@famousobits: Whitney Houston was found submerged in the bathtub of her Beverly Hilton hotel suite just hours before she was set to attend a pre-Grammy party. She had been seen behaving erratically in the days leading up to her death. The official cause was accidental drowning. But toxicology revealed heart disease and a mix of drugs in her system, including cocaine, cannabis, and prescription medications. No foul play. But her body was exhausted. Her decline had been unfolding in public for years. Slurred speech in interviews. Missed notes on stage. Canceled performances. The voice that once soared across seven octaves had been visibly worn down. At her peak, Houston was pop royalty. She sold over 200 million records worldwide and became the first artist to have seven consecutive number one singles. Her rendition of I Will Always Love You became one of the best selling singles of all time. She was also the star of The Bodyguard, a box office smash that made her one of the few pop stars to cross into blockbuster acting. Her funeral was broadcast globally. Fans lined the streets. Her music flooded the airwaves again. But the grief wasn’t just for the loss of a legend. It was for the years we watched her fade and couldn’t stop it. #WhitneyHouston #IWillAlwaysLoveYou #TheBodyguard #CelebrityDeaths #OnThisDay