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.
Houston was found dead today at the Beverly Hilton. She was 48.
Whitney Houston died this afternoon ... a rep for the singer told the Associated Press.
Our sources tell us a member of Whitney's entourage found her in her 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.
The singer famously battled drug addiction for years (see related links below).
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. See the video here.
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 holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from Grambling State University in Louisiana.
Houston had one child, Bobbi Kristina, with husband Bobby Brown. Houston and Brown were married from 1992-2007.
We spotted Whitney out just last weekend with on-again/off-again beau Ray-J (see video below).
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."
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.
Nick Carter has two more stops on his tour, but after that the singer plans on taking some time off to grieve following the death of his sister ... sources close to Carter tell TMZ.
According to our sources, Carter will play the last two tour dates (tonight in Chicago and tomorrow in Columbus) in memory of his sister Leslie, who passed away on January 31.
After that, we're told Nick will not schedule any more appearances ... and will take a couple of weeks to go off and deal with his sister's death. Our sources say Nick is still dealing with the fact that he missed her funeral.
As TMZ previously reported, the Carter family believes Leslie overdosed on prescription drugs.
Gayle King no longer has to worry about that pesky matchmaker lawsuit -- because a judge in California agreed with her side of things ... and tossed the lawsuit out.
As TMZ first reported, King was sued last year by a matchmaker named Orly Hadida, who claimed she rendered her services to King for free in exchange for an appearance on Oprah Winfrey's show (which never happened).
But King fought back, claiming California law states that oral contracts -- which is what Orly claims they had -- involving "dating services" are void and unenforceable.
A judge agreed, ruling earlier this month in King's favor and dismissing Hadida's lawsuit.
Bow Wow's 2012 is off to a rather litigious start -- not only is he buried in tax liens, and a wanted man in Georgia for ducking a civil lawsuit ... but now he's being sued by a limousine company, just for good measure.
According to a lawsuit filed this week in Georgia, Bow Wow (real name Shad Moss) stiffed the limo company to the tune of $3,594.87.
Our sources say the bill goes all the way back to 2008 and stems from services provided in California.
If you were hoping the entire "Jersey Shore" gang would be making appearances on the upcoming Snooki and Jwoww spin-off, think again ... because The Situation says he won't be a part of it.
We spotted The Sitch in Beverly Hills yesterday, where he chalked up the girls' recent comments about his sexuality as just "crazy." He also said he felt Snooki's pregnancy rumors were just her ... trying to draw up attention for the new show.
As TMZ first reported, the show is planning on shooting at an old firehouse in Jersey City. No timetable yet for when the show will air.
Katy Perry and Russell Brand never entertained the idea of signing a prenup -- and if they could do it all over again ... they wouldn't have changed a thing, sources close to the couple tell TMZ.
According to sources, Katy and Russell's marriage happened so fast, they never really had the opportunity to summon their lawyers and hash out a prenup ... nor did either really believe they needed one.
We’re told both felt comfortable one wouldn’t screw the other in the event of a divorce -- they both knew where the other person stood on money, life, religion ... everything.
TMZ broke the story ... Russell refused to accept $20 million of Katy's money he was entitled to as part of the divorce -- exactly half the money she made during the course of their marriage.
Sources tell us, Russell was never a materialistic person and never spent much -- he never got into entertainment for the money.
As one source put it, "Russell is a very simple person who doesn’t need much to make him happy."
The source adds, “He would never take money that [Katy] earned. That’s not Russell. And if it was the other way around, Katy wouldn’t have taken it either. They respect each other too much."
Where is Hollywood and what have you done with it?!?!
Here's Emma Watson at a pre-BAFTAs party in London on Friday (left) -- and figure skater Katerina Witt at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer (right).
Octomom is finally in the market for a new house and among her list of criteria ... enough room to fit her 14 children. Size really does matter sometimes.
As TMZ first reported, Octo put her La Habra home on the market back in September. So far she's received a few offers ... but none good enough to accept.
According to our sources, Octo has three main criteria for her new pad. First, she wants to find a place in a gated community to cut down on all the unwanted attention she gets.
Secondly, we're told Octo would like to find a place she can really afford (novel concept) since her last pad went into foreclosure.
And lastly, of course ... a place big enough for her brood.
Oksana Grigorieva performed live in Hollywood last night and while the place was packed, Oksana's performance was ... well you can listen for yourself.
Oksana played the Gardenia Lounge in West Hollywood last night as she tried to further the singing career that was once helmed by ex-boyfriend Mel Gibson. He was her executive producer at one point and when they split, securing the rights to her music was Oksana's mission.
As for the show, our guy inside said the place was quite crowded and everyone was there specifically to see Oksana.
Whitney Houston "partied heavily" at the Beverly Hilton hotel with a group of friends ... hotel staff tell TMZ.
Whitney Houston died this afternoon ... a rep for the singer told the Associated Press.
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.
