Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies

Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.

Whitney Houston with music producer Clive Davis, in 1983, shortly after signing a contract with Arista Records. AP

Whitney Houston, left, and Jermaine Jackson sing during a rehearsal for the CBS television soap opera "As the World Turns" in New York in 1984. AP/Marty Lederhandler

Whitney Houston belts out a song during her segment of a benefit concert at Boston Garden in 1986. AP/Elise Amendola

Whitney Houston accepts her Grammy Award in 1986 in Los Angeles for pop female vocal performance with "Saving All My Love For You." AP

Whitney Houston shows her American Music Award at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1986. AP

Whitney Houston looks over her shoulder as her husband Bobby Brown looks to her at the premiere of "The Wonderful World of Disney" movie "Cinderella" in 1997. AP/Rene Macura

Whitney Houston poses with her Grammy at the annual Grammy Awards presentation in New York in 1988. AP/Mark Lennihan

Mariah Carey, left, and Whitney Houston present the award for Best Male Video during the MTV Video Music Awards in 1998. AP/Kevork Djansezian

Whitney Houston, left, celebrates her win at the American Music Awards with her mother, Cissy, and brother, Gary, at the Shrine Auditorium, in Los Angeles in 1998. AP/Reed Saxon

Muhammad Ali is greeted by singer Whitney Houston as he arrives on stage at New York's Radio City Music Hall to accept a GQ 1998 "Men of the Year" Award. AP/Mitch Jacobson

Whitney Houston performs "Until You Come Back To Me" during the 26th annual American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1999. AP/Kevork Djansezian

Whitney Houston performs before winning for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 42nd annual Grammy Awards in 2000. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn/Files

Whitney Houston strikes a pose during a performance at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 2000. AP/Mark J.Terrill

Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston arrive at Vanity Fair's Oscar party at Morton's in Hollywood in 2001. AP/Laura Rauch

Whitney Houston, left, smiles at her husband, singer Bobby Brown, during a 2002 court hearing in Dekalb County State Court in Decatur, Ga. AP/Erik S. Lesser

Singer Whitney Houston performs songs from her new album "Just Whitney" for "Good Morning America" in New York in 2002. AP/Diane Bondareff

Whitney Houston, right, and her husband, Bobby Brown, perform during the "VH1 Divas" duets show in Las Vegas in 2003. AP/Joe Cavaretta

Whitney Houston performs the song "Try It On My Own" during the "VH1 Divas Duets" concert at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in 2003. REUTERS/Ethan Miller/Files

Whitney Houston smiles as she receives a standing ovation while coming onto the stage in 2005. AP/Danny Moloshok

Whitney Houston arrives at the 17th Carousel of Hope Ball benefiting the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes in Beverly Hills, Calif. in 2006. AP/Matt Sayles

Whitney Houston, right, and music producer Clive Davis arrive at the 17th Carousel of Hope Ball benefiting the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes in Beverly Hills, Calif. in 2006. AP/Matt Sayles

Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown arrive at the Arista Records pre-Grammy party. AP/Jill Connelly

Whitney Houston arrives at the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party in Beverly Hills, Calif. in 2008. AP/Chris Pizzello

Whitney Houston gestures at the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party in Beverly Hills, California, in 2008. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/Files

Whitney Houston, right, sings with her daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown during a performance on 'Good Morning America' in Central Park in New York in 2009. AP/Evan Agostini

Whitney Houston at the BET Honors in the Warner Theatre in Washington in 2009. AP/Evan Agostini

Whitney Houston performs on 'Good Morning America' in New York's Central Park in 2009. AP/Evan Agostini

Whitney Houston receives the International Artist Award onstage at the 37th Annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles in 2009. AP/Matt Sayles

Whitney Houston receives the International Artist Award onstage at the 37th Annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles in 2009. AP/Matt Sayles

Whitney Houston performs at the 37th Annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles in 2009. AP/Matt Sayles

Whitney Houston bows after performing "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" at the 2009 American Music Awards in Los Angeles. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Whitney Houston accepts an award at the Warner Theatre during the 2010 BET Hip Hop Honors in Washington in 2010. AP/Nick Wass