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  • 4
    Apr
    2012
    6:25pm, EDT

    Coroner's report: Whitney Houston found face down in tub

    By Anna Chan, TODAY

    The Los Angeles County Coroner released the final coroner's report for Whitney Houston on Wednesday. The singer died on Feb. 11 at the Beverly Hills Hilton, one day before the Grammy Awards. The official cause of death was accidental drowning and "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use."

    The 42-page document, obtained by TODAY.com, gives a detailed description of the scene inside her room at the hotel and details of the investigation.

    According to the report, Houston's assistant suggested the star take a bath to prepare for the pre-Grammys activities occurring that evening. The assistant then left to pick up items at Neiman Marcus, and when she returned, she found Houston, 48, face down and unresponsive in the bathtub. The assistant and a bodyguard pulled the singer out of the tub.

    The detective on the scene noted that Houston had "possibly overdosed on a narcotic substance, prescription medications, over the counter medications, and alcohol." Prescription medications found at the scene included Xanax, amoxicillin, Prednisone and antibiotics. An open bottle of champagne was also in the room.

    The coroner's report indicated that there were multiple items on the bathroom counter, including "an ashtray filled with multiple cigarette butts," "a small spoon with a white crystal like substance in it and a rolled up piece of white paper" and "a bottle of prescription medications." In one of the counter drawers, detectives found "remnants of a white powdery substance, and a portable mirror on the base."


    Follow @ TODAY_ent

    TMZ reported on March 30 that official documents indicated that the "white powdery substance" was cocaine. The report released Wednesday did not identify that substance as cocaine.

    Houston's initial autopsy indicated that she had taken cocaine shortly before she died, and coroner spokesman Craig Harvey said in a March 22 news conference that her body showed signs of "chronic usage."

    The final report noted that at the time of her death, Houston had cocaine, marijuana, Xanax, Benadryl and  muscle relaxants in her system. The autopsy also indicated her body was "well built, muscular and fairly well nourished."

    Houston was laid to rest in a private ceremony on Feb. 19.

    Related content:

    • Whitney Houston's mom: My daughter did not die broke
    • Houston shines in exclusive clip from final film 'Sparkle'
    • Report: Cocaine found inside Houston's hotel room
    • More on Whitney Houston in TODAY entertainment
    Show more
    Explore related topics: celebrities, featured, whitney-houston
  • 18
    Feb
    2012
    12:08pm, EST

    Family, friends, stars celebrate, say goodbye to Whitney Houston

    Bennett Raglin / Getty Images

    The program for Houston's funeral featured photos of the star as a child, with her mother and daughter, and a letter from her mom.

    By TODAY.com news services

    Many of the biggest names in entertainment gathered Saturday to say goodbye to singer Whitney Houston in the church in Newark, N.J., where the late singer, who died on Feb. 11, started her singing career in the choir.

    Pastor Joe A. Carter of the New Hope Baptist Church opened Saturday's service by telling the congregation that "we gonna have church today.

    "We are here today, hearts broken but yet with God's strength we celebrate the life of Whitney Houston," Carter said. "Whitney, you are the only woman that could bring all of us together. Whitney, today is your day."

    As the nearly four-hour long service came to an end, the Rev. Marvin Winans said in his eulogy: "Father, we thank you for this life of Whitney Elizabeth 'Nippy' Houston. We thank you that she was a dear friend, and we echo all the sentiments of those who have come to show their love. ... Let us leave here recognizing that Whitney left too soon. Let us leave her impacted by her life."

    The service offered a mixture of humorous memories and deep sorrow. According to the Associated Press, as Houston's casket was carried out and her hit "I Will Always Love You" was played, her daughter Bobbi Kristina began crying, and the sobs of Houston's mother, Cissy, rang throughout the church. "My baby!" she wailed.

    Houston's cousin Dionne Warwick presided over the funeral, introducing speakers and singers and offering short comments about Houston between them.

    Actor-director-writer Tyler Perry was among the first speakers at the service, and he reflected what he called the one constant in Houston's life -- her grace. Her described it as a "grace that kept on carrying her all the way through, the same grace led her all the way to the top of the charts. She sang for presidents." He told the congregation that no matter the trouble that she encountered in her life, Houston's faith remained constant.

    Actor Kevin Costner, her co-star in "The Bodyguard" that spawned her greatest hit, remembered a movie star who was uncertain of her own fame, who "still wondered, 'am I good enough? Am I pretty enough? Will they like me?'

    Costner reflects on Houston's self doubt

    Slideshow: Whitney Houston, 1963-2012

    Kevin Winter / Getty Images

    Launch slideshow

    "It was the burden that made her great and the part that caused her to stumble in the end," Costner said.

    He also reflected on the decision to cast her in "The Bodyguard." "A lot of leading man could have played my part," Costner said. "A lot of guys. A lot of guys could have filled that role. But you, Whitney, I truly believe were the only one who could have played Rachel Marron at the time."

    Gospel singer BeBe Winans chose to focus on Houston's "craziness." He described how, at the peak of her fame, she offered her singing services to him because "y'all are broke, right?"

    Close family friend Aretha Franklin, whom Houston lovingly called "Aunt Ree," had been expected to sing at the service, but told the Associated Press that she was having foot and leg problems following a concert she gave Friday night at New York's Radio City Music Hall and would not be able to attend.

    Houston's ex-husband, singer Bobby Brown, arrived for the service, but left just minutes before the service began. In a statement released after his departure, he said he was prevented from seeing daughter Bobbi Kristina by security.

    "My children and I were invited to the funeral of my ex-wife Whitney Houston," Brown said in the statement.  "We were seated by security and then subsequently asked to move on three separate occasions. I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continue to ask us and no one else to move.  Security then prevented me from attempting to see my daughter Bobbi-Kristina. In light of the events, I gave a kiss to the casket of my ex-wife and departed as I refused to create a scene. My children are completely distraught over the events. This was a day to honor Whitney. I doubt Whitney would have wanted this to occur. I will continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how."

    Singers Chaka Khan, Brandy, Mariah Carey, Roberta Flack, Jordin Sparks and Jennifer Hudson were among those in the pews. Brandy comforted her brother, Ray-J, a singer who spent time with Houston during her final days. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, Oprah Winfrey and actress Lela Rochon also were in attendance.

    A program featuring a picture of Houston looking skyward read "Celebrating the life of Whitney Elizabeth Houston, a child of God." Pictures of Houston as a baby, with her mother and daughter filled the program. Her mother wrote a letter thanking her for being a "wonderful daughter," signing the letter, "mommie."


    Follow @ TODAY_ent

    The service marks one week after the 48-year-old Houston, one of music's all-time biggest stars, was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel in California. A cause of death has yet to be determined. An estimated 1,500 friends and family members attended the invitation-only service. Houston will be buried next to her father, John Houston, in Westfield, N.J., on Sunday.

    Houston's death marked the final chapter for the superstar whose fall from grace while shocking was years in the making. Houston had her first No. 1 hit by the time she was 22, followed by a flurry of No. 1 songs and multi-platinum records.

    Over her career, she sold more than 50 million records in the United States alone. Her voice, an ideal blend of power, grace and beauty, made classics out of songs like "Saving All My Love For You," "I Will Always Love You," "The Greatest Love of All" and "I'm Every Woman." Her six Grammys were only a fraction of her many awards.

    Share your thoughts and memories of Houston on Facebook.

    Related content:

    • 'Red-eyed' Bobby Brown leaves Houston's funeral early
    • Alicia Keys performs at Houston's 'going home' service
    • Stevie Wonder reveals his crush on Houston
    • Aretha Franklin reflects on Houston's life
    • More on the life and death of Whitney Houston
    Show more
    Explore related topics: featured, whitney-houston
  • 18
    Feb
    2012
    8:44am, EST

    Family, stars, fans to mourn Whitney Houston

    Mel Evans / AP

    Candles burn at a memorial to Whitney Houston outside New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., early Saturday.

    By msnbc.com news services

    Editors note: Further updates on the Whitney Houston funeral will be posted here.

    Updated 10:05 a.m. ET: Hearse carrying Whitney Houston's casket has arrived at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, a church where Houston sung as a child. Watch live video from the New Hope Baptist Church here.

    Updated 9:45 a.m. ET: Whitney Houston's casket has departed Whigham Funeral Home in a gold hearse, escorted by a police motorcade, NBC News reports.

    Soul, gospel and pop music greats from the past and present are set to mourn Whitney Houston Saturday, a week after the sudden death of the singer whose spectacular voice and best-selling albums made her one of biggest pop stars of her era.

    Houston, who died in a Beverly Hills hotel room last week, recorded stirring love songs and vibrant, dance tunes during a 30-year career that peaked with her 1992 signature hit "I Will Always Love You."


    She was due to be honored by family and friends at a funeral service in her native Newark, New Jersey. While the world knew her as one of the greatest artists of her generation, to her family and friends, she was just "Nippy."

    NBC's Reheme Ellis reports.

    A nickname given to Houston when she was a child, it stuck with her through adulthood and, later, would become the name of one of her companies.

    There was a heavy police presence outside the invitation-only funeral on Saturday and streets were cordoned off.

    Houston's body was expected to leave a nearby funeral home under tight security en route to the church. Fans have been urged to stay home and watch the funeral on the Internet or television.

    Keys, Wonder, Franklin, Warwick
    The funeral is for invited guests only. Houston is scheduled to be buried next to her father, John Houston, in nearby Westfield, N.J.

    Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Houston's cousin Dionne Warwick will sing and speak at the New Hope Baptist Church, where Houston sang as a child in the choir with her mother, Cissy Houston, who was a backup singer for Franklin.

    Hollywood stars Kevin Costner and Tyler Perry and Houston's mentor, record producer Clive Davis, were also scheduled to speak. Oprah Winfrey, Elton John, Beyonce and Bill Cosby were expected to attend the service.

    In this TODAY exclusive, singer Aretha Franklin talks with TODAY's Al Roker about her reaction to the death of Whitney Houston, her close friend.

    Houston's family decided against a public memorial, but fans were expected to crowd the streets around the church and nearby cemetery where she is due to be buried.

    Many have left flowers, cards and balloons dedicated to the singer who became a global star with her 1985 debut album that included the hits "Saving All My Love For You," "How Will I Know" and "Greatest Love Of All."

    Houston was among the greatest singers of the 1980s and 1990s, but her personal life and marriage to singer Bobby Brown was tumultuous. She admitted to heavy use of cocaine, marijuana, alcohol and prescription pills.

    Read more on Houston's death:

    Franklin jumped out of bed at Houston news

    Source: Houston was under 24/7 supervision

    Inside Houston's last recording session

    Her death at age 48 shocked her family, fans and the music industry. Houston was found underwater in a hotel bathtub on the eve of the music industry's Grammy Awards. A cause of death has yet to be determined.

    Houston grew up surrounded by gospel and soul music legends like Franklin and Warwick. She later forged new territory for a black, female artist who brought R&B and gospel touches into pop music's mainstream.

    After her debut, her popularity grew exponentially with her second album, "Whitney" (1987), with all four singles -- "Didn't We Almost Have It All", "So Emotional", "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" -- hitting No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

    Coping with fame
    Her music videos featuring her 1980s style and innocent, fun-loving image made her wildly popular around the world. In the 1992 movie "The Bodyguard," co-starring Costner, Houston played a character not far removed from her real self: an international singing sensation coping with fame.

    She made other films including "The Preacher's Wife," but the 15-year period when she was married to singer Brown coincided with a decline in the quality and frequency of her albums. The couple, who have an 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, divorced in 2007.

    Houston's powerful voice suffered in recent years. On her last world tour in 2010, she struggled to hit high notes.

    She spoke publicly about her struggles with addiction.

    In a 2002 interview, TV journalist Diane Sawyer asked Houston what was the "biggest devil" among her failings. Houston answered: "Nobody makes me do anything I don't want to do. So the bigger devil is me, I am either my best friend or my worst enemy."

    Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    382 comments

    She admitted to heavy use of cocaine, marijuana, alcohol and prescription pills. Absolutely an entire state needed to lower our proud American flag to half-mast for this person.. When was the last time a state had to issue overtime for extra police protection when our soldiers come home in an unfort …

    Show more
    Explore related topics: funeral, new-jersey, featured, bobby-brown, whitney-houston, nippy

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