Legendary pop singer Whitney Houston has died at age 48, representative Kristen Foster said Saturday night.
The cause of death and where she died were not immediately known. In May 2011, Houston got help for her much-publicized struggle with drugs and alcohol, her representative said at the time.
As news of her death spread online her fans and celebrities tweeted that they were absolutely shocked and saddened at the news.
Tributes began flooding in almost immediately as people began expressing their shock at the news. Nearly all of the trends on Twitter worldwide were shortly associated with the singer's death. Among them: R.I.P Whitney Houston, #DearWhitney, #IWillAlwaysLoveYou, The Bodyguard, Bobby Brown and Wanna Dance With Somebody.
"The first full hour after the news broke saw 2,481,652 tweets and retweets, peaking at 61,227 tweets at 5:23 p.m. (all times are PST)," according to Topsy.com. "That is over a thousand tweets a second, not quite as much as during the Superbowl but still a lot."
Houston had been in Los Angeles and Grammy rehearsal parties were taking place one night before the music industry's biggest event. Stunned celebrities heard about the news all together.
Mariah Carey, who famously performed a duet with Houston on "When You Believe" was stunned by the news.
[tweet https://twitter.com/MariahCarey/status/168506210436399104%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/MariahCarey/status/168506516259880962%5D
LaToya Jackson also took to Twitter to express her condolences to Houston's family. She and the rest of her family have gone through the turmoil of dealing with the sudden death of the King of Pop Michael Jackson.
[tweet https://twitter.com/latoyajackson/status/168506059063959552%5D
The news of Houston's death brought many people back to their childhood and reminisced on all of the ways Houston's music had entered their lives. Whether it was their love of a literal soundtrack, like "The Bodyguard," or the songs that were so embedded into their  souls that ie became soundtrack to their lives, fans shared their sadness at the loss.
[tweet https://twitter.com/MotherJustice/status/168517868940558337%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/therealstylesp/status/168515223714660352%5D
Many also wanted to share their favorite memories of Whitney Houston, sparking the trend #FavoriteWhitneySong.
#FavoriteWhitneySong: What's yours?
[tweet https://twitter.com/AimieRocks/status/168517490119426048%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/rogergzz/status/168511169433321475%5D
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For some fellow artists, the news hit at their core. Houston, for them, was not only an icon but also an inspiration for many.
[tweet https://twitter.com/UsherRaymondIV/status/168515058215825409%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/KeriHilson/status/168507324711968768%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/alexandramusic/status/168503782471241728%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/rihanna/status/168512513795817472%5D
Newark's mayor Cory Booker even took to Twitter to pay tribute to one of New Jersey's greatest starts.
[tweet https://twitter.com/CoryBooker/status/168507618892066817%5D
The tributes and reaction continue to flood in at an unbelievable pace. Among them:
[tweet https://twitter.com/GloriaEstefan/status/168504593750302720%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/GloriaEstefan/status/168508584034963456%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/GloriaEstefan/status/168510209776549890%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/serenawilliams/status/168504228761968641%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/serenawilliams/status/168509220239589376%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/gbstarr/status/168515007850610688%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/wyclef/status/168506367194300416%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/AustinBloggy/status/168522853216555008%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/Joan_Rivers/status/168509323373314048%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/BrunoMars/status/168522667761221632%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/VeraWangGang/status/168517354517561344%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/gadiiing/status/168515084052725761%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/ceoMarkZuck/status/168503551885185024%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/DanniiMinogue/status/168514712861016065%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/CeeLoGreen/status/168506648481112064%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/druidDUDE/status/168507574201745409%5D
[tweet https://twitter.com/ChrisKattan/status/168511851485859841%5D
OMG – Im still in disbelive! This was my idol. I will truly miss Whitney Houston. I never cared about the BS the media portrayed I only cared that you inspired me and other people to become the best we can in what we do. You ARE and WILL ALWAYS BE the Queen of R&B/Pop! There is no one who can ever compare to you. Your talent, like Michael Jackson's (RIP), is a one of a kind gift from GOD! He is constructing his choir and called home his GOLDEN VOICE! My family and I love you like you were our own! Thank you for ALL the great songs and the gift you shared with the world. I will remember you for you GOD GIVEN GIFT as I hope the rest of the world would. Rest In Peace my dear Whitney. Thank you and I LOVE YOU ALWAYS!!!
OMG – I'm still in disbelieve! This was my idol. I will truly miss Whitney Houston. I never cared about the BS the media portrayed I only cared that you inspired me and other people to become the best we can in what we do. You ARE and WILL ALWAYS BE the Queen of R&B/Pop! There is no one who can ever compare to you. Your talent, like Michael Jackson's (RIP), is a one of a kind gift from GOD! He is constructing his choir and called home his GOLDEN VOICE! My family and I love you like you were our own! Thank you for ALL the great songs and the gift you shared with the world. I will remember you for you GOD GIVEN GIFT as I hope the rest of the world would. Rest In Peace my dear Whitney. Thank you and I LOVE YOU ALWAYS!!!
She never learned...just like so many others. What a waste.
I am praying for Whitney's family especially her daughter and Mother. II Corinthians 5:8 "We are confident, I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord". This is where she is now with the LORD never to hurt again what glory that is. She loved Jesus and he loved her.
addio grande donna!!! che con la tua splendida voce hai accompagnato parte della mia vita ora è come se fosse morta anche quella io ti ricorderò sempre nel cuore, ti ricorderò come una donna bellissima e bravissima che ora canterà per gli angeli......ma chi ti ha fatto del male portandoti a tutto questo ....darà conto a dio.......infinite condoglianze alla famiglia Houston ed alla Sua bambina.......
Valentina Portoghese (Bari – Italy)
How did she die?
She had been a crack head for 20 some odd years.. the world had forgotten about her. And now suddenly she's the Queen of Pop? I don't think so.
I see the haters even come out during a tragedy. I guess its easy to hide in front of that computer screen. May you all be room mates in hell with charles manson and the devil.
she drove her mother nuts and this did not have to happen...we need to feel sorry for Cissy also, her mother did not needs this either.
Good singer. But OD'ed. I feel bad for the family, not her.
I met Whitney in 1993 when she had just had the baby. I happened to be on the same floor at St. Barnabas, Short Hills, NJ. I was there for a serious illness. She walked slowly past my room door with a bodyguard. (I was sitting in bed & hubby was there.) I called her name & she came in! I told her what I had. I remember she had on a long white terrycloth bathrobe & mine was pink! She took my hand and told me to pray and believe in God, to put all my trust in Him, that He could help me. Whitney wrote me a note on a paperback cover that I had (I think I still have it.) She looked beautiful, perfect skin, slim & you couldn't tell she had just had a baby! (The day before I had written her a note & signed my name & gave it to a bodyguard – my middle name is Christina – & I still wonder if perhaps that gave her the idea for her daughter's name but with a "K." Anyway she was released in the middle of the night. After I was home a few days I received a call from the hospital's head nurse. She said that Whitney wanted my address! I said okay, and then in a few days I received a tall beautiful India Rubber plant with a note. I want people to know that dear Whitney was generous & a very special person, and didn't have to do this! I will alway cherish that time. Mourning you, Whitney.
Whitney had THE VOICE ♫
Whitney's untimely passing is a shock of sadness that will take time to get through. Prayers are being lifted for her daughter, mother, family and friends. The one thing I wanted to comment on regarding Whitney, is that I loved the fact that she was a classy lady when she performed. She did not have to take off her clothes to get attention. All she needed was her gift. . .her voice. To our young ladies, you are more than hips, thighs, legs, breasts and lips. You have a voice, a mind, purpose, destiny, love and integrity. . . use them!
I think she just wanted Michael Jacksons autograph.
I was a fan from the first song, to the last. What a loss to soon. I will never forget seeing her in concert in atlantic city. Watching her sing The National Athem was stunning most singers cant get the words right she sang it soo effortlessly. My deepest sympathy to her family, A beautiful person gone way to soon. To her daughter Bobby christine be strong she loves you.