The singer Whitney Houston has died aged just 48, it was revealed in the early hours of this morning.
The revered vocalist who had one of the most distinctive voices of her generation was found in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, LA, where she had been staying in the run up to the Grammys.
It has been reported by celebrity gossip site TMZ that she had been partying hard on Thursday and Friday night and was due to attend a pre-Grammys party at the hotel on Saturday evening.
Police and paramedics were called when she was discovered prone at 15.43 local time. She was pronounced dead ten minutes later.
The cause of death has not been announced but it is thought that police are satisfied that there are no signs of a criminal act having taken place.
Country singer Dolly Parton – the author of ‘I Will Always Love You’, Whitney’s biggest hit – released the following tribute: "Mine is only one of the millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston. I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song, and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, ‘Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed’."
