death brought a string of public tributes from the music industry today. Simon Cowell said Houston was a 'true diva' with 'one of the best voices I have heard in my life ever'. WHAT IS XANAX?
Xanax, or Alprazolam, is a sedative used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.
It usually comes in tablet form and works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain.
Xanax can be addictive and drinking alcohol while taking the drug is ill-advised.
Michael Jackson was known to have been using the prescription drug at the time of his death in 2009 as was actor Heath Ledger when he accidentally overdosed in 2008.
The Saving All My Love singer's publicist Kristen Foster confirmed that the singer had died. A spokesman for the local police department said that emergency services had been called to the hotel at 3.43pm on Saturday, arriving minutes later.
Officials rushed to the room on the fourth floor where she was staying as a guest, where they found security staff and firemen attempting to revive her using CPR. Life-saving attempts proved unsuccessful after 20 minutes, and she was pronounced dead at 3.55pm.
Authorities are currently trying to determine a cause of death, the spokesman added.
Police are understood to be seeking a search warrant to sift through the hotel room for any signs of drugs. Some reports said that Houston had been found by her on-off boyfriend Ray J, but that turned out to be mistaken.
Her ex-husband Bobby Brown - whom Miss Houston blamed partly for her drug issues - was said to be 'in and out of crying fits' upon hearing the news - but still appeared on stage on Saturday with his band New Edition, and cried out 'I love you, Whitney!' in the middle of the concert.
In mourning: Ray-J, on-off boyfriend of Whitney Houston, stopped by a pre-Grammy party to meet his sister, the singer Brandy, hours after learning of his former lover's tragic death
A coroner's van leaves the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California, this morning where Whitney Houston was found dead. She is said to have 'drowned in the bathtub'
The hotel: Whitney Houston was found dead in a bathroom similar to the one on the right, on the fourth floor of the Beverley Hilton Hotel. The hall on the left is where police and emergency workers gathered following the news of the dead star
Scene: A police van pulls up outside the Hilton after Houston's death. Right, officers gather outside the hotel as an investigation begins into the causes of death
A relative of Brown said Houston’s former husband is struggling to cope with the news.
‘He was sobbing, and by the end of the call, I was sobbing, too,’ the family member told People magazine. ‘He's beside himself right now.’
Singer Johnny Gill, one of Brown's New Edition bandmates, is on tour in Memphis with the star. ‘Bobby is struggling and he's devastated,’ he told CNN.
Houston's mother Cissy apparently spoke to her daughter just half an hour before her death, and did not think anything was wrong.
And in the star's last interview in November, she said she was 'older and matured' - and described her 18-year-old daughter as her 'greatest inspiration'.
Thank you for the music: A fan leaves a flower at a memorial for Whitney Houston outside the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel today after the superstar died tragically yesterday at the age of 48
TRIBUTES TO A FALLEN STAR
'One of the best voices I have heard in my life ever. A true superstar legendary diva.' Simon Cowell
'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.' Dolly Parton
'This is a sad day today, all I want to talk about is her music. She was the most beautiful woman I think I ever saw. ... Thank you for giving us your talent, and one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard.' Elton John
'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.' Mariah Carey
'I can't believe that Whitney is gone. My heart goes out to her family, to Clive (Davis), and to everyone who knew and loved this amazingly talented and beautiful artist. I will always love her.' Barry Manilow
'She had everything, beauty, a magnificent voice. How sad her gifts could not bring her the same happiness they brought us.' Barbra Streisand
'We have lost another legend. Love and prayers to Whitney's family. She will be missed.' Christina Aguilera
'Whitney Houston was the first CD I ever bought. She had a God given gift. Hopefully, she’s singing with angels now.' LeAnn Rimes
Houston won six Grammy awards, two Emmys, 30 Billboard Music Awards, and 22 American Music Awards, among others awards.
Her album Whitney in 1985 was the first album by a woman to ever debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Charts. She has sold more than 170million albums worldwide.
The album also gave her perhaps her most memorable hit - a stunning rendition of Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You, which sat atop the charts for weeks and featured in The Bodyguard in 1992.
It was Grammy record of the year and best female pop vocal, and the Bodyguard soundtrack was named album of the year.
More recently Miss Houston had just completed a role in the musical Sparkle, in which she played the mother to Jordin Sparks, who has the role of a singer.
The film is set to be released in August and tells the story of three sisters who form a successful group learning to cope with the fallout of fame and drugs.
Paying respects: Reverend Jesse Jackson arrives at The New Hope Baptist Church where Whitney Houston sang in the choir to mourn the death of the singer in Newark, New Jersey
For the most part, the star's life had spiralled downhill since her early hits. She suffered a long battle with drugs, including cocaine, as well as alcohol and spent various spells in rehab.
Recent appearances had become increasingly erratic and the years of substance abuse had clearly taken a toll.
She cancelled a string of concerts and talk shows as she struggled to cope. In a chat show with Oprah in 2003, the star admitted the scale of her addiction to smoking crack cocaine.
'It was every day, every,' she said. 'I didn't think about the singing part of it any more.'
Her powerful voice began to suffer because of her demons prompting record sales to nosedive and in 2007 she split from husband Bobby Brown after 15 years of marriage.
Recent reports suggested that the soul star was on the brink of bankruptcy, with her pop fortune said to have dwindled away, much of it going to her drug dealers.
There was further concern for her health last week when she was pictured looking dishevelled and disorientated as she left a Hollywood nightclub with her daughter Bobbi Kristina after performing at a pre-Grammy party. The singer had was sweating profusely, had blood on her leg and scratches on her wrists.
Comfort: Singer Alicia Keys consoles Miss Houston's long-time mentor Clive Davis, also the Chief Creative Officer of Sony Music Entertainmen
The show must go on: Davis decided to continue with the party, despite his protege's tragic passing. Kim seen right with actress Jane Fonda and, right, Diana Ross with Berry Gordy
Before her death she was approached by Simon Cowell and asked to consider becoming a judge on the next season of the U.S. X-Factor.
Today, Cowell said paid tribute to Ms Houston and said the warning signs that she ‘still had problems’ came after the singer made an erratic appearance on the X Factor in 2009. The performance was to promote a new album after seven years off the scene.
The music mogul, 52, said: ‘There are always moments in your life that are horrible to remember. The day John Lennon died, the day Elvis died. More recently Michael Jackson, last year Amy Winehouse and now Whitney.
‘I know quite a few people who had been working with her over the years. We all knew Whitney had issues.
‘I last met her when she came on the X Factor. You could see at the time there were still a few problems but she was a delight to work with on the day.'
A family meal: Miss Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina, left, and her ex-husband Bobby Brown get into a car after an evening out at Crustacean restaurant in Beverly Hills on February 2. Right, the singer joins her family after what will have been one of their last nights out together
The guest appearance on X Factor - her first UK TV appearance for 12 years - was billed as the start of her comeback but the worrying performance raised concerns for her wellbeing and she suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction when her dress straps snapped.
Miss Houston then embarked on her Nothing But Love World Tour tour in 2010, but the UK leg was beset by cancellations. She was forced to reschedule the first three dates in Manchester and Glasgow after picking up a respiratory infection. She finally played her first UK gig in 11 years at the Birmingham LG Arena.
The talent show judge told Sky: ‘She probably wasn’t all together but it was still Whitney Houston and you were in the presence of a legend and I will never forget that day.
'There are so few people like her in the world. They are a rarefied breed, these are true superstar legendary divas, but I say diva that in the nicest possible way. She had one of the best voices I heard in my life ever.’
What she'll be remembered for: Looking radiant in a white one-shouldered dress, Houston gives an incomparable performance at the peak of her career when she was one of the world's most popular singers
Bowing out: Miss Houston lowers her head to the crowd during the superstar-quality performance
TRIBUTES: SHOWBIZ AND BEYOND
'I am devastated by the loss of Whitney. We have lost a true angel. My prayers, my heart goes out to her family. We have lost an extraordinary voice to the world.' Lionel Richie
'No words! Just tears #DearWhitney'
Rihanna
'We've lost probably the greatest singer the world has ever seen.' Ronan Keating
'This is the saddest thing I've ever had to write in my life, R I P to one of the greatest humans that I have ever known Whitney Houston.'
Wyclef Jean
'R.I.P. Whitney Houston. Thank you for the amazing music you brought into the world.'
Mark Zuckerberg
'Stunned by Whitney Houston's death at just 48. One of the greatest voices ever heard. #RIP.'
Piers Morgan
'So sad to hear the news about Whitney Houston. She was such a beautiful and talented woman. My heart goes out to her family. RIP.'
Paris Hilton
'At Grammys rehearsal hearing Whitney Houston has passed away at 48. Everyone here is absolutely stunned.'
Ryan Seacrest
'Just heard Whitney Houston passed away. Many prayers go out to her family and all who are grieving the loss of an icon.'
Khloe Kardashian
'Wow. RIP Whitney Houston. Grew up on her. She contributed to the soundtrack of many of my 12-year old sleepover parties.'
Elizabeth Banks
Speaking to CNN, Cowell said Houston was the benchmark contestants on his reality shows had always tried to reach. He also revealed he was going to discuss the possibility of the late singer potentially joining the judging panel of the American X Factor with producers next week.
'Whitney - ever since I've been doing this job, particularly doing talent shows over the last 10 years, the number one singer anyone ever wanted to emulate, if they really wanted to be a superstar, it was always Whitney,' he said.
Former Boyzone star Ronan Keating also said the severity of the singer's problems had become apparent two years ago at the start of her comeback.
He told Sky: 'I'm devastated. I cannot believe it. It's hard to believe she's gone. Another legend, we've lost another singer, probably the greatest singer the world has ever seen.
'It's very sad to see the tough times in her life. I saw her two years ago when she was trying to make her comeback and I could see that she was weathered and you could see that she had been through tough time but you could see the voice was still there and she was trying.
'She was a family person. She loved her family dearly. She loved what she did. She loved her work and she was adamant that she was going to get back.
'She will be remembered for that one track, I will Always Love You. What a song and I will always remember the movie the bodyguard. Thank god we still have the voice, and that's documented. She will be in our lives forever because of that.'
Asked if the music industry does enough to look after vulnerable performers, he said: 'It's about the people you surround yourself with. She really got involved in bad situations and the wrong crowd of people who led her down the wrong road.'
Celebrities, from singers and rappers to television personalities and business leaders, took to Twitter to express their sadness at the news.
Stars praised the singer's unmatched talent and passed on their wishes to her bereaved family, while others expressed their shock at how the award-winning singer passed away at the age of just 48.
'Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston,' said Mariah Carey, who recorded the Oscar-winning song When You Believe with the late star in 1998.
'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.'
'Shocked we've lost the immensely talented Whitney Houston!' wrote fellow singer Gloria Estefan.
‘Sending prayers of peace & solace 2 her family, friends & fans! Such a loss! Such an amazing talent!'
Rihanna tweeted: 'No words! Just tears. I honestly can't think of anything else!!! Feels so strange being at the Grammy rehearsal right now!!'
Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb added his condolences, saying: 'In my estimation we have lost one of the greatest voices in popular music today...but as we always learn too late....we never cherish it until it's gone. My thoughts are with her family.'
But it was not just the music industry that felt the influence of Houston, with other celebrities expressing their condolences and thanks to the award-winning singer.
One high-profile figure to speak out was Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg, who said: 'R.I.P. Whitney Houston. Thank you for the amazing music you brought into the world.'
Child: Houston, pictured in 1965, was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston, the cousin of 1960s pop diva Dionne Warwick and the goddaughter of Aretha Franklin
Duet: Houston sings with Jermaine Jackson during rehearsals for a TV performance in 1984
Film: In 1992, she became a star in the acting world with 'The Bodyguard'. The story of a singer guarded by a former Secret Service agent was a success
News of Houston's death came on the eve of one of the biggest nights in music - the Grammy Awards.
It's a showcase where she once reigned, and her death was sure to case a heavy pall on Sunday's ceremony.
Her longtime mentor Clive Davis was to hold his annual concert and dinner on Saturday, and a representative of the show said it would proceed.
Houston was supposed to appear at the gala, and Davis had said that she would perhaps perform: 'It's her favorite night of the year... who knows, by the end of the evening.'
Producer Jimmy Jam, who had worked with Houston, said he anticipated the evening would become a tribute to her, and he expected there to be one at the Grammys as well.
Award success: Houston collects one of the many accolades she received throughout her career. She was a frequent winner at the Grammys and Billboard awards
Relatives: In this January 1998 photo, singer Houston, left, celebrates her win at the American Music Awards with her mother, Cissy, and brother, Gary, in Los Angeles
After her death, the executive in charge of the awards issued a statement expressing sadness at the star's death.
'Six-time Grammy winner Whitney Houston was one of the world's greatest pop singers of all time who leaves behind a robust musical soundtrack spanning the past three decades,' Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, said.
'Her powerful voice graced many memorable and award-winning songs. A light has been dimmed in our music community today, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, fans and all who have been touched by her beautiful voice.'
Music stars including Alicia Keys and the rapper P Diddy paid tribute to Miss Houston during the evening.
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