LOS ANGELES – The Beverly Hills police confirmed on Monday that superstar Whitney Houston, 48, was found submerged in water in her hotel room bathtub.
"Ms. Houston was pulled from the tub by members of her staff and hotel security was promptly notified," the department said in a news release.
Ed Winter, the Los Angeles assistant chief coroner said that Houston had been in the tub for less than an hour when it was discovered. Winter said Houston’s death is still under investigation and that the cause of her death will not be announced before the toxicology tests were performed.
Winter told reporters that Houston’s body is still able to be released to her family for burial. WNBC in New York has reported that Houston’s body will be flown to New Jersey where she was born on August 9, 1963, for a funeral at the Newark arena that can hold up to 20,000 people.
Click here to watch Whitney Houston's video "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"
Record producer Clive Davis who signed Whitney Houston to Arista Records spoke about how much the singer meant to him at his pre-Grammy party at the Staples Center after hearing about her death.
"By now you have all learned of the unspeakably tragic news of our beloved Whitney's passing,” Davis said. I don't have to mask my emotion in front of a room full of so many dear friends. I am personally devastated by the loss of someone who has meant so much to me for so many years. Whitney was so full of life. She was so looking forward to tonight even though she wasn't scheduled to perform. Whitney was a beautiful person and a talent beyond compare. She graced this stage with her regal presence and gave so many memorable performances here over the years. Simply put, Whitney would have wanted the music to go on and her family asked that we carry on.”
Click here to watch Whitney Houston's video “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay”
Tony Bennett also spoke about Houston’s death before performing at Davis’ pre-Grammy party. "First, it was Michael Jackson, then Amy Winehouse, now, the magnificent Whitney Houston. I'd like every person in this room to campaign to legalize drugs. Let's legalize drugs like they did in Amsterdam. No one's hiding or sneaking around corners to get it. They go to a doctor to get it."
Bennett said when he first heard Houston sing he called Clive Davis and said, “You finally found the greatest singer I’ve ever heard in my life. Bennett knows firsthand about drug addiction. It was in the 1970’s when he struggled with own addiction.
To honor Houston Bennett sang “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?”
Click here to watch Tony Bennett sing “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.”
Video – Whitney Houston – “I Want to Run to You”
Photos – Remembering Whitney Houston
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