Whitney Houston has died at the tragically young age of 48. Her death has left the entertainment industry in shock.

Houston was found dead in her room in the Beverly Hilton yesterday. The Los Angeles police said paramedics had tried to resuscitate Houston but they were unable and she was pronounced dead at 3.55pm local time.

Houston, who was one of the biggest selling artists of the 80s and 90s, had battled drug addiction. Police also said that there was no “obvious signs” of any criminal intent.

Houston had been due to make an appearance at the Grammy Awards tonight, and had been at rehearsals, as she was to perform for her mentor Clive Davis.

Aretha Franklin said: “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 Bobby Kris, her family and Bobby.”

Tributes have been flooding in for the singer. Mariah Cary said she was “heartbroken”

“Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston,” Carey wrote on Twitter.

“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.”

In a statement, Dolly Parton said: “Mine is only one of 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. You will be missed.”

Houston also starred in hit movies including The Bodyguard. She won multiple Grammys and sold millions of records.

As well as her drug addiction her 15-year marriage to Bobby Brown came to an end in 2007.

Brown told a sell-out crowd in Mississippi: “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.”