American singer and actress Whitney Houston has died in Los Angeles at the age of 48. Police said she died in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where she had been staying as a guest.
Houston was one of the most celebrated female singers of all time, with hits including "I Will Always Love You” and "Saving All My Love For You”. But her later career was overshadowed by substance abuse and her turbulent marriage to singer Bobby Brown. Ms Houston died on the eve of the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. She had been due to attend a pre-awards party in the Beverly Hilton Hotel organized by her long-time mentor and record industry executive Clive Davis on Saturday evening.
Whitney Houston had a perfect voice that inspired a whole generation of female singers. It was a voice that made her one of the world's best selling artists; but it was also a voice, which as it deteriorated, betrayed her drug and alcohol addiction. Houston's background was steeped in soul and gospel music. Houston also enjoyed success acting in blockbuster films such as The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale.
Houston's career highlights
170m records sold worldwide
11 US number one hits
Won six Grammys, including three for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Won 30 Billboard Awards and 22 American Music Awards
I Will Always Love You is the best selling single by a female artist of all time
Talented people glow very quickly. They spend their inner forces and creativeness and present themselves to people. Their works help us. But we cannot rescue them. All that we can do is to say "THANK YOU".
