Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice was ravaged by drug
use and her regal image was ruined by erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby
Brown, has died. She was 48.
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY
AP Music Writer
LOS ANGELES ²
Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's
queen until her majestic voice was ravaged by
drug use and her regal image was ruined by
erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to
singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.
Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen said
Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m.
Saturday in her room on the fourth floor of the
Beverly Hilton. A Los Angeles County
coroner's official said early Sunday that her
body had been taken to a morgue.
"There were no obvious signs of any criminal intent," Rosen said.
Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, said the cause of death was unknown.