing: “Amy, Etta, Whitney. Their music will NEVER die. What a great girl group in heaven. Mitch”.
And legendary music producer Quincy Jones said in a written statement: “I am absolutely heartbroken at the news of Whitney’s passing. I always regretted not having had the opportunity to work with her. She was a true original and a talent beyond compare. I will miss her terribly.”
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Comments
There are 21 comments to this article
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Ukip
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 09:16 AMDiesel Dogg. A loss of life whether as a 18 year old fighting in an illegal war or somebody who was only 48, who seemed to have everything seemed very sad. I preferred her as a singer when she matured and sang soul songs, rather than her early career. As a British tax payer, I didn't give my government permission to fight these illegal wars to regime change. In fact I actually did a peace march in Sheffield against it. Having been in the TA at 18, I realised even then that the government wouldn't view my life very highly and left.
viola owl
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 09:12 AMDiesel dogg as to your post 18 Here Here!
Iwanttruth
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 09:14 PMdiesel dogg, it does not offend me and I agree with you 100%.
diΞsΞł 簡 dΦｇｇ
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 07:39 PMComment removed by moderator
diΞsΞł 簡 dΦｇｇ
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 07:38 PMComment removed by moderator
Iwanttruth
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 06:56 PMArchangel, Good point and I believe a crackhead is a crackhead regardless of how rich they are or how well known they are.
Archangel
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 06:21 PMIs a rich crackhead socially more worthy than the crackhead in the gutter?
swfc
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 05:52 PMjust read on a website that the Dr said it was just cough medicine a addiction is easier with money than one with out money, when your young the joys of drugs, people never think about getting older, at 48 it is hard to imagine any life style that still incorporates substance use, and the thing is because of the last 15 years of press about substance abuse, evrybody will have thought it could be drugs related, and that's the sad fact people as they do will remember her for her drugs problems and her main hit I will always love you, second, her record company will suck the bones dry of her, with a album out to remember her by, some foundation will pop up, and the press also has some headlines for a period, all the leeches that help to pay her and her dealers, will be having the last meal, who's next!
pamela.blood@virginmedia.,com
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 04:18 PMR.I.P. Whitney God only takes the best xx
ghost rider
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 03:56 PMAs others have said years of drug abuse will eventually catch you up.I was a total rock fan till i heard her sing,a voice and looks to melt a mans heart,she was my dream woman.RIP whitney.
mjb66
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 02:56 PMDont know if it was drugs yet, but this is what happens to a lot of those who get fame and fortune. Elvis. Michael jackson. amy winehouse Its very sad and a waste of great talent. R.I.P
Los Blancos Galactico Rossoneri Mancunian
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 02:12 PMOMG! 48 is too young to die! R.I.P. Whitney!
seenitall
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 01:21 PMWhatever the cause of her death is not my concern but the loss of one so young is a tragedy and the world has lost a great musical talent ...who this seventy year old enjoyed listening to!
iamchrissy
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 01:18 PMSo sad. All being famous seems to bring is hearbreak and then death at a young age. RIP Whitney.
hilltopblade
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 12:43 PMIt is sad, 48 is no age at all. I do have to agree with some other posts though. She self destructed through drugs and brought a lot of it on herself
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