Witney Houston, the pop diva whose career was destroyed by crack cocaine, was found dead in the bath, according to staff at the luxury Los Angeles hotel where her body was discovered.
Houston, who was 48, had sold 170 million albums. She was found on Saturday afternoon local time in a room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton.
It has been revealed that she had also been taking Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug that can cause heavy sedation when mixed with alcohol.
Her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, 18, was later seen outside the hotel screaming at police who initially refused to let her see her mother`s body. As evening fell, fans gathered there to mount a vigil.
Bobbi Kristina had earlier been rushed to a Los Angeles hospital, where she was released a short time later.
A source close to the family who did not want to speak given the sensitivity of the matter says Bobbi Kristina Brown was treated and released for stress and anxiety.
The LA County Coroner has said that an autopsy on the pop icon`s body has been completed, but official results have been placed on hold, pending toxicology tests.
It has not yet been determined whether the singer drowned in her bathtub.
Los Angeles Deputy Coroner Ed Winter said at a press conference that the tests could take six to eight weeks to process.
He added that the Beverly Hills Police Department had requested a "security hold" on the results of the coroner`s investigation, meaning no further details will be made available until the inquiry is complete.
The death of the pop-diva became a reason of minute silence at the international ceremony in London. Stars on the red carpet at this year`s BAFTAs have paid tribute to Whitney Houston.
