Singer Whitney Houston found dead (From Thisisdorset)

Singer Whitney Houston found dead

10:10am Sunday 12th February 2012 in Latest

POP QUEEN Whitney Houston has died at the age of 48.

Tributes have poured in for the American singer, who was found dead in her hotel room in Beverly Hills yesterday.

The death of the Grammy award-winning star, who was one of the world's best-selling artists in the 1980s and 1990s, was confirmed by her publicist, leaving the entertainment industry and fans around the world in shock.

Police said there were no obvious signs of any criminal intent.

Following the news, which came on the eve of this year's Grammys ceremony, fellow celebrities and contemporaries lined up to pay their respects.

The I Will Always Love You and Saving All My Love singer, who had batted with drug addiction, was pictured last week looking dishevelled and disorientated as she left a Hollywood nightclub with her daughter Bobbi Kristina after performing at a pre-Grammy party.

Recent reports suggested that the soul star was on the brink of bankruptcy, while others said she was being lined-up by Simon Cowell as a judge on the American equivalent of the X Factor.

Mr Cowell said: "There are so few people like her in the world.

"They are a rarefied breed, these are true superstar, legendary divas and I say divas in the nicest possible way.

"She had one of the greatest voices I have ever heard in my life, ever."

Houston had made a comeback in 2009 releasing a new album after seven years off the scene.

She revealed that her life began to spiral out of control after her 1992 success in The Bodyguard.

"I am absolutely heartbroken at the news of Whitney's passing," legendary music producer Quincy Jones said in a written statement.

"I always regretted not having had the opportunity to work with her. She was a true original and a talent beyond compare. I will miss her terribly."

"I just can't talk about it now," Houston's godmother, Aretha Franklin, said in a short statement.

"It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen."

Detectives said paramedics unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate the singer, who was pronounced dead at 3.55pm local time.

Houston was due to appear at the Grammy Awards later tonight and had also been at rehearsals for the show, coaching singers Brandy and Monica.