Whitney Elizabeth Houston, the legendary US singer, actress, producer and model who once
reigned as queen of pop music, has died at the age of 48.

Her representative Kristen Foster said that the singer had died, but the cause of death and where she died were not immediately known.

Houston's background was steeped in soul and gospel music. Her mother, Cissy Houston, was gospel singer and she was cousin to singer Dionne Warwick, and goddaughter to Aretha Franklin.

Whitney was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey. She began singing in church and then in the night clubs of New York where the famed music producer Clive Davis reportedly spotted her after 20 years, signing her on the spot. She was a model before being signed by Arista Records, according to her website.

Her debut album in 1985, 'Whitney Houston', became the best-selling debut album by a female act at the time of its release.

Her second studio album, Whitney (1987), became the first album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Houston, as per the Gunniess World Records, is the most awarded female act of all time who has won two Emmy, six Grammy, 30 Billboard Music and 22 American Music awards out of her 415 career awards.