Legendary pop music icon and actress Whitney Houston, who reigned for over 2 decades as pop music's queen has died suddenly today at the age of 48.

The cause and the location of her death were unclear according to Publicist Kristen Foster.

At her peak in the 1980s and '90s, Houston the golden girl of the music industry and one of the world's best-selling artists. 

Among her hits were "How Will I Know," "Saving All My Love for You" and "I Will Always Love You." She won multiple Grammys including album and record of the year. 

Her success carried her beyond music to movies like: The Bodyguard - The Preacher's Wife and Waiting To Exhale.

By the end of her career, drug use took its toll as her record sales plummeted and her voice became raspy and hoarse.