Stars from around the globe are expressing their sadness and shock at the sudden death of pop superstar Whitney Houston on Saturday afternoon.
The multiple award-winning singer died in a Beverly Hills hotel room Saturday afternoon. She was in Los Angeles taking part in pre-Grammy parties and had attended one such party on Thursday night. The Grammy Awards ceremony will take place tonight as scheduled with a major tribute to the late singer. It is being reported that Jennifer Hudson will sing in remembrance of Houston.
Houston’s biggest hit, and the biggest selling single by a U.S. based artist, ‘I Will Always Love You,’ has a country connection. The song was written (and originally performed) by country superstar Dolly Parton. Parton issued the following statement after hearing of Whitney’s passing,
“Mine is only one of the millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston. I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed.”
Pop singer Rihanna wrote, “No words! Just tears #DearWhitney,” while Justin Bieber tweeted, “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.”
The Recording Academy, which organizes the Grammy Awards, said in a statement that Houston was one of the world’s greatest pop singers of all time. She won six Grammy’s and has sold more than 170 million albums worldwide.
“Her powerful voice graced many memorable and award-winning songs,” the statement said. “A light has been dimmed in our music community today, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family, fans, and all who have been touched by her beautiful voice.”
Houston’s soulful vocals influenced so many singers. Country star LeAnn Rimes tweeted, “Whitney Houston was the first CD I ever bought. I’m doing what she taught me to do by listening to her records over and over as a little girl.”
“When I started my career, I wanted to be like her,” pop star Celine Dion said in a statement.
No cause of death has been determined. Whitney Houston was 48 years old. She is survived by her daughter Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown, her daughter with ex-husband Bobby Brown.
