A spokeswoman for Whitney Houston is denying rumors that the pop diva died yesterday of an overdose, Reuters reports.
“Whitney Houston is fine. This is a rumor and it’s not true. She thanks everyone for their concern. She is fine and home with her family,” Nancy Seltzer said in a statement.
Rumors about Houston‘s fate surfaced after the first of two concerts in tribute to Michael Jackson’s music career Friday night at Madison Square Garden. Houston performed “Wanna Be Starting Something,” and observers commented that the singer looked emaciated.
Houston was also scheduled to perform a duet with Jackson on Monday, but canceled two hours before show time. Promoters were left scrambling for a replacement but were able to get Canadian singer Deborah Cox to step in. The star of The Bodyguard did not offer any explanations for her sudden cancellation.
Houston, 38, was charged with marijuana possession after security guards at Keahole Airport in Kona, Hawaii found 15.2 grams of marijuana in her bag in January of last year. A judge later dismissed the charge because airport security guards, as private employees, did not have the authority to detain passengers.
In August, Arista Records signed Houston to the biggest contract in the history of the music business. Her $100 million deal surpassed the $80 million that singer Mariah Carey got from Virgin Records earlier this year.
