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-->>>> good evening. she was an extraordinary artist born with extraordinary gifts. now sadly, while her family deals with this crushing blow, her fans react around the globe simply by playing her music, the name whitney houston joins a long list of thoroughly talented artists who entertained all of us, lived hard and died young. tonight as her body makes the journey home to newark, new jersey, where it all started for her, the investigation continues into how the end came in a hotel in beverly hills on the eve of the industry's annual celebration. we begin tonight with nbc's kristen dahlgren in los angeles.
>> reporter: after a life lived on stage, police say whitney houston's death came alone in a bath tub on the fourth floor of the brill hilton hotel. the singer found under water by a member of her staff saturday afternoon.
>> when first responders arrived on the scene, she was unconscious and unresponsive.
>> reporter: they tried cpr, but couldn't save her. the coroner confirms prescription pill bottles were found in the singer's room. toxicology test will take another six to eight weeks.
>> you might have a suspicion, but the person could have suffered a heart attack or embolism or something. no matter what medications they're taking, until we run a tox, we are not going to speculate.
>> reporter: in hollywood, there is plenty of speculation two. days before her death, some say the star who is known for years of drug abuse, was acting erratically.
>> she definitely had alcohol. you could smell it on her.
>> reporter: that night, she took the stage, a hoarse rendition of "jesus loves me." she left looking disheveled, a far cry from the whitney in november who talked about a comeback with " access hollywood".
>> i'm matured. i'm looking forward to the years to come. good years.
>> reporter: her family is described as inconsolable. her daughter was rushed to the hospital sunday and later released. her ex-hu*****and bobby brown arrived in l.a. to a crush of paparazzi. despite the intense focus on her death, around the world, houston's life is being celebrated. from the grammys last night where jennifer hudson offered a moving tribute. and i will always love you
>> reporter: to houston's elementary school that now bears her name in newark, new jersey.
>> she inspires everybody at the school. i believe she inspires everybody. she inspires me.
>> reporter: in los angeles this afternoon, her body began the final trip home. a huge public funeral is being planned in newark on friday, as the investigation continues here in los angeles, where she died. one other note, brian, whitney houston's music is back on the top of the charts, but consumers are reporting a huge price increase when they go to buy.
>> kristen dahlgren from the beverly hilton, thanks.
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