Whitney Houston has passed away after a lifelong battle with drugs and alcohol at the age of 48. Houston was found dead in her hotel room in Beverly Hills on Saturday afternoon. Although the cause has not been confirmed, her death was likely drug-related. Her death comes on the eve of tomorrow evening’s Grammy Awards, where she has won 6 awards.

Whitney Houston captivated the world audience with having sold over 170 million records in her lifetime. She recorded 7 #1 hits including, "Saving All My Love for You", "How Will I Know", and "Greatest Love of All." But for the last decade, her career has been tarnished by tumultuous relationship with drugs and alcohol. Houston has been to drug rehab twice yet failed to kick her bad habits.

Whitney Houston sings the “The Star Spangled Banner” at the 1991 Super Bowl

Houston’s death comes after several recent celebrity drug-related deaths including Amy Winehouse, Heath Ledger, and Michael Jackson. Celebrities in America have always had a complicated relationship to drugs. Drugs have been glamorized in Hollywood for decades, yet have left many artists ravaged by addiction. At what point will the celebration of drug use in art lose its cool?

Part I of Houston's infamous 2002 interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer

Even on the heels of Whitney's, Amy's, and Michael’s deaths, it does not seem like audiences have lost their fascination with drugs. Rihanna’s incredibly popular music video, “We Found Love,” features dizzying scenes of drug use and abuse by her spouse. The video has been watched nearly 130 million times on YouTube. 

Rihanna's recent music video features scenes of drug use