Bobby Brown leads tributes to Whitney Houston

12/02/12 8,886 Views 20 Comments

Whitney Houston performing at the Brit Awards in February 1999.

Image: Fiona Hanson/PA Archive

TRIBUTES HAVE been pouring in for the late singer and actress Whitney Houston, who was found dead in a Los Angeles hotel room last night.

Her godmother Aretha Franklin has spoken of her devastation and shock upon hearing of Houston’s death, saying it was “so stunning and unbelievable”. “I just can’t talk about it now,” she said.

Meanwhile, Houston’s ex-husband Bobby Brown decided to go ahead with a New Edition reunion performance in northern Mississippi after hearing of Houston’s death. Addressing the audience, Brown said:

First of all, I want to tell you that I love you all. Second, I would like to say, ‘I love you, Whitney.’ The hardest thing for me to do is to come on this stage.

Houston’s former mentor Clive Davis also went ahead with a concert last night after hearing of the star’s death. The event was held at the same hotel as her body was discovered, and Davis said that the show went ahead because Houston would have wanted the music to go on.

At that event, Alicia Keys spoke of how Houston had inspired her:

(Video via AliciaKeysGlobal)

In a statement posted on her website, Dolly Parton (who penned Houston’s The Bodyguard classic I Will Always Love You) said:

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.”

Barbara Streisand paid the following tribute to Houston after learning of her death:

Whitney Barbara

Singer Lionel Richie tweeted: “I am devastated by the loss of Whitney. We have lost a true Angel,” while Mariah Carey wrote:

Whitney Mariah Carey

Pop star Pink also paid tribute to the late star on Twitter:

Whitney

- Additional reporting by the AP

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Comments (20 Comments)

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Unitedpeople Ireland 12/02/12 #

Report this comment 28 327

Wasn’t Brown the one that got her started on drugs in the first place?
If so, he has a lot to answer for!
…And he leads the tributes? Talk about insulting!

Reply
dave 12/02/12 #

Report this comment 17 222

Houston would in all probability be alive and well today and also likely to still be one of the top singers in the music industry if it wasn’t for that slug Bobby Brown…..he introduced her to the hard drugs she became addicted to and which probably played a large part in her untimely death.

Reply
- Winston 12/02/12 #
  
  Report this comment 26 168
  
  Whatever the circumstances of her introduction to drugs she was in a much stronger position than most other victims of drug abuse to avoid and rehab. Let’s not forget that ultimately it was her decision to take drugs and it was that decision that led to her untimely death.
- Pilib O Muiregan 12/02/12 #
  
  Report this comment 20 65
  
  You can’t blame anybody for her death but her. It maybe have been him who introduced her to drugs but it was her who took them.
Eimear Lavery 12/02/12 #

Report this comment 21 102

Freedom of choice. You can be influenced all you like but ultimately it’s up to you to decide whether to smoke this, drink that, snort the other & she made those decisions herself. I know it was his influence but she could have said no.

Reply
- John Carroll 12/02/12 #
  
  Report this comment 26 109
  
  It doesn’t take away from the fact that some people are ‘built’ weak and are easily influenced and as such need protected. When you have a child that succumbs to drugs you will understand what I mean – I hope you never have to experience this. When that child dies, you feel bitter against the boyfriend who led her astray ; yes, you say she could have said ‘no’, but knowing her as I do, I don’t think it was in her power to say ‘no’.
  To introduce someone to drugs is no different to setting a loaded gun on the table and saying ‘let’s play Russian roulette’. In my eyes, the person who produced the gun is to blame.
Tony Skillington 12/02/12 #

Report this comment 5 46

I think she had tried rehab before and was clean for a time but when you live in that world surrounded by money and where drugs are so readily available, it was probably too difficult for er to remain clean. Staying off coke and the likes is not an easy thing to do…

Reply
Declan Carroll 12/02/12 #

Report this comment 23 26

Correct, Winston. She could have always walked away. Her death is very sad yet it was avoidable giving the lifestyle “she choose” to lead.

Reply
- Gill Jones 12/02/12 #
  
  Report this comment 6 32
  
  In all honesty I don’t think she or any other addict chooses to be one. Bobby introduced her to drugs but it was the circumstances of her life that kept her there as a means of escapism. Domestic violence, mental and physical abuse is a factor. It’s not a lifestyle choice at all. Maybe for the clubber or stoner who ‘dabs’ at drugs at the weekend it’s a lifestyle choice but when addiction occurs choice, reasoning, and the ability to function normally goes out the window along with all self respect which in itself makes the user use again. It’s a vicious cycle.
jimbo 12/02/12 #

Report this comment 14 55

He has some neck he brought her down in the first place

Reply
Joan Featherstone 12/02/12 #

Report this comment 54 21

RIP, couldn’t stand her screaming voice, but appreciate that she certainly could sing! Gone too soon, like many more in the music/show business arena.

Reply
- Alison Hodnett 12/02/12 #
  
  Report this comment 12 52
  
  @Joan featherstone I would be most happy to possess A ” screaming voice” of Whitney Houston’s calibre!
- Gill Jones 12/02/12 #
  
  Report this comment 14 39
  
  @joan
  Her musical accolades surpass what you might regard as ‘screaming’. I’d like to hear you on karaoke, have you won many awards for your screaming?
eileen morris 12/02/12 #

Report this comment 5 15

Read her brothers book, Whitney was taking crack cocaine from the age of 16, very sad waste of a life

Reply
niamhsmith 12/02/12 #

Report this comment 1 52

Strange that he would carry on with a gig rather than be with his grieving daughter. Too big a career opportunity to pass up perhaps, with the eyes of the world on him today.

Reply
terry 12/02/12 #

Report this comment 6 12

A beautiful singer and my first crush at about the age of 7 very sad. I think the abusive drug pushing husband has to shoulder much of the blame. I doubt her brothers book is accurate probably said those things to increase the sign on fee. I hope her child can’t sing and enjoys a life away from the public eye.

Reply
Patricia Gilheany 13/02/12 #

Report this comment 2 14

May God rest her troubled and tormented soul.

Sad to see so many comments form people who clearly do not understand addiction. Hope somebody is giving her daughter the care and attention that she needs at this sad time in her life!

Reply
- Ally Sommer 13/02/12 #
  
  Report this comment 2 7
  
  Well said Patricia.
  “And might I add – “Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone…….”
  
  regards Ally
conor hickey 13/02/12 #

Report this comment 10 1

Ok folks . She’s dead. Now, can we move on?

Reply
zulu zulu 13/02/12 #

Report this comment 2 3

Anyone who does drugs, whatever their achievements should be shunned and not celebrated by the media. A clear message needs to be sent that it is not OK to do drugs.

Reply

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