Santa Monica, U.S.A. — Four-time Grammy winner Yolanda Adams and 10-time Grammy winner CeCe Winans are the latest performers announced for ”We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute To Whitney Houston.”

They join previously announced performers, five-time Grammy winner Celine Dion , Grammy and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson and seven-time Grammy winner Usher, for the one-hour special that will celebrate Houston’s life and artistry through performances and interviews with various artists paying homage to the six-time Grammy winner, and will include Houston’s own most memorable performances of her career.

The show will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on November 16, 10 p.m. ET/PT, on the CBS Television Network and will tape on Oct. 11 at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE. For updates and breaking news, please visit www.grammy.com and The Recording Academy’s social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/thegrammys , www.facebook.com/thegrammys.

“We Will Always Love You” will include highlights of nearly all of Houston’s Grammy telecast performances, her classic performance of the national anthem at Super Bowl XXV in 1991, and her first-ever television appearance on “The Merv Griffin Show” in the early ’80s,  among other iconic performances and exclusive interviews. The special will also feature other artists sharing their memories of Houston, as well as additional highlights of her career.

The first-ever definitive single disc collection of Houston’s greatest hits, I Will Always Love You — The Best Of Whitney Houston, will be released on Nov. 13 and features 18 tracks, including two never-before-released songs. Additionally, an official Houston photo tribute book, Whitney: Tribute To An Icon, will be available for sale on November 27.

“Whitney! Celebrating The Musical Legacy Of Whitney Houston” is a current Grammy Museum exhibit that explores the extraordinary life and career of the six-time Grammy Award winner, and provides an in-depth look at all aspects of Houston’s creative life. Presented in conjunction with the Houston family, the collection features diverse artifacts as well as rare photographs and footage, and includes dozens of items from the private collection of the Houston family. “Whitney!” will be on display in the Grammy Museum’s Special Exhibits Gallery through February 2013.

Houston was one of the biggest pop stars — male or female — of all time, selling more than 170 million combined albums, songs and videos, and garnering six Grammys and two Emmys, as well as countless other awards and accolades. She graced the Grammy stage eight times over the years — one of a few artists who has had the distinction of performing the most times on the annual telecast. Most recently, she appeared as a presenter at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in 2009 (ultimately presenting Jennifer Hudson with her first Grammy for Best R&B Album).

“We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute To Whitney Houston” is produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures. Ken Ehrlich is the executive producer. Louis J. Horvitz is director. Clive Davis, Tom Corson, and Kevin Beisler are producers.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the Grammy Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs.

The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGrammys on Twitter, like “The Grammys” on Facebook, and join The Grammys’ social communities on YouTube, Tumblr, Foursquare, GetGlue, and Instagram.

Tickets to the general public for “We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute To Whitney Houston” are on sale now and available online at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information on VIP packages and discounted group tickets visit www.aegtickets.com.

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The circumstances of Whitney Houston’s demise have dominated headlines and search trends since news outlets first reported of her death. Her struggle with addiction was covered extensively by the media, and even discussed candidly by Houston herself during several high-profile interviews.

Though toxicology reports needed for definitive answers have yet to be released, there has been no delay in rumors and speculation regarding what drugs may have been involved in the loss of this legendary and undeniably gifted songstress. Xanax (generic name alprazolam) and alcohol have been named specifically.

Whether or not these substances are ultimately named as factors in Houston’s death, the mere perception that they could be raises questions – particularly about prescription psychiatric drugs. Here are some answers.

What is Xanax?

Xanax is a prescription medication for anxiety disorders (some outlets have incorrectly reported that it is an anti-depressant). It works by acting on GABA receptors, the “brakes” of the brain. It is part of the benzodiazepine class of medications and is in a larger group of medications commonly referred to as “downers” or “sedatives.”

While many people with anxiety disorders benefit from treatment with them, benzodiazepines have the potential to become addictive and can be abused. Drugs that people feel the effects of quickly and that leave the system quickly are more likely to be abused. Of the benzodiazepines, Xanax is one of the fastest acting and most potent.

Are all anxiety medications potentially addictive?

No. There are other kinds of medication for anxiety that affect the brain differently than Xanax and the other benzodiazepines.

Are drugs like Xanax dangerous?

All drugs have risks, which increase when they are not used as they should be. For example, overdoses of the commonly used over-the-counter drug Tylenol are the leading cause of acute liver failure in the U.S. Benzodiazepines like Xanax can put the brakes on the brain too much, particularly the part that controls breathing.

When too high a dose of these medications is used, especially if they are combined with other substances that affect breathing – such as alcohol – breathing can become too slow or shallow or even stop completely. Per SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), over three quarters of benzodiazepine-related ER visits in 2002 involved at least two substances. Alcohol was by far the most common second substance.

Doctors who prescribe these medications routinely warn patients not to drink alcohol while taking them. Medications like Xanax can often be used safely as long as they are used as prescribed.

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On February 18, Whitney Houston’s funeral was celebrated in Newark at the N.J.’s New Hope Baptist Church. What was actually a private service, with 1,500 of Whitney Houston’s loved ones, was broadcasted in its entirely on TV and online in order to give Houston’s worldwide fans the chance to say farewell to the beloved star.

The funeral went on for almost four hours; it was a celebration of Whitney Houston’s life and legacy. Several friends and family members took the stage to share their memories and pay homage to the late diva. Unfortunately, Houston’s godmother, Aretha Franklin, was unable to attend the service due to health problems. Furthermore, Whitney Houston’s ex-husband, Bobby Brown, left the church before the beginning of the service. Aside from these two unfortunate elements, the celebration was glorious. An amazing gospel choir gave a very touching farewell.

All of the people who had the chance to participate in the ceremony shared something special and emotional. Donnie McClurklin sang ‘Stand’, and Tyler Perry passionately described Houston’s personality and her love for the Lord. BeBe Winans, standing with his sister, CeCe, by his side, sang the song ‘I Really Miss You’ right before Bishop T.D. Jakes spoke.

The pastor underlined how love is greater than death, ending his speech with, ‘Love will last forever, for God is love.’ Kim Burnell then gave a touching performance of ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’, adapting it to a description of Whitney Houston’s approach to life and faith.

One of the sweetest speeches was given by Houston’s friend, actor Kevin Costner. He shared with the crowd personal and funny moments. He stressed how he and Houston, despite different thoughts, were very similar. ‘The church was our private bond,’ Costner said. He also talked about the infamous movie ‘The Bodyguard’, which starred Costner and Houston together.

He told the whole story: how he choose her in the first place and how not all of the people involved in the movie’s production were ready to go along with this decision, due to Houston’s inexperience with acting and her race. During his speech he looked very emotional and deeply connected to the late artist and her family. He also described Whitney Houston’s insecurity. He explained how she would often worry about not being good enough or pretty enough and how she was afraid people did not like her.

‘People didn’t just like you, Whitney, they loved you,’ said Costner. ‘God himself wonders how He created something so perfect […] When you sing in front of Him, don’t you worry, you’ll be good enough.’ Alicia Keys then sat at the piano, visibly moved, and talked about how important the 48-year-old singer’s life was. She passionately sang ‘Prelude To A Kiss’, ending it by singing, ‘Whitney is an angel.’

Next, Clive Davis went through a memory of his personal relationship with the artist and her long career, and he talked about being her mentor and producer. He closed his speech by saying, ‘I loved her very much […] Whitney was purely and simply one-of-a-kind […] When I needed her, she was there […] Bobbi Kristina, always be proud of your mother.’

Ray Watson, Houston’s brother-in-law and longtime bodyguard, gave a touching speech and stated, ‘We gotta give back to our entertainers; treat them well, with dignity, treat them with love, and stop ridiculing them.’ Stevie Wonder gracefully took his place at the piano, thanking God for letting him live at the same time as Whitney Houston.

He added that he had a little crush on her when they worked together and said, ‘We loved her so much, and that won’t stop.’ Wonder sang an alternate version of ‘Ribbon in the Sky’, which he modified on his way to the funeral, then concluded with a joyful performance of ‘Love Is in Need of Love Today.’

Patricia Houston gave a long, moving speech, underlining the positive attitude that characterized the late singer, as well as her respect for the Lord. R. Kelly, visibly heartbroken, performed ‘I Look to You’ with the choir.  It was a song he had written and that Whitney Houston had sung in her last studio album. Houston’s cousin, Dionne Warwick, who presided over the funeral, introduced speakers and singers, then read a poem, right before CeCe Winans sang ‘Don’t Cry For Me’ and ‘Yes, Jesus Loves Me’.

After this, Rickey Minor explained how Whitney Houston changed his life and how lovable the artist was from every point of view. As a conclusion, Pastor Marvin Winans sang with his entire family before he started preaching. The ceremony ended with the casket of Whitney Houston leaving the church while her famous performance of ‘I Will Always Love You’ embraced the congregation.

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There are millions of innocent Facebook users who have never been faced with fraudulent web content. Emsisoft advises users therefore against new Facebook scams as they arise such as the following. Whitney Houston’s death a few days ago came as quite a surprise. The famous singer was found dead in her bathtub in a hotel in Beverly Hills, prompting immense media coverage around the circumstances of her untimely death.

The text of this particular scam reads as such: “Whitney Houston’s autopsy reveals a shocking secret that explains her death” or “Whitney Houston’s shocking cause of death revealed” and “The dark secret that ruled Whitney Houston’s life and tragically led to her death.”

Everybody who clicks one of the links that pretend to take them to a well-known American news site will in fact be redirected several times and end up facing a survey page that they are asked to take. This is the first of two methods that the scammers use to transform generated traffic into a mode of profit as they get paid for the survey results.

And finally, the user will see the YouTube video itself, which is of course nothing special, but a normal TV report about the tragedy of Whitney Houston. The more views the better for the scammer who uploaded the video. Every hit raises its ranking, thus subsequently attracting more viewers. Well-placed Google AdSense ads turn this into profit.

Christian Mairoll, CEO at Emsisoft, says, “The YouTube video has already had more than 1,000,000 hits thanks to this Facebook scam. This shows how easy it is to get many people’s attention using a current event for criminal purposes on Facebook. We advise all users not to blindly click a link, but to critically rethink content on Facebook – and in particular, not to immediately share it.”

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The 54th edition of the Grammy Awards was permeated by a sense of respect and sadness, due to the sudden death of the 48-year-old singer Whitney Houston.

The announcement of Whitney Houston’s death was given by her publicist on February 11. The pop singer died in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. Although the cause of death is not yet totally clarified, sources tell TMZ that a lethal combination of prescription drugs and alcohol could have led Whitney Houston to death.

The Grammy Awards responded to the shock generated by the loss of the late Diva, with a tribute paid by soul singer Jennifer Hudson. The 30-year-old singer gave an emotional performance of Houston’s signature song ‘I Will Always Love You,’ leading single of ‘The Bodyguard’ movie’s soundtrack.

As usual in this event, the show paid respect to the musicians and music executives passed away during the past years; the remembrance started showing 27-year-old British singer Amy Winehouse, while her music played. It then went on showing pictures and playing music belonging to many of those who enriched the music scene, as Motown executive Esther Gordy Edwards, soul-music architect Nick Ashford and rapper Heavy D, just to cite few.

This commemoration ended with an extract of Whitney Houston’s performance at the Grammy Awards in 1986, after winning her first award for the song ‘Saving All My Love For You’. As the image of the beloved singer faded away, a spotlight discovered a graceful Hudson.

The artist delivered the first a cappella lines of ‘I Will Always Love You’; Hudson then carried on the performance in an extremely elegant and respectful way. In the virtuosity of Hudson’s voice, all the influence of the late Whitney Houston could be retrieved.

Although Jennifer Hudson showed to comfortably go through the song, a certain sense of emotion appeared clear in her eyes. The performance ended with the appearance of all the photos of the music artists and executives at the back of a humble Hudson, who was standing in front of the audience’s standing ovation, and who then turned around to send a kiss to the late music people who passed away during last year.

Due to the timing of Houston’s death, no long planning was possible for her tribute during the show; this might have been one of the things that contributed to make the tribute so special. There was nothing fancy or extreme, but just a very elegant, sweet, but at the meantime full of music talent, commemoration. It was something great, without the need of exaggeration. It was exactly as Whitney Houston was: talented, elegant and graceful.

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The world is grieving the departure of one of the most talented artists in music history. Whitney Houston died on February 11 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA, during the Grammys week-end; the party event yesterday was hosted by Whitney Houston’s talent scout and mentor Clive Davis.

Whitney Houston was the voice, the grace, the elegance, the body and the femininity of pop. During her glorious career, Whitney Houston broke several records, both of sales and charts success. She is the most-awarded female act of all time, as cited by the Guinness World Records; she indeed won 415 career awards as of 2010.

The shock for the loss of such a great artist inevitably became the center of the pre-Grammy Gala night, with an emotional celebration of the artist’s career. The night became somehow an accidental gathering of friends and beloved people celebrating Houston’s life and career.

As a matter of fact, music itself celebrated Whitney Houston’s birth and death. She was born in a deep musical environment, her mother being the gospel singer Cissy Houston, her cousin Dionne Warwik and her godmother the great Aretha Franklin.

Whitney Houston started performing at the age of 11, in a church gospel choir in Newark, then spending her adolescence occasionally accompanying her mother during performances, singing back vocals for different artists, and modeling.

In 1983, at the age of 19, Houston’s career got its turning point. After seeing one of her live performances, Clive Davis, head of Arista Records, signed Whitney Houston, marking the beginning of what would have become a legendary business partnership and personal friendship.

That was the starting point of an international career that saw Houston selling 170 million albums, singles and videos, becoming one of the world’s best selling artists. With a total of seven studio albums, additional participations in movies’ soundtracks, and the starring of movie characters, Whitney Houston has fulfilled the pop scene with her graceful talent, which touched the heart of millions of people around the world.

The homonymous debut album of the late singer was released in 1985; it was instantly acclaimed by the critics, and soon became the best-selling debut album by a female act at the time of its release, containing singles like ‘All at once’ and ‘Greatest Love of All’ that internationally conquered the audience. The record is listed by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time and is included in The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Definitive 200 list. USA Today also elected the album as one of the 25 musical milestones of the last 25 years.

From that moment on, Whitney Houston’s career grew at a fast pace. In 1986 Houston won her first Grammy Award for the hit ‘Saving All My Love For You’, the award being the first one of a list of six Grammys distributed along her career. A year later, in 1987, the studio album ‘Whitney’ was released, becoming the first album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Furthermore, with this record Houston entered at number one the charts of both, US and UK, being the first artist to accomplish so.

A true milestone of Houston’s career was the greatly acclaimed interpretation of the 1992 movie ‘The Bodyguard’, where she played alongside actor Kevin Costner. She performed in the movie’s soundtrack, with the single ‘I Will Always Love You’ entering the top of the Billboard Hot 100, keeping the position for 14 weeks. The single sold 12 million copies becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time, and the signature song of the late Whitney Houston ever since its release.

After her first movie appearance, Houston starred in other movies and participated to their soundtracks. It took the great artist eight years to come back to the release of a new studio album, which happened in 1998.

From 1998 to 2003 Whitney Houston released three additional studio albums which all gathered commercial success, although were characterized by discordant critics; in the meantime, in 2001, Houston renewed her contract with Arista Records for 100 million dollars, signing the biggest record deal in music history.

After struggling with drugs abuse and marriage issues, Whitney Houston came back to the pop music scene in 2009 with her album ‘I Look to You’, which entered the Billboard 200 at number 1.

Through 27 years of music, Whitney Houston brought to life one of the most astonishing musical careers of all time, enriching music history with her magnificent talent.

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Grammy Award-winning artist Whitney Houston has died at the age of 48. The news was first reported by TMZ and was shortly thereafter confirmed by a publicist for Whitney Houston, whose exact cause of death is unknown, however it has been confirmed that Houston died in her Beverly Hills hotel room. Few details have in fact been released about the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death, however, Twitter users have already sent Whitney Houston to the top of the social media website’s worldwide trending topics list.

Incidentally, Whitney Houston’s death occurred approximately 24 hours before the broadcast of the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, and it is not yet known if the ceremony will feature a last-minute tribute to the singer who won 6 Grammys and received a further 20 nominations during her multi-decade career.

Whitney Houston is perhaps best known for her hits from the 1908s and early 1990s, most notably a cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You”, which served as the soundtrack song in the 1992 film The Bodyguard, in which Houston starred alongside Kevin Costner. Houston’s other biggest hits include “One Moment In Time”, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and “Didn’t We Almost Have it All”.

Houston’s career experienced somewhat of a decline in the late 1990s and early 200s, with her personal struggles with drugs and a high-profile relationship with Bobby Brown eclipsing her musical offerings. However, Houston had staged a semi-successful comeback in 2009 with the release of her album “I Look To You” and a subsequent world tour, for which she received middling to negative reviews.

Other recent career moves involved a return to feature films with the 2012 release Sparkle, due to receive cinema distribution this coming August. The film co-stars Jordin Sparks and Cee Lo Green, and would have marked Houston’s first return to films since The Preacher’s Wife in 1996.

Just this week, Whitney Houston had been rumoured to be making a further comeback effort after being approached by Simon Cowell to join the celebrity judging panel of The X Factor US for its second season, due to debut on FOX later this year.

Celebrity condolences have begun to be released via Twitter, with Glee actress Amber Riley stating:

I can’t even breathe right now. Not Whitney. I’m in tears right now. ;( I had to pull over off the road. RIP Whitney Houston. I’m glad now that I got to meet you and thank you for your beautiful music.

Journalist and CNN talkshow host Piers Morgan also expressed his thoughts on Twitter with:

Stunned by Whitney Houston’s death at just 48 – one of the greatest voices ever heard.  #RIP

Full details of Houston’s death remain scarce.

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