WHITNEY HOUSTON Dead at 48

Whitney Houston died this afternoon ... a rep for the singer told the Associated Press.

According to our sources, Houston died at the Beverly Hilton hotel. A police crime lab vehicle was seen outside the hotel just moments ago So far, the details surround Houstin's death are unclear. The singer famously battled drug addiction for years.

Houston won two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards during her record-breaking career. Her album "Whitney" was the first female album to ever debut at #1 on the Billboard Charts. She has sold 200 million albums world wide.

Houston holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from Grambling State University in Louisiana.

Houston had one child, Bobbi Kristina, with husband Bobby Brown. Houston and Brown were married from 1992-2007.

We spotted Whitney out just last weekend with on-again/off-again beau Ray-J (see video below).