Whitney's mother: "We are devastated"

Gospel singer Cissy Houston and daughter Whitney Houston attend the 2010 Keep A Child Alive Black Ball at the Hammerstein Ballroom on September 30, 2010 in New York City.

/ Stephen Lovekin

Celebrity reaction to Whitney Houston's tragic death at 48 continues to pour in Sunday with some of the biggest entertainment names in the world mourning the loss of a legendary singer.

Cissy Houston
Whitney Houston's mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston, issued the following statement: "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Whitney. This is an unimaginable tragedy and we will miss her terribly. We appreciate the outpouring of love and support from her fans and friends."

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

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Dolly Parton
"Mine is only one of the millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston," Parton said in a statement obtained by Reuters. "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. You will be missed.'"

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Mariah Carey
Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston.

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Aretha Franklin
Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin told CNN in a statement, "I just can't talk about it now. It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen. My heart goes out to Cissy, her daughter Bobbi Kris, her family and Bobby."

Singer Whitney Houston dies at 48
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Whitney Houston 1963-2012

Rihanna
"Feels so strange being at the Grammy rehearsal right now!!"

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Lionel Richie
"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." — singer Lionel Richie.

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Bobby Brown
"First of all, I want to tell you that I love you all. Second, I would like to say, I love you Whitney. The hardest thing for me to do is to come on this stage." — Houston's ex-husband Bobby Brown, performing a show in Southaven, Miss., hours after her death.

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Elton John
"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, from the stage at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, before dedicating the song "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" to Houston.

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Michelle Williams
"I truly, truly adored Whitney Houston. Her album `I'm Your Baby Tonight' was the very first album I ever bought." — Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child

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Jennifer Lopez
"Such a loss. One of the greatest voices of our time. Sending out prayers to her family... #R.I.P.Whitney"

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Lady Gaga
"When I wrote Born This Way I imagined Whitney singing it because I wasn't secure enough to be a star"

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Justin Bieber
"Just heard the news. so crazy ...One of the GREATEST VOICES EVER just passed. RIP Whitney Houston. My prayers go out to her friends and family I am sadden to hear of the passing of Whitney Houston today..."

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Barry Manilow
"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

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Pink
"Whitney was the reason many of us do what we do." — Pink, in a Twitter post

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Smokey Robinson:
I've known Whitney since she was a little girl and I have always loved her. She was like family to me....

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

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Drake
RIP Whitney Houston.

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La Toya Jackson
@latoyajackson I can't fathom the fact that #whitneyhouston has died! My heart goes out 2 her mother, daughter & her love ones. #Whitney U will be missed

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@MissyElliott
Thank u 4 the times we worked 2gether your Voice touched the World! N this rough time I pray for The Houston Family...

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P. Diddy
@iamdiddy Whitney Houston!!! OMG!! I really can't believe this.. This is one of the saddest days ever.

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Queen Latifah
@IAMQUEENLATIFAH
Oh Dear Lord! Huritng so Bad!!! MY Sister Whitney!!!!!!! Newark please Pray!!! World Please Pray

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Ryan Seacrest
@RyanSeacrest At Grammys rehearsal hearing Whitney Houston has passed away at 48. Everyone here is absolutely stunned.

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Wyclef Jean
"The voice of an Angel, the Heart of a Lamb, the spirit of a Lioness, the presence of a Goddess, love you R.I.P Whitney Houston."

[Brad00_0]

Why are we as a society shocked when longtime, known addicts, celebrity or not, die? There are only three outcomes for an addict: Recovery, Insanity, or Death. Like it was said in the movie "Titanic"--it is a mathematical certainty. Yes, addiction is a disease, but it can be managed. There are so many that die because they never had access to expensive rehabilitation treatment and therapy. For a person of great financial means to die in spite of unlimited access to help, is unimaginable, so we often try to look for others to blame. There are no others. Whitney has now found the peace she just could not find here on Earth. Pray for her daughter.

[andie52]

She was in trouble how did they all miss it?

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/entertainment&id=8540933

[markag55]

I can't believe all the negative comments made about Whitney Houston. We all know she's had personal problems for years--but does this take away from her humanity? Who knows how many of these people quoted tried to help her throughout the years? You can say she wasted her talent; you can say she wasted her life; you can say anything you want. However, since I didn't know her personally (or even if I had), I would never blame nor judge someone because of their own downfall. What kind of people are you? Many people triumph over adversity; many don't. That's what life is about.

[smittyc]

"She had Everything"? Pretty obvious she lacked good ole good judgement and common sense. Our city morgues are full of toe tagged crackheads. It's a real shame those in Hollywood are admired for partying like a rock star and emulated by many of our nations young. Pretty clear Hollywood has still not learned the outcome for a dopehead is non discriminatory. Here's a headsup for this crowd, a lot of times after using this "stuff", you don't die, but you pass out/ go to sleep and wake up with a stroke having occurred. Usually your speech is impaired and an arm or a leg or both lose function. Sweet dreams.

[markcop]

she was off the crack,,, maybe she used a little to much of your drug of choice,,, alcohol!!!!!!,,, make alcohol illegal!!!

[venusvegasvada]

Of all the talented entertainers we are blessed with, to this day, I still view Whitney Houston's performance of "I Will Always Love You" as the song I ultimately compare all other vocalists too. Her totally effortless power and range were only equaled by her beauty as a person.

I never knew her, but I remember seeing her back in the 80's and being stunned by not only her voice and physical beauty, but her beauty as a person too. She always seemed to be such a sweet person with a good heart. Someone that would smile and say hi to you and wish you a great day if you passed them in the street.

So sorry for her and her family's and friend's loss. Rest in Peace.

[tmittelstaed]

Every superstar like Houston always has the option that once they make their millions they can retire and turn their back on the public life. I have zero tolerance for these whiners who say that Whitney did drugs to escape unrealistic expectations the public had of her, and that the public should be kinder and more gracious and allow these superstars to have flaws. Baloney. We give them millions, enough to retire at a young age, so if they can't handle the exposure they can be free of it and live the rest of their life quietly, with no demands on them.

Houston may not have been doing drugs when she died and drugs may not be ruled as the direct cause of her death, but consider this - she died alone. Where was her family or loved ones? As the song said, money can't buy you love. Even if drugs were not involved, her lifestyle was the cause. If she had been with family she would have had paramedics called at the first sign of trouble and she would be alive today.

[mrmcgurky]

Zero Tolerance and zero compassion. And proud of it too.
How small of you to take a family tragedy that you know nothing about, except what you read about in the "press" and even manage to get a nice dig in that if Whitney was with family, she would be alive today! As if her family isn't hurting enough for you to pass judgement.
ADDICTION IS A DISEASE!!! It isn't optional. It's chronic, it's progressive and it has nothing to do with morality anymore than other fatal disease.
But what I am really tired of "zero tolerance" is this. You already know that this is true. You know how I know? Because either you, or others in your life suffer from addiction or alcohol dependancy. Maybe it's gambling, who knows. But you know in your heart that addiction is a disease, because you've seen it with your own eyes. But for some reason, as a human being, it is more important to you to spew hate than it is for you to be honest about real truths in your own life. Like you, I could list all of the reasons that you are like you are. But unlike you, I don't know you, so I don't pretend that I do.

[credibility2]

While we are deeply saddened with the passing of this musical icon, it's troubling when talented people have everything going for them and they squander all of those gifts away just for the cheap thrill of being high from their addictive substances. She had many who tried to help, but ultimately she was the only person who could have helped herself. She died much too young and there is no doubt that her addictions ravaged her body and health. I know so many talented people that never got any opportunities like Ms. Houston.

[markcop]

We don't know what killed her,,, maybe it was just her time,,, everybody wants to blame the drugs,,maybe ,, maybe not,, lets get the facts,,, question... why is Kieth Richards still alive?,,, he is much older,,, and many more like him...