Whitney Houston dies at 48
Tributes have been pouring in for American singer and actress Whitney Houston, who has died at the age of 48.
The death of the Grammy award-winning star, who was one of the world's best-selling artists in the 1980s and 1990s, was confirmed by her publicist, leaving the entertainment industry and fans around the world in shock.
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 late last night.
Following the news, which came 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."
The cause of Houston's death is unclear, but detectives have launched an investigation.
The I Will Always Love You and Saving All My Love singer won multiple Grammys including album and record of the year, selling millions of albums and singles worldwide. She also carried her success into the film industry, appearing in hit movies including The Bodyguard.
However, 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 Bobby 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. Detectives said paramedics unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate the singer, who was pronounced dead at 3.55pm local time.
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Manuel Scicluna
Feb 13th, 19:30
CLEAR AND SIMPLE:
DRUGS KILLS
Play with fire and one day or another you get burnt.
Mr Emmanuel Bonnici
Feb 13th, 21:09
I agree with you but as I stated below one has to see the reason why one resorts to drugs. Drugs are not our daily bread and butter and the every now and then bar of chocolate, which we take to indulge and maybe alleviate our stress. I'm quite sure that she resorted to drugs after having tried all possible ways and means in order to solve her personal problems, without success. The bodyguard for me was already an alarm bell ringing at us showing us her personal life, a sort of autobiographical movie. In fact, soon after the film was released, in 1992, 4 years later her personal problems which became uncontrollable, became news to all
Ironically, The Bodyguard which was her apogee, confirming her as the best ever singer with I will always love you, signalled the beginning of her decline.
Alfred Grech
Feb 12th, 19:38
Here's a youtube video we made as a tribute to this great singer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB3fQxx8tF8&feature=youtu.be
Mr Emmanuel Bonnici
Feb 12th, 17:56
Watching the video "Run to You" sung for "The Body Guard", here she looks at her most formidable form ever, her phsyique, face and voice divine Nevertheless, she is showing us her weakest (psychological) side which eventually won over her outward beauty...
"I know that when you look at me
There's so much that you just don't see
But if you would only take the time
I know in my heart you'd find
A girl who's scared sometimes
Who isn't always strong
Can't you see the hurt in me?
I feel so all alone
I wanna run to you...
Each day, each day I play the role
Of someone always in control
But at night I come home and turn the key
There's nobody there, no one cares for me
What's the sense of trying hard to find your dreams
Without someone to share it with
Tell me what does it mean?
(chorus)
I need you here
I need you here to wipe away my tears
To kiss away my fears
If you only knew how much...
Whitney did not give us these signs yesterday, when she was phsyically weak This song was sung in her prime, way back in 1992 - twenty years ago!
Another beautiful song is "Greatest Love of All" which she states that the greatest love of all is when you start learning to love yourself...
Good bye my favourite artiste Gonna miss your voice!
May your soul finds the peace you longed for to find here on earth.
John Azzopoardi
Feb 12th, 15:50
Very sad story indeed. She grew up singing in a Baptist church choir and always had a smile on her face. Sometimes FAME kills. People are always shouting out by their actions. Wish someone had attempted to help her more. Always keep things in perspective and believe in the higher being. May she rest in peace.
Jesmond Micallef
Feb 12th, 15:38
Shocking news this is.
Karl Consiglio
Feb 12th, 15:31
Oh dear don't tell the hospital is full of new born babies being named Whitney right now.
Mike Hunt
Feb 13th, 21:53
+1
Daughter: Mummy, why did you call me Whitney?
Mother: For this lady who overdosed in her bath tub.
Stephen Florian
Feb 12th, 15:09
She takes away with her a bit of each and everyone of us. RIP.
DannyBoy BartoloJr.
Feb 12th, 14:02
Here we go again another singer hits the dust, Elvis, Amy whitehouse,Whitney, and many many more before them, all these wanabees taking or trying their hardest to get on the stage should think it over very carefully as it not all that hot, most end up anervous breakdown,drugs, and finally DEAD at a young age, as they had it all, see it all, and done it all. nothing left for them except to kiss their backside goddbye permanently.
S.M. Cuschieri
Feb 13th, 19:35
Its AMY WINEHOUSE Mr. Danny Boy!!!!
Mario Rodo
Feb 12th, 12:55
While I am writing these few lines tears are coming from my eyes,as I remember what a singer we lost.Hope that this will serve a lesson for those who takes drugs.Please stop taking those killers!!
Ms.D. Galea
Feb 12th, 12:14
Who says that DRUGS DO NOT KILL?
Joseph Tanti
Feb 12th, 12:08
"When you love, you love. I mean, do you stop loving somebody because you have different images? You know, Bobby and I basically come from the same place," she told Rolling Stone in 1993. "You see somebody, and you deal with their image, that's their image. It's part of them, it's not the whole picture. I am not always in a sequined gown. I am nobody's angel. I can get down and dirty. I can get raunchy." (Houston, W., 1993) - Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/02/11/whitney-houston-dies-at-48/#ixzz1mAFFvHgt
Vincent Galea
Feb 12th, 11:34
Remember guys, when Osama bin Laden wanted to marrry her as wife no.13 and was willing to drop his 'colour rule' for her ?
Such a tremendous voice and talent, such beauty - all of it thrown away .
R.I.P.
Ġ. Agius
Feb 12th, 11:33
She was probably the greatest female singer ever, powerful voice, god loving, fiercely christian person who sadly succumbed to the ways of drugs and the devil. I hope that this serves as a lesson to authorities that drugs kill and the way of the lord should be the way of life
RIP to the greatest female singer ever, may the everlasting gaze of the lord always shine upon you
Peter Murray
Feb 12th, 12:43
You appear to be assuming sir that drugs took her life which may be the case but who knows for sure at this time and it also appears that the devil overpowered her christianity and her Lord this time.? She was truly a great singer but for me Ella and Etta ,both now also sadly gone, were Whitney's equal and possibly her superior.
Peter Murray
Feb 12th, 11:32
Such a tortured soul blessed with a voice that puts nightingales to shame .What a loss for an unfinished life and beautiful renditions of songs which will always outlive her but not her memory.May her God take care of her now and condolences to her family and friends.
Gordon Borg
Feb 12th, 10:50
What memories of WH watching her videos at styx II,those days there was no you tube and no cable tv,we used to wait for saturday nights to admire her together with micheal jackson,kim wilde,madonna,kyle minogue,samantha fox..etc etc........................................those where the days....r.i.p. whitney
Peter Busuttil
Feb 12th, 10:32
May the Lord give you the peace you had been searching for these last years. Rest in peace, Whitney. You will be sorely missed by millions around the globe,
Arthur Zammit
Feb 12th, 10:27
RIP, very very sad
Mr Marko Porenta
Feb 12th, 10:13
RIP :-(
I Bugeja
Feb 12th, 10:12
a true loss, may she rest in peace
Noel Mifsud
Feb 12th, 10:01
one of the most beautiful songs was Jesus loves you from Bodyguard, so keep this musicla icon in our hearts and thx god for providing such a nice voice.
vella m
Feb 12th, 09:48
Gone but never forgotten,your music lives on,R.I.P Whitney :(
Austin grech
Feb 12th, 09:32
we will always miss you.
Peter Shaw
Feb 12th, 09:30
RIP
mario scerri
Feb 12th, 08:01
R.I.P WHITNEY.We will always love you. Thanks for given us amazing music.
Sad day
Darren Micallef
Feb 12th, 07:54
What a pity. What a voice. An icon for her generation :(