Legendary Pop singer Whitney Houston has died at the age of 48. According to her publicist, Kristen Foster, the singer passed away today (February 11). The news was later confirmed to reporters by a Beverly Hills police officer. Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 pm PST. She had been slated to attend, and reportedly perform at, mentor Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy party.

Houston became one of music's biggest stars in the 1980s, with a string of #1 hit singles including "How Will I Know", "Greatest Love of All" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)." Her 1985 eponymous album became the best-selling debut by a female artist.

Music was in Houston's blood, as she was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston, cousins with Dionne Warwick and the goddaughter of Aretha Franklin. She sang backup on Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" as a teenager and was a model and backup singer before Davis began working with her towards her smash debut release.

In 1992, Houston co-starred with Kevin Costner in the hit film The Bodyguard. The soundtrack won the 1994 Grammy for Album of the Year and Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You" from the soundtrack was her biggest hit yet. Her rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV is still considered the gold standard for the song.

Houston's successful career in film and music slowed down in the '00's, amid rumors of drug use and troubles with her marriage to R&B singer Bobby Brown. The couple appeared in an unflattering reality show in 2004 and filed for divorce in 2006.

Houston released her final album, I Look To You, in August of 2009 and toured in 2010 to mixed reviews.
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With the news of Whitney Houston's death Saturday night, tributes to the late Pop star began pouring in online. Meanwhile in Los Angeles, the annual pre-Grammy party thrown by Houston's mentor Clive Davis became a homage to one of the biggest Pop stars in recent memory.

Davis honored Houston with a moment of silence at his gala event Saturday night. Speaking to a star-studded audience, Davis said, "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," reports Billboard.

Also at Saturday night's event, Recording Academy President Neil Portnow announced that tonight's Grammy Awards show on CBS will feature a tribute to Houston from Jennifer Hudson. Show producer Ken Erhilich told CNN that Hudson's appearance is "going to be something respectful. It's not going to be a full-blown tribute, that's too early and it's too fresh at this moment. It's going to be something respectful to Whitney's memory."

Houston's ex-husband Bobby Brown is on tour with New Edition and according to E!, told an audience on Southaven, MA, "I would like to say, 'I love you, Whitney.' The hardest thing for me to do is to come on this stage."

FMQB Publisher Kal Rudman writes, "We have lost a magnificent voice, and I am certainly grief-stricken. This is another tremendous blow to the record industry. Whitney’s alliance with the genius, Clive Davis, who often produced her records and picked most of her hit songs with his golden ears, made for a double dynamite combination. 

Whitney came to my office in Cherry Hill, NJ a number of times and she couldn’t have been sweeter or more humble during each and every visit. She was a highly gifted woman from a highly gifted family, which included her blessed mother Cissy, another extraordinary singer, and her aunt, Dionne Warwick, whose dream of becoming a motion picture actress was realized through Whitney when she scored big in the movies. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. I was disappointed that I was never able to work out the scheduling for a visit with her on the frequent record business specials that I co-hosted and produced on The Merv Griffin Show.  

On behalf of the staff of the Friday Morning Quarterback, we send our deep condolences to an iconic musical family."

Mariah Carey wrote, "Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston. My heartfelt condolences to Whitney's family and to all her millions of fans throughout the world. She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth."

Dolly Parton, who originally wrote and recorded Houston's biggest hit "I Will Always Love You," said in a statement to Billboard, "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.'"

Katy Perry tweeted, "So devastating. We will always love you Whitney, R.I.P" while Timbaland wrote, "rip 2 a Legendary Diva, Icon, Mother & Friend Whitney Houston. 1 of the greatest voices ever. u will be truly missed. R.I.P Whitney Houston" Epic Records head L.A. Reid tweeted, "I am completely devastated by the loss of the greatest voice of all time! R.I.P. Whitney Houston. I will always love you!"

"I am absolutely heartbroken at the news of Whitney's passing," said legendary producer Quincy Jones in a statement. "I always regretted not having had the opportunity to work with her. She was a true original and a talent beyond compare. I will miss her terribly."

Writing and production duo Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff said in a statement, "Whitney Houston was an unbelievable talent and one of the greatest voices of all time. Her passing is a tremendous shock and a terrible shame. She had a rough life and was under so much pressure as an artist, because she meant so much to the music community. She was one of the most admired singers ever, who was loved by everybody. We’re praying for her family."
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Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine is launching his own label called 222 Records, and the first artist signed to the label is Matthew Morrison, best known as the character Will Schuester from Glee. Morrison's new album will be released in the spring. "Starting my own label has been a longtime goal of mine and I am thrilled to be at the point in my career where it is finally happening," Levine said in a statement. "I am excited for everyone to hear Matthew's forthcoming album. Great things are in store for him with this release." Morrison added, "Adam and I share the same vision as we begin working on my record together."
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