Like Michael Jackson and Amy Winehousebefore her, the unexpected death of superstarWhitney Houstonon Feb. 11 galvanized an online rush. The singer-actress, who had a well-chronicled drug addiction, had been missing in action for some time.
Yet with news of her death came reports that a long-promised comeback had been under way (notably, herfirst film role in 16 years), making herfatal accident("drowning and effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use") all the more heartbreaking. Death came 24 hours before herreturn performanceat a pre-Grammygala. The awards ceremony paid tribute to Houston the next day; at the time, her room at the Beverly Hilton was still considered acrime scene.
