Whitney Houston, the mega-star of singing and acting, has died at 48 years old. Houston had the best-loved recording of The Star Spangled Banner, as it was a hit recording some years ago, competing with other pop songs of the day on the Billboard music charts. Her rendition of the national anthem will always be remembered as energizing, endearing, and flawless.
At this time, the cause Houston's death is not know. It is being reported that someone in Houston's entourage found Houston dead in her hotel room at 3:55PM on Saturday afternoon at the Beverly Hilton hotel. Paramedics arrived within minutes but were unable to revive her.
Whitney Houston was at the hotel where Clive Davis, the man at Arista Records credited with discovering and promoting Houston when her career began three decades ago, was holding his annual Pre-Grammy Party. Houston was scheduled to perform at the event.
Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born on August 9, 1963. Since she was 19 years old, she has sold over 170 million albums and singles (recordings). According to the Guinness World Record Book, she is the most awarded female act of all time. Her awards include 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, and 2 Emmy Awards
Her number 1 Billboard Music Chart recordings included: I Will Always Love You, Saving All My Love for You, How Will I know, Greatest Love of All, I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me), Didn't We Almost Have It All, So Emotional, and Where Do Broken Hearts Go.
She starred in the motion pictures 'The Body Guard', 'Waiting to Exhale', and 'The Preacher's Wife.' Her production of a remake of the movie 'Sparkle' hasn't been released yet. Her recording of the Dolly Parton composition I Will Always Love You was in 'The Body Guard' soundtrack and broke all chart-records by staying at number one on the Billboard Music Charts longer than any other recording before it in history.
Her rendition of the National Anthem ('The Star Spangled Banner) was considered the best ever by many music critics and fans. She was often sought after to perform it at high-profile public events.
Houston was just one of the famed singers in her family, as her mother Cissy Houston and cousins Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick are in her family. Her godmother is Aretha Franklin.
Houston was married to and then divorced from singer Bobby Brown in a highly-publicized marriage allegedly involving drugs, physical and mental abuse.
Houston has been fighting drug addition for years and has been very open about her drug concerns. The Hollywood Reporter reported just two days ago that Houston was involved in an altercation at a Hollywood night club where she allegedly appeared disheveled and disoriented.
Whiteney Houston is survived by her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown, whose father is R&B singer Bobby Brown.
With the exception of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Jr., political figures have stayed away from commenting on the death of Whitney Houston. A comment came swiftly from Jackson, and then he made a surprise visit to the New Jersey church - the New Hope Baptist Church - where Houston began singing gospel as a young girl. Jackson was criticized by many for using the devastating news story to take to a microphone and the media. Jackson was running for president at the height of Whitney Houston's career in the late 1980s. Al Sharpton, who also ran for pressident, in 2004, also chose to comment on Houston's passing.
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Source: Chicago Tribune
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