![Singer Whitney Houston has died. [Reuters]](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201202/r893186_8991938.jpg "Singer Whitney Houston has died. [Reuters]")
The 18-year-old daughter of award-winning singer and actress Whitney Houston, who died suddenly last weekend, has been rushed to hospital.
Bobbi Kristina Brown was taken to a Los Angeles hospital to be treated for strees.
A tribute is being planned forHouston at the Grammy Awards ceremony.
Houston died aged 48 in a Beverly Hills hotel on Saturday (local time), triggering shock and a wave of tributes as music stars gathered for the annual awards show.
The pop legend, whose hits include I Will Always Love You, was found dead in her room at the Beverly Hilton, hours before a traditional pre-Grammys dinner hosted by veteran producer Clive Davis, who discovered and developed Houston.
The cause of her death is not known at this stage.
Police confirmed her death in a brief statement outside the hotel.
"At 3:55pm, Whitney Houston was pronounced dead at the Beverly Hilton hotel," police spokesman Mark Rosen said.
He said a member of Houston's entourage called 911 after the singer was found on the floor of her room.
Mr Rosen said attempts were made to resuscitate her, but failed.
"There were no obvious signs of criminal intent at this time, and it is being investigated by the Beverly Hills police department," he said.
Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, which runs the Grammys, told the audience at the pre-Grammys dinner that Jennifer Hudson would sing a tribute to Houston at Sunday night's Grammy Awards.
"We will do something appropriate tomorrow, and nothing could be more appropriate than having Jennifer Hudson sing on stage for Whitney," he said.
"In our community, we celebrate things ... let's celebrate Whitney Houston."
Mr Portnow called Houston: "one of the world's greatest pop singers of all time who leaves behind a robust musical soundtrack spanning the past three decades."
Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich told CNN that whatever would be staged would be "respectful" while highlighting Houston's stunning music.
"Knowing Whitney as I did ... she knew the importance of thrilling an audience, and that's what we still plan to do," he said.
Musicians, many already in Los Angeles ahead of the awards show, have lined up to pay tribute to the singer, who sold over 170 million records before descending into a very public battle with substance abuse.
"It's a tragedy. Whitney Houston was the greatest singer I've ever heard and she will be truly missed," veteran crooner Tony Bennett said on the red carpet at the Beverly Hills hotel, where Houston's body was found in her fourth floor room.
Condolences poured in on Twitter from shocked fans and from the famous, as sadness over the news spread through the entertainment world.
"Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend ... She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth," Mariah Carey wrote.
Smokey Robinson told CNN: "I will always love her. She is one of the greatest voices in the history of music."
Houston's godmother, singer Aretha Franklin, says she is stunned by the death.
"I just can't talk about it now," she said in a statement.
"It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen.
"My heart goes out to Cissy, her daughter Bobbi Kris, her family and Bobby (Brown)."
With a ferociously powerful voice and a dazzling range, Houston achieved stardom as a pop-soul singer known as The Voice and the Queen of Pop. She also appeared in hit movies like Waiting to Exhale and The Bodyguard.
From a musical family that included mother Cissy Houston, a gospel star, and Dionne Warwick, her cousin, Whitney Houston started out as a teen model and then made a dazzling segue to music.
Her hits included How Will I Know, Saving All My Love For You, and I Will Always Love You.
Houston's trove of six Grammy awards included one for record of the year - for a soaring cover of Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You, and another for album of the year for The Bodyguard.
Houston, who grew up in New Jersey, was also a supporter of the anti-apartheid movement and South Africa's Nelson Mandela, on whose behalf she campaigned during his imprisonment.
She struggled with substance abuse, which took a toll on her health and career.
Houston suffered a major career setback after admitting drug use during a relationship with ex-husband Bobby Brown, which was dogged with claims of spousal abuse.
Brown was one of the hottest rhythm and blues singers in the late 1980s and early 90s, but became better known as the husband of Houston and for his frequent brushes with drugs and the law.
The pair, who were divorced in 2007, starred in a television reality series, Being Bobby Brown, that featured their marriage, warts and all.
Bobbi Kristina Brown was taken to a Los Angeles hospital to be treated for strees.
A tribute is being planned forHouston at the Grammy Awards ceremony.
Houston died aged 48 in a Beverly Hills hotel on Saturday (local time), triggering shock and a wave of tributes as music stars gathered for the annual awards show.
The pop legend, whose hits include I Will Always Love You, was found dead in her room at the Beverly Hilton, hours before a traditional pre-Grammys dinner hosted by veteran producer Clive Davis, who discovered and developed Houston.
The cause of her death is not known at this stage.
Police confirmed her death in a brief statement outside the hotel.
"At 3:55pm, Whitney Houston was pronounced dead at the Beverly Hilton hotel," police spokesman Mark Rosen said.
He said a member of Houston's entourage called 911 after the singer was found on the floor of her room.
Mr Rosen said attempts were made to resuscitate her, but failed.
"There were no obvious signs of criminal intent at this time, and it is being investigated by the Beverly Hills police department," he said.
Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, which runs the Grammys, told the audience at the pre-Grammys dinner that Jennifer Hudson would sing a tribute to Houston at Sunday night's Grammy Awards.
"We will do something appropriate tomorrow, and nothing could be more appropriate than having Jennifer Hudson sing on stage for Whitney," he said.
"In our community, we celebrate things ... let's celebrate Whitney Houston."
Mr Portnow called Houston: "one of the world's greatest pop singers of all time who leaves behind a robust musical soundtrack spanning the past three decades."
Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich told CNN that whatever would be staged would be "respectful" while highlighting Houston's stunning music.
"Knowing Whitney as I did ... she knew the importance of thrilling an audience, and that's what we still plan to do," he said.
Musicians, many already in Los Angeles ahead of the awards show, have lined up to pay tribute to the singer, who sold over 170 million records before descending into a very public battle with substance abuse.
"It's a tragedy. Whitney Houston was the greatest singer I've ever heard and she will be truly missed," veteran crooner Tony Bennett said on the red carpet at the Beverly Hills hotel, where Houston's body was found in her fourth floor room.
Condolences poured in on Twitter from shocked fans and from the famous, as sadness over the news spread through the entertainment world.
"Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend ... She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth," Mariah Carey wrote.
Smokey Robinson told CNN: "I will always love her. She is one of the greatest voices in the history of music."
Houston's godmother, singer Aretha Franklin, says she is stunned by the death.
"I just can't talk about it now," she said in a statement.
"It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen.
"My heart goes out to Cissy, her daughter Bobbi Kris, her family and Bobby (Brown)."
With a ferociously powerful voice and a dazzling range, Houston achieved stardom as a pop-soul singer known as The Voice and the Queen of Pop. She also appeared in hit movies like Waiting to Exhale and The Bodyguard.
From a musical family that included mother Cissy Houston, a gospel star, and Dionne Warwick, her cousin, Whitney Houston started out as a teen model and then made a dazzling segue to music.
Her hits included How Will I Know, Saving All My Love For You, and I Will Always Love You.
Houston's trove of six Grammy awards included one for record of the year - for a soaring cover of Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You, and another for album of the year for The Bodyguard.
Houston, who grew up in New Jersey, was also a supporter of the anti-apartheid movement and South Africa's Nelson Mandela, on whose behalf she campaigned during his imprisonment.
She struggled with substance abuse, which took a toll on her health and career.
Houston suffered a major career setback after admitting drug use during a relationship with ex-husband Bobby Brown, which was dogged with claims of spousal abuse.
Brown was one of the hottest rhythm and blues singers in the late 1980s and early 90s, but became better known as the husband of Houston and for his frequent brushes with drugs and the law.
The pair, who were divorced in 2007, starred in a television reality series, Being Bobby Brown, that featured their marriage, warts and all.
No comments:
Post a Comment