Whitney Houston Dead at 48 (UPDATED)

Grammy Live Clive Davis Red Carpet

OMG. This is tragic.

Whitney Houston died this afternoon … a rep for the singer told the Associated Press.
Houston won two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards during her record-breaking career. Her album “Whitney” was the first female album to ever debut at #1 on the Billboard Charts. She has sold 200 albums world wide.

Houston had one child, Bobbi Kristina, with husband Bobby Brown. Houston and Brown were married from 1992-2007.

VIA TMZ

Here’s the Associated Press report. There is no information yet on the cause of death.

UPDATE: TMZ reports:

Whitney Houston was found in the bathtub of a Beverly Hills hotel yesterday … with her face underwater … people close to Whitney tell TMZ.

According to our sources, her stylist, hairdresser and two bodyguards were among the people in the room at the time. We’re told they became worried about Whitney because she had been in the bathroom for over an hour and it was time to start getting ready for the Clive Davis party.

Our sources say they began to knock on the door and there was no answer. We’re told the hairdresser, who is female, went in to check on Whitney. She immediately screamed and, according to our sources, one of the bodyguards came running in and pulled her out of the tub.

We’re told Whitney’s face was below the water and her legs were up … like she had slid down the back of the tub.

According to our sources, her body was very cold and the bodyguard attempted CPR. That’s when hotel security was called.

UPDATE: TMZ reports:

Our sources tell us a member of Whitney’s entourage found her in her room at the Beverly Hilton hotel … and called hotel security — who then dialed 911. When paramedics arrived Houston was found unresponsive.

We’re told police arrived to the scene within minutes and fire was already there on an unrelated call. According to our sources, paramedics performed CPR but it did not work and she was pronounced dead at 3:55 PM.

Our sources say there were no signs of obvious foul play, but a BH PD detectives have begun a full investigation. We’re told she was ID’ed by family and friends.

UPDATE: TMZ reports:

Dionne Warwick and Cissy Houston spoke with Whitney Houston by phone just before she died and say Whitney seemed fine … TMZ has learned.

Whitney’s mother, Cissy Houston, spoke with her daughter 25-30 minutes before she died and nothing seemed unusual … sources tell TMZ. We’re told they talked about attending the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party.

Dionne Warwick, Whitney’s cousin, called as well … several hours before Whitney died … to make sure they were sitting at the same table at Clive’s party. And again … there were no signs of trouble.

The people in touch with Dionne say she is inconsolable adding, “She is an absolute mess.”

From Los Angeles Times:

Whitney Houston’s ex-husband, Bobby Brown, father of their child, Bobbi Kristina, was reportedly “beside himself” Saturday after hearing that his ex-wife had died.

“He was sobbing, and by the end of the call, I was sobbing, too,” a family member told People after Brown called with the news. “He’s beside himself right now.”

From the Hollywood Reporter

Sony Will Release Whitney Houston’s Final Film ‘Sparkle’ as Planned in August – “Like all those who knew and loved her, we are shocked and saddened and the world has lost an incomparable talent. Right now our thoughts are with her daughter, her family and her friends,” Steve Elzer said on behalf of the studio.

Houston had completed filming on the project, a remake of the 1976 movie Sparkle, the show biz saga of a trio of singers, which, in turn, was loosely based on the career of the Supremes. The film could have marked the beginning of a feature film comeback for Houston, who shone briefly but brightly in the ’90s with starring roles in The Bodyguard, Waiting to Exhale and The Preacher’s Wife.

UPDATE: from the Huffington Post

Bobby Brown Reacts To Whitney Houston’s Death, Breaks Down During Performance – Brown was scheduled to perform in Mississippi as part of New Edition. The controversial R&B star was said to be in “crying fits” over the news, and broke down shortly after taking the stage.

“First of all, I want to tell you that I love you all,” he said to the crowd according to the AP (via Entertainment Weekly). “Second, I would like to say, ‘I love you Whitney.’ The hardest thing for me to do is come on this stage.”

In another mini-tribute during an intermission in the show, Houston’s 1985 single “You Give Good Love” blared over the speakers.

Whitney Houston sings the Star Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl 1991

http://youtu.be/wupsPg5H6aE

Whitney Houston’s last performance Thursday night – Jesus Loves Me

From the Kelly Price & Friends Unplugged: For The Love Of R&B Grammy Party at Tru Hollywood in Los Angeles.

http://youtu.be/6dCnzjAvAus

About mj santilli 34841 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!