UPDATED: What we know about Whitney's death so far...

***See updates at the bottom of the page***

I grew up idolizing her like many... can't believe Whitney Houston is dead at 48. Below are the details TMZ is reporting tonight about her death.

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

Our sources tell us a member of Whitney's entourage found her in her room at the Beverly Hilton hotel ... and called hotel security -- who then dialed 911. When paramedics arrived Houston was found unresponsive.

We're told police arrived to the scene within minutes and fire was already there on an unrelated call. According to our sources, paramedics performed CPR but it did not work and she was pronounced dead at 3:55 PM.

Our sources say there were no obvious signs of foul play, but BH PD detectives have begun a full investigation. We're told she was ID'ed by family and friends.

The singer famously battled drug addiction for years.

Houston was seen out in Hollywood on Thursday night ... and she did not look well (see below).

She was out with her daughter Bobbi Kristina in L.A. that night at Kelly Price & Friends Unplugged: For The Love Of R&B GRAMMY Party at Tru Hollywood -- her last red carpet appearance before her death.

It was a rare public appearance for Whitney, who hadn't been on a red carpet for an entire year before that.

Houston even briefly took the mic and sang with R&B singer Kelly Price. Watch the video below:



This would be her last performance.                                          

She was also spotted out with on again off again boyfriend, singer Ray J, last weekend...

 UPDATES from TMZ:

Whitney Houston "partied heavily" at the Beverly Hilton hotel with a group of friends ... hotel staff tell TMZ.

We're told Whitney and her friends were in the bar for a time and the group was drinking and very loud. Our sources say even though the hotel is busy with all the Grammy festivities, Whitney and her group stood out because they were so boisterous.

Again, it's too early to know what caused her death.

Dionne Warwick and Cissy Houston spoke with Whitney Houston by phone just before she died and say Whitney seemed fine ... TMZ has learned.

Whitney's mother, Cissy Houston, spoke with her daughter 25-30 minutes before she died and nothing seemed unusual ... sources tell TMZ. We're told they talked about attending the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party.

Dionne Warwick, Whitney's cousin, called as well ... several hours before Whitney died ... to make sure they were sitting at the same table at Clive's party. And again ... there were no signs of trouble.

The people in touch with Dionne say she is inconsolable adding, "She is an absolute mess."

As for Cissy, we're told she is "hysterical."

Bobby Brown is distraught and "in and out of crying fits" ... after getting the news that Whitney Houston is dead -- but his New Edition band mates are by his side trying to console him.

New Edition has a concert tonight in Mississippi -- and believe it or not sources close to the group tell TMZ ... not only will New Edition go on as scheduled, but as of now Bobby is also planning to perform.

We're told Bobby is going to try to get through the entire show.

Bobby and Whitney had an infamously tumultuous 15 year marriage.