Whitney Houston died on 11 February 2012 at 48 years old

Whitney Houston (1963 - 2012), who reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48. Her body was found at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

Publicist Kristen Foster said Saturday that the singer had died, but the cause and the location of her death were unknown.

Whitney Houston was making her grand comeback to the big screen in the upcoming musical drama, “Sparkle,” and was also reentering the world of reality TV. The singer has been approached to fill one of the vacant judges’ seats on Simon Cowell’s “The X Factor,” following the recent exits of Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger.

Whitney Houston

• Sold more than 170 million albums, singles, videos
• Scored seven straight No. 1 hits in the 1980s, including "Saving All My Love For You", "How Will I Know" and "I Will Always Love You"
• Discovered by producer Clive Davis in a N.Y. nightclub
• Received 415 careers awards
• Her personal life was tainted by drug addiction and a troubled marriage to singer Bobby Brown
• Houston was born on August 9, 1963 in Newark, New Jersey.
• Was to appear in remake of "Sparkle" later this year

1986: Houston sported her curly locks all over the world during her "The Greatest Love" tour.

With Michael Jackson

Her marriage to the singer Bobby Brown — which was, at one point, documented in a Bravo reality television series, “Being Bobby Brown” — grew miserable, and in the 2000s, her singles slipped from the top 10. At left, Ms. Houston and Mr. Brown in 1997.

With President Nelson Mandela of South Africa in Johannesburg in 1994

With her mother, Cissy, and brother, Gary, in Los Angeles in 1998. Cissy Houston was a gospel and pop singer who had backed up Aretha Franklin.

Ms. Houston was so startlingly thin during a 2001 Michael Jackson tribute concert that rumors spread she had died the next day.

Ms. Houston and Mr. Brown received honorary citizenship in the southern Israel town of Dimona in 2003

With Mr. Brown and their daughter, Bobbi Kristina, at Disneyland in 2004

Miss Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina and her ex-husband  Bobby Brown

Whitney Houston with her daughter Bobbi Kristina at mentor Clive Davis's pre-Grammy party last year

Whitney Houston’s final days: Whitney Houston and Ray J at Sunset Plaza