American singer and actress, Whitney Houston, died yesterday in Los Angeles, at the age of 48.
The police say she died in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where she had been staying as a guest.
Houston was one of the most celebrated female singers of all time, with hits including I Will Always Love You and Saving All My Love For You.
But her later career was overshadowed by substance abuse and her turbulent marriage to singer Bobby Brown.
A police spokesman said the singer was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m., in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
He said fire department personnel and members of hotel security were attempting to resuscitate her when police arrived at the scene.
The cause of Houston's death remains unclear, but the police spokesman said there were "no obvious signs of criminal intent".
Houston's background was steeped in soul and gospel music.
Her mother is gospel singer, Cissy Houston.
She was cousin to singer, Dionne Warwick, and god-daughter to Aretha Franklin.
Meanwhile, the news was a shock to the music industry in particular, coming just hours before this year's Grammy Awards ceremony.
Houston had been planning to attend a pre-Grammys party thrown by her mentor and close friend, Clive Davis.
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