The radio and music industry was stunned by the news of WHITNEY HOUSTON’s passing SATURDAY 2/11. The latest details, as reported by CNN are “Authorities were called to HOUSTON’s hotel room at 3:43p SATURDAY after her bodyguard found her unconscious. HOUSTON was found in the room’s bathtub, a coroner’s spokesman confirmed. He would not confirm or deny a report by the entertainment news website TMZ that pill bottles were found at the scene. Someone in her entourage removed her from the tub and attempted CPR, the spokesman said. HOUSTON was pronounced dead at 3:55p.
HOUSTON’s passing was especially hard on CLIVE DAVIS, who was her mentor, and longtime friend. DAVIS dedicated his pre-GRAMMY party to WHITNEY. MTV.COM quoted a visibly shaken DAVIS speaking of HOUSTON, “By now, sadly, we’ve all learned of the unspeakable [tragedy] of our beloved WHITNEY’s passing. I don’t have to mask my emotions, not in front of this room filled with so many dear friends. I am personally devastated. WHITNEY was so full of life … she was a beautiful person with talent beyond compare. She graced the stage with a regal presence … and her family asked that the show go on.”
SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT issued this statement: “WHITNEY HOUSTON was an icon and a once-in-a-lifetime talent who inspired a generation of singers and brought joy to millions of fans around the world. She had a voice of unmatched beauty and power that changed music forever, and she leaves behind an indelible legacy of timeless songs that will never be forgotten. She also was an important member of the SONY MUSIC family who spent her storied recording career with ARISTA RECORDS. She will be greatly missed. Our deepest condolences go out to her daughter and her entire family.”
And so did the rest of the music industry through the use of TWITTER:
MARIAH CAREY (@MariahCarey): “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.”
KATY PERRY (@KatyPerry): “So devastating. We will always love you WHITNEY, R.I.P.”
JUSTIN BIEBER (@JustinBieber): “just heard the news. so crazy. One of the GREATEST VOICES EVER just passed. RIP WHITNEY HOUSTON. My prayers go out to her friends and family.”
CHRISTINA AGUILERA (@TheRealXTina): “We have lost another legend. Love and prayers to WHITNEY’s family. She will be missed.”
NICKI MINAJ (@NickiMinaj): “Jesus Christ, not WHITNEY HOUSTON. Greatest of all time.”
LEANN RIMES (@leannrimes): “WHITNEY HOUSTON was the first cd I ever bought. She had a God given gift. Hopefully, she’s singing with angels now.”
Updates:
Amid reports that his daughter had been rushed to the hospital with panic attacks (and “maybe” her own suicide attempt), Bobby Brown and his fiance Alicia Etheridge arrived to a hectic scene at LAX yesterday. See the pics inside and get deets on what’s happening with the case and with Bobbi Kris.
Bobby Brown was met with chaos at LAX yesterday as he arrived after cancelling his show with New Edition in Nashville. He flew back to Los Angeles to be with his daughter Bobbi Kristina (who has been distraught since her mom’s passing).
Bobby and Alicia (their son was also with them) were picked up by singer and friend Macy Gray in a stretch Maybach. Hopefully being with her father with provide Bobbi Kris with the support she needs.
Meanwhile, other details have emerged in the Whitney Houston investigation as well.
- Sources report that Bobbi Kristina almost drowned in the same bathtub her mom was found in the day before.
- Bobbi Kris has been hospitalized twice since her mom’s passing and family fears she could be suicidal. They are considering seeking help.
- Though water was found in Whitney’s lungs, it was not enough (drowning) to be the sole cause of death.
- L.A. County Coroner officials told the family the singer appears to have died from a combination of Xanax and other prescription drugs mixed with alcohol. Autopsy is complete but official COD will not be released until toxicology reports are complete.
Bobbi Kris Inside Story:
Bobbi Kris Brown, 18, was taken on a stretcher out of the Beverly Hills Hilton, the same hotel her mother died in on Saturday and was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles on Sunday, Fox News confirms.
It was Brown’s second visit to the hospital since her mother died, People.com reported. The first time was late Saturday night when a source told the website she was “having a complete breakdown.” They further reported “[Bobbi Kristina] was screaming, ‘What’s wrong with her? What’s wrong with her?”
Sources say, She went back to the hospital for the same thing [on Sunday] stress and anxiety,” adding that Brown was then released.
Bobbi Kristina is Whitney’s only child from husband Bobby Brown. Houston was at a Hollywood club with her daughter on Thursday night, and went on stage to sing “Yes, Jesus Loves Me” with singer Kelly Price. It turned out to be Houston’s last public performance.
Earlier Sunday, Us Weekly quoted a source as saying, “Bobbi was always by [Houston's] side in everything she did … She was really her mom’s caretaker and biggest cheerleader and biggest fan … I don’t know how she will be able to go on.”
Tributes:
A touching and accurate account of Whitney by a close childhood friend was written in Esquire Magazine. Rest in Peace Mama Whitney! We will love you always!
I met her when she was 16. It was at a summer job. I was working at a community center in East Orange, New Jersey, and she was working just like the rest of us. She was there to work. She introduced herself as “Whitney Elizabeth Houston,” and I knew right away she was special. Not a lot of people introduced themselves with their middle names back then. She had peachy colored skin and she didn’t look like anyone I’d ever met in East Orange, New Jersey.
She was nothing like the Whitney Houston she became but at the same time she was already there. She knew, and so did everyone around her. She was doing shows in Manhattan with her mother, and she’d change her clothes in the car and get on stage and do her thing. She hadn’t signed her contract yet. But she was modeling for Wilhelmina because she was discovered on the street. She was walking in front of Carnegie Hall and someone walked up to her and said, “There’s a modeling agency upstairs that’s looking for someone just like you.” She walked upstairs and they signed her. That’s what it was like, that’s what she gave off. She looked like an angel. When my mother first met her, she laughed and said, “You look like an angel, but I know you’re not.” And she wasn’t. But she looked like one.
She chose the life she lived, and she chose it from the beginning. She knew the life better than anyone. Her mother was Cissy Houston, and she had been on the road with Dionne Warwick. She got her chops singing in church, and her mother said to her, “You know, you can always sing for free. You can always sing in church. You don’t have to choose the professional life.” But she chose because she’d been chosen. Some people sing just because. She was never like that. She had to put on her gear. She knew it was going to be a job and that’s how she treated it. Once she committed to something, she finished it. Not long after I met her, she said, “Stick with me, and I’ll take you around the world.” She always knew where she was headed.
And we went around the world. I was her assistant and then her executive assistant and then her creative director. I was her point person for the day-to-day. I traveled all around the world first-class and anyone who ever worked for her will tell you her checks never bounced. You knew she was going to take care of you. She wasn’t going to be in a five-star hotel while you were in a two. I flew the Concorde the way some people ride the bus. She shared the fruits, and she changed a lot of lives. The record company, the band members, her family, her friends, me — she fed everybody. Deep down inside that’s what made her tired.
It was never easy. She never left anything undone. But it was hard. The Bodyguard was great when it was done, but it was a lot of work. She did the movie, she did the music, she did everything — and when she was done, she was done. She nailed it. The music supervisor brought her Linda Ronstadt’s version of “I Will Always Love You” way before Kevin Costner brought Dolly Parton’s version — and she always knew what she could do with it. So when Kevin came in and played it for her and told her he wanted her to sing it for the movie, she said, “Fine.” She wasn’t much for showing off what she had, except when she had to.
I always compare her performance of that song with a great athlete hitting his peak — with Michael Jordan in the playoffs. It was the absolute pinnacle of what she could do, of what anyone could do — and then she had to keep on doing it. Everybody wanted to hear her sing that song, and so she sang it. It didn’t matter whether she had a cold, or wasn’t in good voice; she had to deliver it, and she had it arranged so she could deliver every last note. And even if the note wasn’t there, the feeling was. A lot of her songs were like that. They were a lot to deliver, but she delivered them every note, every time.
It’s so strange that she died when she did. February was her month. Her first album was released on Valentine’s Day, right around the time of the Grammys, right around the time of Clive Davis’s party. It was an orchestrated thing. She was Clive’s girl, his great discovery. And she died right before Valentine’s Day, right before the Grammys, right before Clive’s party. Of course, she was going. I don’t know if she was singing, I don’t know what kind of pressure she was putting on herself. But she was going, that’s for damned sure.
People thought they had to protect her. She hated that. And that’s what people don’t understand: She was always the one doing the driving. Someone just called and told me that the family kept Whitney from seeing her. Nobody kept Whitney from doing anything. She did what she wanted to do. When people left her or were told to leave, they could never believe that Whitney would never call them — but she never did. She was working hard to keep herself together, and I think she felt that if she admitted any feeling of sadness or weakness she would crumble. One time, back when we were young, we were out, we were partying, and I said, “Listen, I have to go. I’m tired. I can’t make it.” And she looked at me with her eyes wide and said, “I’ve got to make it.”
And that was Whitney. She could not pick up the phone, and that meant it was too painful. I have never spoken about her until now. And she knew I wouldn’t. She was a loyal friend, and she knew I was never going to be disloyal to her. I was never going to betray her. Now I can’t believe that I’m never going to hug her or hear her laughter again. I loved her laughter, and that’s what I miss most, that’s what I miss already.
I’m trying not to think of the end. I’m trying not to listen to all the reports. All these people talking about drugs — well, a lot of people take drugs, and they’re still around. Whitney isn’t, because you never know the way the wind blows. I just hope that she wasn’t in pain and that she hadn’t lost hope. She gave so much to so many people; I hope that she felt loved in return. She was the action, for such a long time. She’s out of the action now. I hope she can finally rest.
—as told to Tom Junod
Source: http://www.esquire.com/the-side/music/whitney-houston-6654718#ixzz1mIHRKrxm
