News
RIP WHITNEY 1963-2012
(February 11, 2012)
UPDATE: 12:33 P.M. EST
TMZ is reporting that Whitney Houston was found in the bathtub of a Beverly Hills hotel yesterday with her face underwater:
According to our sources, her stylist, hairdresser and two bodyguards were among the people in the room at the time. We’re told they became worried about Whitney because she had been in the bathroom for over an hour and it was time to start getting ready for the Clive Davis party.
Our sources say they began to knock on the door and there was no answer. We’re told the hairdresser, who is female, went in to check on Whitney. She immediately screamed and, according to our sources, one of the bodyguards came running in and pulled her out of the tub.
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UPDATE: 9:50 A.M. EST
According to Beverly Hills police officers, various prescription drugs — and no sign of illegal ones — were present in Whitney’s room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton hotel and she could have possibly drowned in the bathtub. EMTs on the scene said that her body had already been removed from the water so an autopsy will be needed to determine exact cause of death, reports TMZ.
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UPDATE: 9:29 A.M. EST
Whitney Houston’s body was removed from the Beverly Hilton Hotel early Sunday morning, reports ABC. Bobby Kristina came to see her mother before her body was taken to the morgue for autopsy.
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UPDATE: 1:00 A.M. EST
@ peoplemag : Clive Davis opens w/ tribute and moment of silence: “#Whitney would have wanted the music to go on and her family asked that we carry on”
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UPDATE: 12:54 A.M. EST
Beverly Hilton hotel employees tell TMZ that Whitney Houston was found dead in the bathtub of her room.
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UPDATE: 12: 37 A.M. EST
CNN is reporting that fans have gathered outside of the Beverly Hilton Hotel singing Whitney Houston songs.
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UPDATE: 12: 13 A.M. EST
Jennifer Hudson and Chaka Khan will perform a tribute at Sunday’s Grammy Awards in honor of Whitney Houston, reports the New York Post.
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UPDATE: 12:05 A.M. EST
The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Houston’s behavior was erratic in the hours preceding her death:
The visibly bloated singer displayed erratic behavior throughout the afternoon — flailing her hands frenetically as she spoke to Brandy and Monica, skipping around the ballroom in a child-like fashion and wandering aimlessly about the lobby. It was mentioned by a Grammy staffer that security personnel received calls of the singer doing handstands by the pool.
After leaving rehearsals, Houston returned to the ballroom — with her teenage daughter Bobbi Kristina in tow — as camera crews set up for interviews. The singer smelled of alcohol and cigarettes. A Grammy staffer said that during the interviews with Brandy, Monica and Clive, Houston was dancing just off camera to make the singers and Davis laugh. Grammy personnel expressed concern that she’d be caught on camera, and that reporters would write about her behavior.
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UPDATE: 11:55 P.M. EST
Bobby Brown pays tribute to Whitney before his concert with New Edition in Southhaven, Mississippi:
“First of all, I want to tell you that I love you all. Second, I would like to say, I love you Whitney. The hardest thing for me to do is to come on this stage.”
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UPDATE: 11:00 P.M. EST
Clive Davis has decided to move forward with his annual Grammy party and concert at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, according to TMZ. Davis is not yet in attendance. He is reportedly at his home surrounded by family and friends.
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UPDATE: 10:50 EST P.M.
From Global Grind.com:
Bobby Brown is distraught and “in and out of crying fits” … after getting the news that Whitney Houston is dead – but his New Edition band mates are by his side trying to console him.
New Edition has a concert tonight in Mississippi — and believe it or not sources close to the group tell TMZ … not only will New Edition go on as scheduled, but as of now Bobby is also planning to perform.
We’re told Bobby is going to try to get through the entire show.
Bobby and Whitney had an infamously tumultuous 15 year marriage.
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UPDATE 10:10 P.M. EST
Whitney Houston’s friend and mentor, Clive Davis, has cancelled his annual pre-Grammy party after learning of the super-star’s tragic death. “He’s not having it anymore,” Davis’ label confirmed to Just Jared. “It’s been canceled. Very unfortunate.”
Houston was expected to be in attendance tonight at the party of the man who kick-started her career. She performed at last year’s event, where she sang “Walk On By”, “I Say A Little Prayer For You” and “That’s What Friends Are For”.
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UPDATE: 9:18 P.M. EST
According to CNN, Whitney Houston, 48, was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. (6:55 p.m. ET) at the Beverly Hilton despite resuscitation efforts, a police spokesman said:
Beverly Hills Police Lt. Mark Rosen said there were “no obvious signs of criminal intent” and that the cause of her death is being investigated.
Houston’s bodyguard found her body, said Courtney Barnes, publicist for hip-hop artist Ray J, who was dating the pop diva.
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UPDATE: 8:57 P.M EST
According to various media sources, including MSNBC, singer Ray J, allegedly found Houston dead at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. It is unclear at this time if her long-time friend and mentor, Clive Davis, will move forward with his annual pre-Grammy Awards concert and dinner that was scheduled for Saturday night.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music’s queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.
Publicist Kristen Foster said Saturday that the singer had died, but the cause and the location of her death were unknown.