On Eve of the Grammys, Whitney Houston Dies at Age 48

(The Blaze/AP) -- Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, has died. She was 48.

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

At her peak in the 1980s and `90s, Houston the golden girl of the music industry and one of the world's best-selling artists.

Among her hits were "How Will I Know," "Saving All My Love for You" and "I Will Always Love You." She won multiple Grammys including album and record of the year.

Her success carried her beyond music to movies like "The Bodyguard."

But by the end of her career, drug use took its toll as her record sales plummeted and her voice became raspy and hoarse.

Before Super Bowl XXV and in midst of the Persian Gulf War, Houston sang the national anthem, which has since been heralded as one of the best performances in the history of the event.

UPDATE (9:03 p.m.)

The Los Angeles Times has confirmed that Houston's body was found at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel. Cause of death is still unknown. Houston was to be among the A-list performers planning to attend veteran music mogul Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy party Saturday at the Beverly Hilton hotel.

UPDATE (9:13 p.m.)

CNN is reporting that police say Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. pacific time and there had been unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate.

UPDATE (9:19 p.m.)

AP Video on Houston's death and career:

UPDATE (9:27 p.m.)

(AP) Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen told KABC-TV that Houston died in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton. Her body remained in the hotel and Beverly Hills detectives were investigating. Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, said Saturday that the cause of her death was unknown.

UPDATE (9:36 p.m.)

Flo Anthony is reporting on Fox News Channel that Houston was found in the bath tub of her hotel room by her brother Michael, cause of death is still unknown. Ray J, a rapper who has been connected to Houston, was not in the room.

UPDATE (9:45 p.m.)

PEOPLE reports that upon hearing the news of Houston's death, her ex-husband Bobby Brown began immediately calling friends and family.

"He wanted to tell everyone about it before it hit the news," one of his relatives tells PEOPLE. "He didn't want any of us to hear about it on television."

As Brown spoke to family members, the shock of Houston's sudden death turned to grief. "He could hardly get the words out when he called me," says the relative. "He was sobbing, and by the end of the call, I was sobbing too. He's beside himself right now."

Brown has had no official comment on the death of Houston. Brown is in Memphis, where he is currently located for a New Edition concert.

UPDATE (10:16 p.m.)

The Los Angeles Times reports that paramedics performed CPR for about 20 minutes before declaring the pop star dead. Authorities said they don't have a cause of death.