BREAKING NEWS: Singing superstar Whitney Houston dies at 48

The legendary singer Whitney Houston died Saturday afternoon. CNN originally reporting that singer Ray J found her dead at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California, only later to retract that information due to Ray J’s publicist denying the report. Although, the cause of her death isn’t known, Houston had a noted, public struggle with drugs and alcohol.

The shock over Houston’s death will likely continue through the weekend. The acclaimed, but troubled singer and actor sold more than 170 million albums, singles and videos world wide and her album Whitney was the first female LP to ever debut at No. 1 on the Billboard chart. She recorded seven straight No. 1′s on the Billboard charts during the 1980s. Houston also won six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards and two Emmy Awards.

Whitney Houston sings at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, NJ (1978)


Houston is survived by her daughter Bobbi Kristina, which whom she had with singer Bobby Brown.

Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, has died. She was 48.

Publicist Kristen Foster said Saturday that the singer had died, but the cause and the location of her death were unclear.

At her peak in the 1980s and `90s, Houston the golden girl of the music industry and one of the world's best-selling artists.

Among her hits were How Will I Know, Saving All My Love for You and I Will Always Love You. She won multiple Grammys including album and record of the year.

Her success carried her beyond music to movies like The Bodyguard.

This was one of my favorites from Whitney...

But by the end of her career, drug use took its toll as her record sales plummeted and her voice became raspy and hoarse.

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 million albums world wide.

Houston holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from Grambling State University in Louisiana.

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

TMZ posted this video as they spotted Whitney out just last weekend with on-again/off-again beau Ray-J