Queen of pop Whitney Houston dies at 48

Pop music icon and celebrated actress Whitney Houston has passed away at the age of 48, just one day ahead of the 2012 Grammy Awards.

Publicist Kristen Foster confirmed the singer’s death, but the cause has not yet been released. Houston was found dead in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA.

Houston’s 1985 debut album, Whitney Houston, won a Grammy Award and netted three No. 1 singles – “Saving All My Love for You”, “How Will I Know” and “Greatest Love of All”.

Her followup album, Whitney, landed four more top hits – “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)”, “Didn’t We Almost Have It All”, “So Emotional” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” – and Houston made history as the first performer ever to have seven consecutive No. 1 singles.

She also managed to find crossover success in movies, after starring in hit films The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale.

The Bodyguard soundtrack, featuring Houston’s inimitable cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” remains the best-selling soundtrack of all time.

Celebrities react on Twitter –

Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey): “Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston.”

Alicia Keys (@AliciaKeys): “I feel sick…. Life is precious, we are fragile souls. Let’s love each other! I miss you beautiful Whitney, the whole world misses you!!”

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.”

Talib Kweli (@TalibKweli): “RIP Whitney Houston. I remember the first time I heard your voice on the radio like yesterday. You will truly be missed……..”

Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ): “Jesus Christ, not Whitney Houston. Greatest of all time.”

Wyclef Jean (@wyclef): “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.” – “The voice of an Angel, the Heart of a Lamb, the spirit of a Lioness, the presence of a Goddess, love you R.I.P Whitney Houston”

Christina Aguilera (@TheRealXtina): “We have lost another legend. Love and prayers to Whitney’s family. She will be missed.”

Ryan Seacrest (@RyanSeacrest): “At Grammys rehearsal hearing Whitney Houston has passed away at 48. Everyone here is absolutely stunned.”

Glee‘s Amber Riley (@MsAmberPRiley): “I can’t even breathe right now. Not Whitney. I’m in tears right now. ;(”

Bootsy Collins (@Bootsy_Collins): “Funkateers, if you Don’t Know By Now,We Just lost Another Brick in the Foundation of Love & Superb Talent.”

Katy Perry (@katyperry): “So devastating. We will always love you Whitney, R.I.P.”

Simon Cowell (@SimonCowell): “I am so sad to hear about Whitney. We have lost one of the greatest singers of all time.”