Whitney Houston Family Told She Died from Rx NOT Drowning

Whitney Houston's family was told by L.A. County Coroner officials ... the singer did not die from drowning, but rather from what appears to be a combination of Xanax and other prescription drugs mixed with alcohol ... this according to family sources.

We're told Coroner's officials informed the family there was not enough water in Whitney's lungs to lead to the conclusion that she drowned.

Our sources say the family was told Whitney may well have died before her head became submerged.

And family sources tell us ... it was actually Whitney's aunt, Mary Jones, who discovered Whitney's body in the bathtub. Mary had laid out Whitney's dress for the evening on the bed and then left for about a half hour. When Whitney didn't come out of the bathroom, Mary entered, pulled Whitney out of the tub and began administering CPR.

And we're told ... Whitney's mom has arranged to have the singer's body flown back to Atlanta, as early as tomorrow. The family was told the Coroner has no problem releasing the body because there is no evidence of foul play --  and unless cops put a hold on the body, it can be flown back East.

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SINGER WHITNEY HOUSTON DIES AT 48

Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, has died on Saturday 11th February. She was 48.

The superstar singer and actress's publicist, Kristin Foster, broke the news of Houston's passing to the AP, but thus far, no cause of death has been revealed.

She was found at the Beverly Hills Hilton. The showbiz website TMZ reports that the singer was found in the bath, and that while no illegal drugs had been seized by police, prescription drugs have been found in Houston's room.

Hotel sources have told the website that she was found by her bodyguard, and that despite attempts to resuscitate her, she was pronounced dead at 3:55pm local time on Saturday afternoon. She was due to perform at a pre-Grammy award party in Los Angeles last night.

Police in Los Angeles said that Houston and her entourage, which included friends, family and co-workers, had taken up a "fair portion" of the hotel's fourth floor.

"She was pronounced dead at the hotel and a number of people were able to identify her," Lieutenant Mark Rosen from Beverly Hills Police told the BBC.

"We still have detectives and crime scene investigators at the hotel, we are looking into the matter as a death investigation its not a crime scene at this time," he added.

At her peak in the 1980s and 1990s, Houston was the golden girl of the music industry and one of the world's best-selling artists.

Among her hits were How Will I Know, Saving All My Love for You and I Will Always Love You.

She won multiple Grammys including album and record of the year and her success carried her beyond music to movies like The Bodyguard.

But by the end of her career, drug use took its toll as her record sales plummeted and her voice became raspy and hoarse.

MAY HER SOUL REST IN PEACE, AMEN.

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