A Voice for the Ages, Whitney Houston, is Dead at 48

Publicists for Whitney Houston have confirmed that the legendary singer died Saturday at age 48. While there are no immediate signs of criminal intent, police are continuing to investigate the singer’s death, which took place in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton.

TMZ is speculating that a combination of alcohol and prescription drugs played a part in the singer’s death, “Although the cause of death is unknown, it is increasingly looking like Whitney may have fallen asleep or lapsed into unconsciousness in the bathtub and drowned.”

Here are obituaries from USA Today, CBS News and Rolling Stone.

Quincy Jones is absolutely heartbroken.

Celebrities express their grief via Twitter in Vibe.

Responses from EPB contributors have begun to roll in:

Whitney should be remembered for her “powerful songs” which were “uplifting, soulful & full of beauty,” said Rina Marie. “Whitney was like the songs that she sang & that is how I shall remember her. Whitney came out with her first album in 1985. After years of “New Wave” & the Punk Rock push she emerged as a singer you could understand…ears, heart & dance feet were moved.”

Paul Johnson added, “Wow. Her poor family. Makes me think that it would be nice to live in a world without cocaine, meth and heroin. She broke the glass ceiling vocally and was beyond our imaginations. I think as we all have been filtered info about her evolution, that we hoped she would find herself and health. It is certainly a cautionary note to a younger generation who appreciated her vocal talent and aspired to be like her.”

Steve Stav wrote, “Sad thing is, Billie Holiday was a cautionary note… fifty-plus years ago. Janis Joplin, 40 years ago. There’s something about some troubled people and dope, magnetic attraction. The remarkable, remarkably sad (and discouraging) thing is that Whitney’s problems went on and on, with relapses, etc. And she had the money, the most powerful people in the industry for support. It’s quite possible she was truly on the upswing for good, we’ll never know. The general public became so used to the notion of ‘Whitney Houston, erratic burned-out doper’ that her accomplishments and talent were dulled over time, not to mention her once-great beauty. She dimmed from a light that was so bright it was difficult to look at directly – to merely shiny. Examination of her discography and achievements is a startling reminder of how powerful she once was. She was still was a goddess at the time of her death, on the merit of 20/25-year-old performances and recordings. Truly remarkable, the long fade.”

Houston’s death, coming as it does, one day before the annual Grammy Award show at which she had performed brilliantly and won many awards in the past, has prompted speculation as to how the show’s producers will pay tribute to her. Of this, Steve Stav has said, “Hannah Levin of KEXP suggested that the Grammys should simply open with Dolly Parton singing “I Will Always Love You.” I agree; it would be unbelievably touching. Reportedly, the show will begin with Jennifer Hudson singing a Houston song.”

In an effort to find some humor amid the sadness, singer-songwriter Deke Dickerson posted the following reference to the much-hyped Beach Boys reunion which had been scheduled for this year’s Grammys show on his Facebook page, “Note to the Beach Boys: No matter how much he begs, please please PLEASE do not let Mike Love sing a Whitney Houston song tomorrow at the Grammys.”