Whitney Houston dies at 48

Whitney Houston

It?s no secret she?s had a rough go of it in recent years, and Whitney Houston has died of undisclosed causes, says her publicist Kristen Foster. With her fans and friends understandably devastated by the news, details available thus far tell that the "I Will Always Love You" singer was found unresponsive in her room at the Beverly Hilton hotel on Saturday (February 11). With paramedica arriving within minutes, Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55PM with a full investigation already underway - though there are said to be no signs of foul play. According to TMZ, a search of the Beverly Hilton Hotel room in which the 48-year-old was staying found no illegal drugs, though prescription medications were located. TMZ adds that there's a chance Miss Houston died from drowning in the bathtub, but since her body was removed from the water before EMTs arrived the conclusive determination must await an autopsy. Below are pictures from the scene at the Beverly Hilton Hotel after Whitney Houston's passing (February 11). [gallery=817]

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/celebrities/whitney-houston/whitney-houston-dies-at-48/

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Usher 'Trained Hard' For 'Fuerza Bruta': Watch A Sneak Peek!

'Climax' singer sits down for an intimate chat with fans during 'MTV First' tomorrow at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV!
By Jocelyn Vena

<P>Don't get it twisted: Just because Usher is known for smooth dance moves and rock-hard abs, it doesn't mean he didn't have to push himself for his short run in the trippy, off-Broadway show "Fuerza Bruta."</P><P>For one night last month, Ush played the show's lead, Running Man, and offered lucky attendees an advance listen to his June 12 album release, Looking 4 Myself.</P><P>As fans will see in the exclusive clip &#8212; and on Wednesday night's "MTV First: Usher" at 7:54 p.m. ET &#8212; "Fuerza" required Usher to use every muscle of his body as he danced, ran, jumped and tumbled his way through the show, where no one speaks, instead telling the story through bright lights, music and dance. MTV News had a front seat as Usher rehearsed for his onstage appearance in April, and when we chatted with him on set, he opened up about using the physicality of the show to tell the story of his album.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Exclusive First Look At Usher's 'Fuerza Bruta' Performance" id="vid:769347.id:1685086" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>"It's not often that you're able to give somewhat of a visual or an emotional kind of basis of what your songs mean," he said. "A lot of times we're running through life and we're trying to find ourselves, and I feel like that was somewhat of what the messaging was with the show, but it was really artistic.</P><P>"This is more artistic an album than I've had in history and I felt like, yeah, it would be a physical challenge, yeah it would be a lot for me, but [I want to] at least try it," he added. "There are many times I'd seen the show and I'd only hoped that I would make it happen. It looked it really hard, they made it look easy, but it was obviously hard. But, of course, I've been training and it came at a perfect time."</P><P>Watching Usher do all those acrobatics may have had fans wondering whether it was all that difficult for him since he makes it look so easy. He joked, "I work hard, baby."</P><P>Usher will dish on the show, his album and more during "MTV First: Usher," all set to take place on Wednesday at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV and MTV.com. He will introduce exclusive footage and his new single, the Pharrell-produced "Twisted," and will stick around for a meaty interview with MTV News' Sway Calloway to discuss his new album and more on MTV.com.</P><P>The performances featured in "MTV First: Usher" were shot exclusively by MTV News during a special album-listening experience with the off-Broadway show "Fuerza Bruta" in New York City.</P><P><b>Be sure to catch "MTV First: Usher" tomorrow at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV and MTV.com!</b></P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Get Ready For 'MTV First: Usher'!" id="vid:768876.id:1685086" width="415" height="255"></div><p></p>

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Britney Spears Calls 'X Factor' A 'Beautiful Concept'

Spears says she wants to 'inspire' contestants on the Fox show.
By Jocelyn Vena

<P>Britney Spears seems poised and ready to sit beside her fellow "X Factor" judges on the revamped second season of the show. At the Fox upfront this week, the singer appeared alongside fellow newbie Demi Lovato, as well as returning judges Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid, and gushed about the Fox reality show.</P><P>"Just really being able to be there and inspire the other contestants ... they're so young and they're trying to fulfill their dreams," she said at the event. "It's just a whole beautiful concept. It's just really cool."</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Britney Spears Explains Why She Wanted To Be A Part Of 'X Factor'" id="vid:769620" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>While her negotiations with the show had been making headlines in the weeks leading up to the official announcement, Cowell brushed off all the hoopla, which includes a rumored $15 million payday for joining the show. "A force of nature, I was somewhere in the middle, but I'm thrilled. I love these guys," he said of getting everyone, including Spears, on board. "I charmed her."</P><P>Spears seemed equally taken with the prickly Brit. "He's adorable. He's completely adorable. He didn't have to try hard," she admitted.</P><P>Spears' addition to the show is hardly the only casting making news: Lovato also opened up about having the "X Factor." While little is known about the final hours going into locking Lovato in for the show, she's rumored to be taking in $1 million, according to Gossip Cop. Lovato was on a short list of possible contenders to appear on the show that also reportedly included Miley Cyrus and Avril Lavigne. "I'm so excited to be here," she said. "I guess you called," she added with Simon by her side. "And that's how it got set up, just a phone call." In addition to getting warm and fuzzy about each other in the interview, Cowell shared that the judges will be filming in the next couple weeks when they hit up Austin, Texas, to begin scoping out talent. And if you think the claws might come out then, Reid assured viewers that that won't be the case. "Oh no, we're gonna be really sweet to each other," he said. "Nothing controversial. It'll be perfect."</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Simon Cowell Is 'Thrilled' To Introduce The New 'X Factor' Judges" id="vid:769268" width="415" height="255"></div><p></p>

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Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Alec Baldwin Give Props To Obama On Same-Sex Marriage

'Obama, congratulations on being the first sitting president to support marriage equality,' Gaga tweets.
By Gil Kaufman

<P>While his likely opponent in the fall presidential contest, Mitt Romney, dug in his heels and doubled down on his opposition to same-sex marriage, President Obama continued to earn praise from the entertainment community for his historic support of gay marriage.&#8232; After hearing from stars including&#8232; Neil Patrick Harris, Ellen DeGeneres, "Modern Family" star Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Kim Kardashian on Wednesday, the list of well-wishers grew to include everyone from Lady Gaga to hip-hop impresario Russell Simmons, Alec Baldwin and political blogger Meghan McCain.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="If Gaga Were President For A Day..." id="vid:683376" width="415" height="255"></div><p> "Obama, congratulations on being the first sitting president to support marriage equality," tweeted Gaga. "Feels like the future, and not the past. #NoFear." Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons simply said "thank you," and singer Michelle Branch gave it a rousing, "YAY Obama!! #EqualityForAll."</P><P><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Obama, congratulations on being the first sitting President to support marriage equality. Feels like the future, and not the past. #NoFear</p>&mdash; Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) May 10, 2012</blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></P><P>Frequent "Chelsea Lately" panelist and out comedian Ross Matthews could hardly contain his excitement, writing, "OMG, it's official! Obama becomes 1st president to support gay marriage!!! Historic day!" Meanwhile, another out TV personality, Bravo boss and talk show host Andy Cohen, shouted, "THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT."</P><P>Singer Ricky Martin offered his props as well, saying, "I applaud President @barackobama for affirming that ALL Americans should enjoy equal rights. Historic!"</P><P>CNN talker Piers Morgan called it, "One small step for him ... one giant leap for mankind," while comedian/actress Sandra Bernhard offered up the poetic bon mot, "Viva Obama who has just endorsed gay marriage. Right on time drop a dime blow your mind."</P><P>"It Gets Better" founder and "Savage Love" columnist Dan Savage urged action on the back of Obama's announcement, saying, "Gay people better get out there and support the president. If he loses in November, we'll be blamed."</P><P>"30 Rock" star Alec Baldwin kept is brief with, "Obama gets it right on gay marriage. Bravo," out blogger Perez Hilton dubbed the announcement, "better late than never" and singer Josh Groban said it was just "historic."</P><P>Twitter master comedian Patton Oswalt took the opportunity to have fun with the Obama news in a series of tweets about his upcoming (fake) gay marriage. "Oh my God -- Seal Team Six just broke down my front door and are forcing me to marry @stephenfry! DAMN YOU, OBAMA!!!!!!" That was followed by some more good news in the form of, "Well, I'm now married to @stephenfry. Ceremony was charming, but watching Seal Team Six fight over the bouquet was f---ing INTENSE." Funnyman Michael Ian Black was in a joking mood as well, taunting, "Hey Obama, if you love gay marriage so much, why don't you marry it?"</P><P>And in keeping with her maverick streak (not to be confused with her dad's), political blogger Meghan McCain opined, "Even though he did it a little late under political pressure -- very happy to hear the President came out in support of gay marriage." <I>What do you think of President Obama's support of gay marriage? Let us know in comments below.</I></P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Dan Savage Had Thoughts About Suicide In High School" id="vid:735501" width="415" height="255"></div><p></p>

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