Fans, celebrities react to Whitney Houston's death: 'We will always love you'
February 11th, 2012
08:53 PM ET

Fans, celebrities react to Whitney Houston's death: 'We will always love you'

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.

According to her official website, Houston, who struggled with addiction problems over the years, sold more than 170 million albums, singles and videos over her career.

As news of her death spread online her fans and celebrities tweeted that they were absolutely shocked and saddened at the news.

iReport: Share your memories 

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."

Whitney Houston is shown trending around the entire globe Saturday night after news of her death.

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

[tweet https://twitter.com/grantgust/status/168509210982752258%5D

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

 Post by:
Filed under: Music • Showbiz • Whitney Houston
soundoff (301 Responses)
  1. Tcraft

    I hope this makes people reach out to people they know are in trouble. God Bless her, and her family!

    February 11, 2012 at 9:20 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Ajalyn

    Whitney may be gone but her voice will never be silent at least not in my house! Rest in peace Whitney. The storm is over now.

    February 11, 2012 at 9:24 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Ana

    Shock and disbelief. I listen to her beautiful, inspirational music on my Iphone almost every day while I walk. Her song "Don't Tell Me No" has been an inspiration to my friends and I. What a voice, she will be so sadly missed by all. RIP angel voice.

    February 11, 2012 at 9:25 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Michelle

    Absolutely tragic! I remember the first time I heard Whitney Houston on the radio – she was singing a duet with Teddy Pendergrass (sp?) – such an amazingly beautiful voice!! She fought many demons in her life, hopefully now she will be at peace.

    February 11, 2012 at 9:26 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Robert

    Thanks Bobby Brown for leading the way for her in life and now....

    February 11, 2012 at 9:27 pm | Report abuse |
  6. bettmah

    so so beautiful person! you have marked all of our lives so positivly, you r finally @ pease! tx 4 the beautiful music uv inspired

    February 11, 2012 at 9:27 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Adele

    Whitney, I will always love you and anyone who has anything negative to say, keep it to yourself. We are all human and none of us is perfect. God Bless you Whitney and you family.

    February 11, 2012 at 9:28 pm | Report abuse |
  8. CjayDjay

    To the family and friends of Whitney Houston, my prayers go up and out. I am still in shock of her passing. I prayed so hard for her to overcome her storm. She is safe in our Fathers arms now. Resting in peace and on His bossom. She is already missed and will forever be loved. Father we know that You have control over all there is and that You have the last say in our lives. I pray that You strengthen all of who loved her and forgive those who hated her. We lift her up to You in Your Sweet Son Jesus name. Amen!!

    February 11, 2012 at 9:29 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Tari

    Her majestic voice could melt your soul and cause goosebumps to spring up all over. She wasn't just a legend, she was an icon. My heart felt condolences go out to her family and especially her daughter Bobbi. Whitney Houston you will be so sadly missed by everyone. RIP Angel♥

    February 11, 2012 at 9:29 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Rebecca Angel

    MY daddy took me to see her in 84 in Seattle, I will never forget the sound that came from her... BEAUTIFUL!! You will never be forgotten. I wish you new how great you REALLY were to all of us. You were the greatest and "I will always love you". May you be at rest.. XOXO Love to her daughter and family

    February 11, 2012 at 9:29 pm | Report abuse |
  11. jojo

    It's sad to hear of her passing. She had such an amazing voice and I will never forget her music or the movies she made. May she rest in peace. Her family will be in our prayers... RIP Whitney Huston

    February 11, 2012 at 9:29 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Robert

    Is there a law for detroying someone else's life...?

    February 11, 2012 at 9:29 pm | Report abuse |
  13. freddy boom boom washington

    May her soul be at peace.Another angel called home.They have one heck of a band in heaven.

    February 11, 2012 at 9:30 pm | Report abuse |
  14. That Or

    It is very sad, and she was a wonderful talent who will be missed. However, no one should be shocked at the death of a drug addict. Her body was not invincible, no matter how much talent or money she had. There is a lesson here.

    February 11, 2012 at 9:30 pm | Report abuse |
  15. sounding

    It seems that all of the reporting on cnn is about what might have happened. DRUGS, I am so disappointed in the reporting as a true cnn fan, this is the worse reporting I have ever seen. Dr. Drew, Jane should be ashamed of themselves. Where is Copper, Donnie is out of his realm. Bottom line HE IS A JOKE!!!! celebrate her life. TMZ would be proud of the team you have on the air. Ray vs. Ray Jay, really!!!!!!!

    February 11, 2012 at 9:30 pm | Report abuse |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
« Back to main