R.I.P. Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston an American singer, actress, producer, and model has died in Los Angeles at the age of 48. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most-awarded female act of all time. Her list of awards includes two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among a total of 415 career awards as of 2010. Houston was also one of the world’s best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide. Inspired by prominent soul singers in her family, including her mother Cissy Houston, cousins Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, and her godmother Aretha Franklin, Houston began singing with New Jersey church’s junior gospel choir at age 11. After she began performing alongside her mother in night clubs in the New York City area, she was discovered by Arista Records label head Clive Davis. Houston released seven studio albums and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which have diamond, multi-platinum, platinum or gold certification.
Civil rights activist Rev Al Sharpton said that on the morning of the Grammys, “the world should pause and pray for the memory of a gifted songbird”.

Country singer Dolly Parton – who wrote one one of her most memorable hits, I Will Always Love You – said in a statement: “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’.”