Tributes pour in for tragic Houston (From Times Series)

Tributes pour in for tragic Houston

11:07am Sunday 12th February 2012 in National News © Press Association 2011

The death of singing legend Whitney Houston has prompted a worldwide outpouring of grief, with tributes paid by some of the biggest names in the music industry.

The death of the 48-year-old Grammy award-winning star, who was one of the world's best-selling artists in the 1980s and 1990s, was confirmed by her publicist, leaving the entertainment industry and fans around the world in shock.

Los Angeles police said the troubled singer, who had battled with drug addiction, was found in her hotel room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton.

Houston was due to appear at the LA gala of music's biggest occasion - the Grammy Awards - and had also been at rehearsals for the show, coaching singers Brandy and Monica.

It is believed she had been due to perform at the annual pre-Grammy party of her long-time mentor, record producer Clive Davis, at the Beverly Hilton, but was found hours before it began.

Organisers of the Grammys have said Houston will be remembered at the awards in a tribute by Jennifer Hudson.

Following the news, fellow celebrities and contemporaries lined up to pay their respects, with describing the star as a "legend" and an "icon".

Music mogul Simon Cowell described Houston as "one of the greatest singers of all time", and said he expected the Grammys to become a tribute to the "trailblazer" and "legend".

In a tribute on Twitter, her godmother Aretha Franklin said: "I just can't talk about it now, It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen. My heart goes out to Cissy, her daughter Bobby Kris, her family and Bobby."

In a statement, country singer Dolly Parton said: "Mine is only one of millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston."