Fans in shock after sudden death of Whitney Houston Candles and floral tributes left outside the Beverly Hills Hilton reflected the shock and sadness of Whitney Houston fans around the world, as they came to terms with her sudden death. The singer was found dead in her hotel room on Saturday afternoon, local time. Paramedics tried to revive her, but she was declared dead at the scene. It is not yet clear how she died, but police have ruled out crime as a cause. Her body was removed by the Los Angeles coroner's department for an autopsy, which should determine if drugs or alcohol were involved. Houston's battle with substance abuse was well known. Within hours shocked fans were streaming to the Hilton. The singer died on the eve of the Grammy Awards and she was due to attend a pre-event party being held at the hotel. More about: Celebrity scandal, Death, Los Angeles, Pop music, USA, Whitney Houston