Whitney Houston was taking Xanax ... evidence she may have fallen asleep in the bathtub where she died ... TMZ has learned.
Family members of Whitney tell us the singer had a prescription for the drug, which is commonly used to treat anxiety and depression.
We told you yesterday ... the night before Whitney died, she had been drinking a lot. Xanax mixed with alcohol can cause severe sedation, which could cause someone to fall asleep in a bathtub.
As TMZ first reported, Whitney was found in the bathtub and removed before EMTs arrived. The L.A. County Coroner will perform an autopsy -- possibly today -- to determine if Whitney died from drowning, and OD or other causes.
As we previously reported, Beverly Hills cops obtained a search warrant and found various prescription bottles -- but, as far as we know, no illicit drugs.
Family members of Whitney tell us the singer had a prescription for the drug, which is commonly used to treat anxiety and depression.
We told you yesterday ... the night before Whitney died, she had been drinking a lot. Xanax mixed with alcohol can cause severe sedation, which could cause someone to fall asleep in a bathtub.
As TMZ first reported, Whitney was found in the bathtub and removed before EMTs arrived. The L.A. County Coroner will perform an autopsy -- possibly today -- to determine if Whitney died from drowning, and OD or other causes.
As we previously reported, Beverly Hills cops obtained a search warrant and found various prescription bottles -- but, as far as we know, no illicit drugs.
No illegal drugs have been found in the hotel room where Whitney Houston
died -- at least not yet -- but prescription drugs were present, and
it's possible the singer drowned in the bathtub ... TMZ has learned.
Sources tell us ... when EMTs arrived Whitney's body was already removed from the bathtub so it will take an autopsy to determine if she OD'd, drowned or died from some other cause.
Informed sources tell us ... Beverly Hills cops -- who were still searching the room at the time this story was posted -- found various pill bottles. There was no evidence that Whitney was drinking alcohol in the room.
Whitney's body was just removed from the room on a gurney. It will go to the morgue for an autopsy to determine cause of death.
Last Performed : http://youtu.be/litanT5C7y0
Whitney Houston died this afternoon ... a rep for the singer announced. She was 48.
Sources tell us ... when EMTs arrived Whitney's body was already removed from the bathtub so it will take an autopsy to determine if she OD'd, drowned or died from some other cause.
Informed sources tell us ... Beverly Hills cops -- who were still searching the room at the time this story was posted -- found various pill bottles. There was no evidence that Whitney was drinking alcohol in the room.
Whitney's body was just removed from the room on a gurney. It will go to the morgue for an autopsy to determine cause of death.
Last Performed : http://youtu.be/litanT5C7y0
Whitney Houston died this afternoon ... a rep for the singer announced. She was 48.
Our sources tell us a member of Whitney's entourage found her in her 4th-floor room at the Beverly Hilton hotel ... and called hotel security -- who then dialed 911. When paramedics arrived Houston was found unresponsive.
We're told police arrived to the scene within minutes and fire was already there on an unrelated call. According to our sources, paramedics performed CPR but it did not work and she was pronounced dead at 3:55 PM.
Our sources say there were no obvious signs of foul play, but BH PD detectives have begun a full investigation. We're told she was ID'ed by family and friends.
Houston was seen out in Hollywood Thursday night for a Grammy party ... and she did not look well (below). She even briefly took the mic and performed a song while she was there -- what would become her last performance
Houston won two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music
Awards, 22 American Music Awards during her record-breaking career. Her
album "Whitney" was the first female album to ever debut at #1 on the
Billboard Charts. She has sold 200 million albums worldwide.
Houston had one child, Bobbi Kristina, with husband Bobby Brown. Houston and Brown were married from 1992-2007.
Houston had one child, Bobbi Kristina, with husband Bobby Brown. Houston and Brown were married from 1992-2007.
In one of the final candid videos of Whitney Houston, the legendary singer ran into El Debarge at a nightclub in Hollywood ... and the two shared a very touching embrace.
It went down in the VIP lounge at Tru nightclub on Thursday night. Whitney's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, can also be seen in the video.
Houston performed with El Debarge back in 1999 during the Soul Train Music Awards tribute to Luther Vandross. They both battled addiction.
Houston was photographed later in the evening leaving the club ... looking worse for wear
Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy party is going on tonight as scheduled ... despite the death of Whitney Houston ... sources close to Davis tell TMZ.
According to our sources, while the party will go on ... Davis is not in attendance.
Our sources say Davis is currently at his home in Los Angeles. We're told he is surrounded by close friends.
The party is currently taking place at the Beverly Hilton, where Houston was found dead earlier today. She was scheduled to open the party.
It went down in the VIP lounge at Tru nightclub on Thursday night. Whitney's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, can also be seen in the video.
Houston performed with El Debarge back in 1999 during the Soul Train Music Awards tribute to Luther Vandross. They both battled addiction.
Houston was photographed later in the evening leaving the club ... looking worse for wear
Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy party is going on tonight as scheduled ... despite the death of Whitney Houston ... sources close to Davis tell TMZ.
According to our sources, while the party will go on ... Davis is not in attendance.
Our sources say Davis is currently at his home in Los Angeles. We're told he is surrounded by close friends.
The party is currently taking place at the Beverly Hilton, where Houston was found dead earlier today. She was scheduled to open the party.
Whitney Houston "partied heavily" at the Beverly Hilton hotel with a group of friends ... hotel staff tell TMZ.
We're told Whitney and her friends were in the bar for a time and the group was drinking and very loud. Our sources say even though the hotel is busy with all the Grammy festivities, Whitney and her group stood out because they were so boisterous.
Again, it's too early to know what caused her death.
We're told Whitney and her friends were in the bar for a time and the group was drinking and very loud. Our sources say even though the hotel is busy with all the Grammy festivities, Whitney and her group stood out because they were so boisterous.
Again, it's too early to know what caused her death.
Dionne Warwick and Cissy Houston spoke with Whitney Houston by phone just before she died and say Whitney seemed fine ... TMZ has learned.
Whitney's mother, Cissy Houston, spoke with her daughter 25-30 minutes before she died and nothing seemed unusual ... sources tell TMZ. We're told they talked about attending the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party.
Dionne Warwick, Whitney's cousin, called as well ... several hours before Whitney died ... to make sure they were sitting at the same table at Clive's party. And again ... there were no signs of trouble.
The people in touch with Dionne say she is inconsolable adding, "She is an absolute mess."
As for Cissy, we're told she is "hysterical."
Bobby Brown is distraught and "in and out of crying fits" ... after getting the news that Whitney Houston is dead -- but his New Edition band mates are by his side trying to console him.
New Edition has a concert tonight in Mississippi -- and believe it or not sources close to the group tell TMZ ... not only will New Edition go on as scheduled, but as of now Bobby is also planning to perform.
We're told Bobby is going to try to get through the entire show.
Bobby and Whitney had an infamously tumultuous 15 year marriage.
Whitney's mother, Cissy Houston, spoke with her daughter 25-30 minutes before she died and nothing seemed unusual ... sources tell TMZ. We're told they talked about attending the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party.
Dionne Warwick, Whitney's cousin, called as well ... several hours before Whitney died ... to make sure they were sitting at the same table at Clive's party. And again ... there were no signs of trouble.
The people in touch with Dionne say she is inconsolable adding, "She is an absolute mess."
As for Cissy, we're told she is "hysterical."
Bobby Brown is distraught and "in and out of crying fits" ... after getting the news that Whitney Houston is dead -- but his New Edition band mates are by his side trying to console him.
New Edition has a concert tonight in Mississippi -- and believe it or not sources close to the group tell TMZ ... not only will New Edition go on as scheduled, but as of now Bobby is also planning to perform.
We're told Bobby is going to try to get through the entire show.
Bobby and Whitney had an infamously tumultuous 15 year marriage.
