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Whitney Houston Has Died

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sat Feb 11, 2012 at 08:45:55 PM EST
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Whitney Houston has died at age 48. She was in Los Angeles for the Grammys, preparing a tribute to Clive Davis. Cause of death is not yet known. Medics tried CPR for 20 minutes this afternoon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel where she was staying, to no avail. The New York Times has more on her life and career.

The Beverly Hills Police gave this interview, saying she was a guest at the hotel, her friends and co-workers were also there and identified her, and there were no obvious signs of criminal intent or drugs but the death is being investigated.

R.I.P. Whitney.

< Springsteen to Open Grammys: Bleak or Promising New Song? | Tony Bennett Urges Drug Legalization After Whitney Houston's Death >

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    Whitney Houston Has Died | 23 comments (23 topical)

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    :'( RIP (5.00 / 5) (#1)
    by andgarden on Sat Feb 11, 2012 at 08:49:41 PM EST
    I will remember her as she was at her best. I have been missing Whitney for a long time.

    I remember (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Feb 11, 2012 at 08:58:49 PM EST
    Not that much my kind of music, but I remember seeing the music video, I think it was, that introduced her wayyy back when and being absolutely mesmerized by her sort of shy radiance, plus the truly beautiful voice.  Hard to characterize, but she was both joyful and heart-breaking at the same time when she was at her best.  So, so, so sorry to have heard over the years about her troubles, and now this.

    Indeed, rest in peace, Whitney.


    Parent

    yes, she has been gone a long time (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by TeresaInPa on Sun Feb 12, 2012 at 08:15:39 AM EST
    drugs, staying with an abusive jelous husband, it robbed her of so many years.

    I am going to do something I have not done in 30 years.  I am going to watch the grammys.  But I am watching because of Adele who I hope has more respect for her gift than than to throw it away on drugs and alcohol and men who are wrong for her.

    RIP Whitney, you were a shooting star. Your songs and voice were an intimate part of all the important events of my youth.

    For anyone who has not heard the duet she sings with her mother "I know him so well", check it out.  You can probably find it on youtube.  It is so soul-full and powerful.  If you think you have heard all of her best and you have not heard this, you really must.

    Parent

    "A shooting star"? (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by ks on Sun Feb 12, 2012 at 02:19:02 PM EST
    Compared to whom?  Amy Winehouse was a shooting star and we will see how long the very talented Adele lasts. I suspect she will have a bit bigger "Joss Stone" type of career which is certainly nothing to sneeze at.  

    Whitney Houston was singing backup on major artists albums when she was 15 (e.g. Chaka Khan, Lou Rawls etc.) was a sought after legit teen model, released her first hit album in 1985 and her last album went platinum in 2009.  Throw in the movie stuff and and the ridiculous amount of awards she won and it's clear that she was one of, if not the, most successful and versatile female artist in music history.  In terms of across the board talent and success, you can only really compare her to Streisand or maybe Judy Garland.

    The Bobby stuff was certainly crazy though I think it's a bit unfair that he's taken all the pr hit for that mess. I think it's because she had a pop princess image and he had a hood rat one though the reality was that they were more alike than not , and unfortunately, brought out the worse in each other.

    RIP Whitney.

    Parent

    Yes, me too (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by ruffian on Sun Feb 12, 2012 at 11:21:11 AM EST
    I got her debut album with everyone else and loved belting out 'Saving All My Love For You' in the car. such high hopes for a long career.

    Very sad.

    Parent

    I can't pick a favorite track; WON'T (none / 0) (#24)
    by andgarden on Sun Feb 12, 2012 at 11:41:38 PM EST
    That's what distinguishes Whitney from so many other artists; especially some excellent ones.

    Parent
    "I will always love you" (none / 0) (#10)
    by MKS on Sun Feb 12, 2012 at 12:18:19 AM EST
    is such a strong, passionate, resonant song.....

    Timeless.

    Parent

    I accidentally deleted Addams Family comment (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 12, 2012 at 10:51:56 AM EST
    which said

    This is tragic in the classic sense of that term

    & as a longtime fan of her mother, all i can say is that my heart aches for her
    CNN switches from Don Lemon (none / 0) (#3)
    by andgarden on Sat Feb 11, 2012 at 09:05:52 PM EST
    (perfect person to anchor this coverage) to Piers Morgan. Bad call.

    I think that's my allotment of cable news for the month.

    BIG Don Lemon fan here (none / 0) (#5)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Feb 11, 2012 at 10:28:25 PM EST
    But Piers has been... OK on this, not great.  I do like Lemon's very human and personal approach to any news, especially like this.  I'm sure they went to Piers because he has maybe the most extensive contacts in the biz, and celebrities really, really, really want to be on air with him, even via phone.


    Parent
    I've been listening to (none / 0) (#4)
    by lilburro on Sat Feb 11, 2012 at 10:18:50 PM EST
    a lot of Gil Scott-Heron this week, another amazing performer whose life was marred and shortened by addiction.  Just terrible.  Such a waste of talent.  I hope she's resting in peace.

    Would these icons have (none / 0) (#6)
    by oculus on Sat Feb 11, 2012 at 10:36:21 PM EST
    survived if currently illegal drugs were legalized?  Or no effect one way or the other?  

    Parent
    Well, check the evidence from Portugal (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by observed on Sun Feb 12, 2012 at 10:04:51 AM EST
    They have the most extensive decriminalization program around. I've read it's been effective, both at reducing crime and addiction.

    Parent
    I'm sorry, but can you explain to me how (none / 0) (#22)
    by Anne on Sun Feb 12, 2012 at 05:34:14 PM EST
    making something legally available somehow negates its addictive properties?  Reducing crime, I get, to some extent - reducing addiction?  Nope, not buying that.

    Does the legal availability of alcohol reduce one's ability to become addicted to it?  Uh, no, it doesn't.

    But here's the interesting thing: even though alcohol is legal, people who are addicted to it have been known to steal in order to get it.

    "Legal" doesn't mean "free."

    Parent

    There has been a lot of harm (none / 0) (#25)
    by observed on Mon Feb 13, 2012 at 01:04:59 AM EST
    reduction, but whether drug use has increased or decreased is unclear.
    What IS clear is that public information programs can affect usage. Just look at cigarette smoking, for example.
    If drug use is decriminalized, then a sane, fact-based public education campaign could decrease use of dangerous drugs.

    Parent
    It's hard to say, isn't it? (none / 0) (#8)
    by sj on Sat Feb 11, 2012 at 11:25:46 PM EST
    Lots of deaths from alcohol.  And poor diets.

    Parent
    it would be interesting (none / 0) (#15)
    by smott on Sun Feb 12, 2012 at 09:17:00 AM EST
    To check statistics from countries where many addictive drugs ie narcs are legal and see what the yearly OD deaths are...does the legality and related govt support programs reduce mortality?

    Having said that - didn't see that there was anything illegal in this case - just scrip meds.

    Possible bathtub drowning if one believes TMZ....

    And yes "shy radiance" what a lovely and apt description...well said.


    Parent

    Sadly, no (none / 0) (#21)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Feb 12, 2012 at 02:24:54 PM EST
    She had admitted to extensive cocaine use.  She famously said in one interview a few years ago, "Crack is whack!"


    Parent
    I dunno. (none / 0) (#9)
    by lilburro on Sat Feb 11, 2012 at 11:54:36 PM EST
    What's the cure for self-destruction?  Gil Scott-Heron spent a few years in jail for possession.  When he returned, he returned to crack cocaine as well.  I would favor the legalization of a number of drugs if at least a portion of that money when to providing resources for and improving rehabilitation.  People who want drugs find a way to get them.  You have to address the want/need for them.  IMO.

    And yeah, as for alcohol, one of Scott-Heron's songs "The Bottle" addresses the way it ravages lives, including his own.

    Parent

    legal or not (none / 0) (#12)
    by loveed on Sun Feb 12, 2012 at 06:38:02 AM EST
     People have personal demons, they fight all their lives to overcome.
     We're on the outside looking in. Seeing what they want us to see. We never see the true pain, that dwell inside them. And we never see them as they see themselves.
     I loved her music. This is one of my favorite moment. A country fresh in the beginning of the gulf war.

     link

    Parent

    would the drugs be less addictive? (none / 0) (#14)
    by TeresaInPa on Sun Feb 12, 2012 at 08:33:02 AM EST
    could that be possible, if they were legal? No way.  And since they wouldn't be any less addictive and destructive.  There will always be a black market so that addicts can get as much as they want and with that they will slowly kill themselves and their lives, their families.
    Legalizing drugs will make law enforcement cheaper, keep people out of prison.

    Parent
    Here's a question for you (none / 0) (#23)
    by Rojas on Sun Feb 12, 2012 at 11:25:17 PM EST
    The first time you compromised your ideals, was that functional?
    How about the second, was it easier that time? Were you more functional?
    The third time??
    Seems nobody wants to talk about that...

    Parent
    the best national anthem (none / 0) (#19)
    by pitachips on Sun Feb 12, 2012 at 11:31:06 AM EST
    performance i can remember. absolute perfection.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jeUINzHK9o

    Whitney Houston Has Died | 23 comments (23 topical)

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