Did Whitney Houston drown in the bath after taking prescription drugs? Star, 48, died just hours before Grammys party at LA hotel

Legendary singer and film star Whitney Houston drowned alone in a bathtub having accidentally overdosed on a cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol after two back-to-back evenings of out-of-control binges, it has been claimed.

The star was found dead by her bodyguard in a luxury hotel suite said to have been littered with bottles of prescription pills. She was 48.

Paramedics battled to revive the singer but she was pronounced dead at 3.55pm yesterday afternoon, hours before she had been due to perform at a pre-Grammys party at the Beverly Hills Hilton in LA.

Bottles of Lorazepam, Valium, Xanax and a sleeping medication were found in the hotel room, it has been claimed. The drugs are believed to have acted as sedatives have caused her to fall asleep in the bathtub once they had been mixed with alcohol from the previous evenings.

As police look into the possibility that the star died from an accidental overdose, there are expected to be emotional scenes at the Grammy awards tonight with many of the singers inspired by Miss Houston dedicating their awards to her.

Miss Houston had battled ravaging addictions to crack cocaine over the years but the drug is not believed to have played a part in her death. Police searched the room for illegal substances after  discovering the body.

Her frantic daughter Bobbi Kristina, 19, is understood to have got into a 'furious screaming argument' with authorities who refused to let her into the hotel room to see the body of her dead mother. Friends of Miss Houston's cousin Dionne Warwick, who also went to the hotel to try to see the body, have said that she is 'inconsolable'.

Miss Houston's body was eventually covered up and wheeled later in the evening after Bobbi Kristina and Miss Warwick had visited the room and broke down in tears as they were confronted with the tragic reality. Outside, fans gathered to mourn the star.

'Heartbroken and in tears': Mariah Carey, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj pay tribute as music world mourns shock death of Whitney Houston at 48

Did Whitney Houston 'party heavily' on the eve of her tragic death?

The exact cause of death is not yet known. But on the Thursday evening before her death, the singer went on a wild binge in which she is said to have clashed with security guards. The next evening she 'partied heavily, drank and chatted loudly' with friends at the hotel bar, claims TMZ.

It is not known if the destructive spiral played a part in death of the I Will Always Love You singer who had spent more than a decade battling an addiction to crack cocaine since rising to international stardom in the early 90s.

Police have begun searching the hotel room for any signs of illegal drugs. The circumstances of the death are not thought to be suspicious but the authorities are investigating.

The body of Whitney Houston is wheeled out of the suite of the hotel in Los Angeles where she 'drowned in the bath' following two apparent evenings of out-of-control binges

 It has been claimed that Ms Houston drowned in a bathtub, similar to this one in a suite at the Beverly Hills Hilton, after accidentally overdosing on a cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol

 As the singer's body was wheeled to an ambulance, just yards away stars including Britney Spears, Tony Bennett and Kim Kardashian were taking part in the pre-Grammy Awards party at the hotel.

Miss Houston had been due to attend the event which was organised by her mentor Clive Davis.

The surreal scene inside the hotel event unfolded with Mr Davis paying tribute to the singer, before saying: 'Now ladies and gentlemen, let the music begin.' Stars paid tribute to her throughout the evening.

Grammy president and CEO Neil Portnow, who called Houston a friend, said 'canceling the party was never an option.' He announced that Jennifer Hudson would perform a tribute to Houston at Sunday's Grammys.

News of the death brought a string of public tributes from the music industry today. Simon Cowell said Houston was a 'true diva' with 'one of the best voices I have head in my life ever'.

 A coroner's van leaves the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California, this morning where Whitney Houston was found dead. She is said to have 'drowned in the bathtub'

The corridor on the fouth floor of the hotel close to the room where Miss Houston died. Right, mourners gather at a makeshift memorial on the corner of Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards

 The scene outside the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles, California today where Miss Houston was found dead in a suite on the fourth floor

 A police van pulls up outside the Hilton after Houston's death. Right, officers gather outside the hotel as an investigation begins into the causes of death

 Rihanna tweeted that she was 'in tears' while Mariah Carey said that she was 'heartbroken' over the loss of her friend.

Mitch Winehouse, the father of late Amy Winehouse who died last year after a public battle with class A drugs, paid tribute to Miss Houston on Twitter, writing: 'Amy, Etta, Whitney. Their music will NEVER die. What a great girl group in heaven. Mitch'. Winehouse, who was in Los Angeles when he heard the news, also said he was 'absolutely devastated'.

The Saving All My Love singer's publicist Kristen Foster confirmed that the singer had died. An unconfirmed report later emerged which said that Houston had been found alone in her bathtub. She may have drowned in the water.

A spokesman for the local police department said that emergency services had been called to the hotel at 3.43pm on Saturday, arriving minutes later.

Officials rushed to the room on the fourth floor where she was staying as a guest, where they found security staff and firemen attempting to revive her using CPR. Life-saving attempts proved unsuccessful after 20 minutes, and she was pronounced dead at 3.55pm.

Authorities are currently trying to determine a cause of death, the spokesman added. He said there were 'no obvious signs of foul play and no obvious signs of a cause of death'. It was initially unclear whether or not her death was drug-related, as has been speculated by some.

Police are understood to be seeking a search warrant to sift through the hotel room for any signs of drugs. Some reports said that Houston had been found by her on-off boyfriend Ray J, but that turned out to be mistaken.

Her ex-husband Bobby Brown - whom Miss Houston blamed partly for her drug issues - was said to be 'in and out of crying fits' upon hearing the news - but still appeared on stage on Saturday with his band New Edition, and cried out 'I love you, Whitney!' in the middle of the concert.

A relative of Brown said Houston’s former husband is struggling to cope with the news.

‘He was sobbing, and by the end of the call, I was sobbing, too,’ the family member told People magazine. ‘He's beside himself right now.’

Singer Johnny Gill, one of Brown's New Edition bandmates, is on tour in Memphis with the star. ‘Bobby is struggling and he's devastated,’ he told CNN.

Houston's mother Cissy apparently spoke to her daughter just half an hour before her death, and did not think anything was wrong.

And in the star's last interview in November, she said she was 'older and matured' - and described her 18-year-old daughter as her 'greatest inspiration'.

Houston won six Grammy awards, two Emmys, 30 Billboard Music Awards, and 22 American Music Awards, among others awards.

Her album Whitney in 1985 was the first album by a woman to ever debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Charts. She has sold more than 170million albums worldwide.

The album also gave her perhaps her most memorable hit - a stunning rendition of Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You, which sat atop the charts for weeks and featured in The Bodyguard in 1992. It was Grammy's record of the year and best female pop vocal, and the Bodyguard soundtrack was named album of the year.

But the star's life had spiralled downhill since her early hits. She suffered a long battle with drugs, including cocaine, as well as alcohol and spent various spells in rehab. Recent appearances had become increasingly erratic and the years of substance abuse had clearly taken a toll.

She cancelled a string of concerts and talk shows as she struggled to cope. In a chat show with Oprah in 2003, the star admitted the scale of her addiction to smoking crack cocaine.

'It was every day, every,' she said. 'I didn't think about the singing part of it any more.'

Her powerful voice began to suffer because of her demons prompting record sales to nosedive and in 2007 she split from husband Bobby Brown after 15 years of marriage.

Recent reports suggested that the soul star was on the brink of bankruptcy, with her pop fortune said to have dwindled away, much of it going to her drug dealers.

There was further concern for her health last week when she was pictured looking dishevelled and disorientated as she left a Hollywood nightclub with her daughter Bobbi Kristina after performing at a pre-Grammy party. The singer had was sweating profusely, had blood on her leg and scratches on her wrists.

Before her death she was approached by Simon Cowell and asked to consider becoming a judge on the next season of the U.S. X-Factor.

Today, Cowell said paid tribute to Ms Houston and said the warning signs that she ‘still had problems’ came after the singer made an erratic appearance on the X Factor in 2009. The performance was to promote a new album after seven years off the scene.

The music mogul, 52, said: ‘There are always moments in your life that are horrible to remember. The day John Lennon died, the day Elvis died. More recently Michael Jackson, last year Amy Winehouse and now Whitney.

‘I know quite a few people who had been working with her over the years. We all knew Whitney had issues.

‘I last met her when she came on the X Factor. You could see at the time there were still a few problems but she was a delight to work with on the day.'

The guest appearance on X Factor - her first UK TV appearance for 12 years - was billed as the start of her comeback but the worrying performance  raised concerns for her wellbeing and she suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction when her dress straps snapped.

 Singer Alicia Keys consoles Miss Houston's long-time mentor Clive Davis, also the Chief Creative Officer of Sony Music Entertainmen

 Miss Houston then embarked on her Nothing But Love World Tour tour in 2010, but the UK leg was beset by cancellations. She was forced to reschedule the first three dates in Manchester and Glasgow after picking up a respiratory infection. She finally played her first UK gig in 11 years at the Birmingham LG Arena.

The talent show judge told Sky: ‘She probably wasn’t all together but it was still Whitney Houston and you were in the presence of a legend and I will never forget that day.

'There are so few people like her in the world. They are a rarefied breed, these are true superstar legendary divas, but I say diva that in the nicest possible way. She had one of the best voices I heard in my life ever.’

Speaking to CNN, Cowell said Houston was the benchmark contestants on his reality shows had always tried to reach.

He also revealed he was going to discuss the possibility of the late singer potentially joining the judging panel of the American X Factor with producers next week.

'Whitney - ever since I've been doing this job, particularly doing talent shows over the last 10 years, the number one singer anyone ever wanted to emulate, if they really wanted to be a superstar, it was always Whitney,' he said.

Former Boyzone star Ronan Keating also said the severity of the singer's problems had become apparent two years ago at the start of her comeback.

He told Sky: 'I'm devastated. I cannot believe it. It's hard to believe she's gone. Another legend, we've lost another singer, probably the greatest singer the world has ever seen.

                                         MUSIC STARS' WHITNEY TRIBUTES

'One of the best voices I have heard in my life ever. A true superstar legendary diva.'     Simon Cowell

'Mine is only one of the millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston. I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, Whitney, I will always love you.' Dolly Parton

'This is a sad day today, all I want to talk about is her music. She was the most beautiful woman I think I ever saw. ... Thank you for giving us your talent, and one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard.'                 Elton John

'Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston. My heartfelt condolences to Whitney’s family and to all her millions of fans throughout the world. She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth.'

Mariah Carey

'I can't believe that Whitney is gone. My heart goes out to her family, to Clive (Davis), and to everyone who knew and loved this amazingly talented and beautiful artist. I will always love her.' Barry Manilow

'She had everything, beauty, a magnificent voice. How sad her gifts could not bring her the same happiness they brought us.'      Barbra Streisand

'We have lost another legend. Love and prayers to Whitney's family. She will be missed.' Christina Aguilera

'I am devastated by the loss of Whitney. We have lost a true angel. My prayers, my heart goes out to her family. We have lost an extraordinary voice to the world.'  Lionel Richie

'No words! Just tears #DearWhitney'

Rihanna

'We've lost probably the greatest singer the world has ever seen.'  Ronan Keating

'This is the saddest thing I've ever had to write in my life, R I P to one of the greatest humans that I have ever known Whitney Houston.'

Wyclef Jean

LeAnn Rimes: 'Whitney Houston was the first cd I ever bought. She had a God given gift. Hopefully, she’s singing with angels now.'LeAnn Rimes

Is that really appropriate? Kim Kardashian, Amber Rose and Britney Spears are far from demure as they party at hotel where Whitney Houston died just hours earlier;

In Hollywood, they say the show must go on.

And last night not even the death of one of the music industry's biggest names was enough to halt a pre-Grammy's party in Hollywood.

Clive Davis decided to press ahead with his annual soiree at the Beverly Hilton Hotel despite the fact his protege Whitney Houston died in the same establishment, mere hours earlier.

 Kim Kardashian, Amber Rose and Britney Spears arrived on the red carpet in very revealing outfits at the Clive Davis and the Recording Academy's 2012 Pre-GRAMMY Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where Whitney Houston was found dead just hours earlier

The scene could not have been more dramatic or bizarre - as the guests made their red carpet arrival downstairs, Whitney's body remained upstairs in her fourth-floor suite while the authorities investigated the death scene.

Poignantly Houston - who was found dead in the bathtub - was supposed to appear at the gala and was expected to perform after rehearsing for the show on Thursday with Brady and Monica.

'I love you, Whitney!': Bobby Brown sobs and blows a kiss to the sky as he takes to the stage just hours after death of ex-wife

Lean on me: Alicia Keys comforts Whitney Houston's devastated mentor Clive Davis outside Beverly Hilton Hotel party

Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears and Amber Rose were among the stars who were arriving on the red carpet while the police investigation carried on upstairs. 

The young Hollywood starlets didn't bother with subdued mourning attire in light of the tragedy and instead turned up in low-cut and very daring dresses.

 Some celebrities decided to skip the event out of respect for the late singer, who died at just 48.

Kelly Osbourne tweeted: 'Not going to any pre grammy parties as i dont feel it is appropriate!'

Her mother Sharon agreed, writing: 'Can't celebrate tonight when one of the greatest voices ever is dead.'

Miley Cyrus also decided to avoid the party scene, tweeting: 'Just gonna stay @ home & listen 2 her records.'

Other attendees included Diana Ross, actress Jane Fonda, media mogul Sir Richard Branson - who was among the honourees at the event - and former Destiny's Child star Kelly Rowland.

Inside the party, Davis - Houston's mentor, producer, champion and longtime friend - addressed party guests after a moment of silence.

The fact that it happened on this day, this event is where Clive Davis introduced Whitney to the world. We said hello to Whitney at the Clive Davis (gala), it may be appropriate we're saying our first goodbyes to Whitney at a Clive Davis event.

'In a weird way it's appropriate, the show must go on. I think Whitney would have wanted that to happen. ... Tonight I think we begin to celebrate and remember.'

Police received a 911 call from hotel security about Houston at 3:43 pm local time today. Paramedics who were already at the hotel because of a Grammy party unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate the singer, he said.

Houston's end came on the eve of music's biggest night - the Grammy Awards.

  At her peak, Houston was the golden girl of the music industry. From the middle 1980s to the late 1990s, she was one of the world's best-selling artists. She wowed audiences with effortless, powerful, and peerless vocals that were rooted in the black church but made palatable to the masses with a pop sheen.

Her success carried her beyond music to movies, where she starred in hits like 'The Bodyguard' and 'Waiting to Exhale.'

But by the end of her career, Houston became a stunning cautionary tale of the toll of drug use. Her album sales plummeted and the hits stopped coming; her once serene image was shattered by a wild demeanor and bizarre public appearances. She confessed to abusing cocaine, marijuana and pills, and her once pristine voice became raspy and hoarse, unable to hit the high notes as she had during her prime.

'The biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy,' Houston told ABC's Diane Sawyer in an infamous 2002 interview with then-husband Brown by her side.

Houston has a daughter, Bobbi Kristina, 18, from her tumultous relationship with her ex husband Bobby Brown.