Grammy Award-winning singer and actress Whitney Houston has died at the age of 48.

"Unfortunately it is true," her spokeswoman Jill Fritzo said.

The cause of her death is not known at this stage.

Police have confirmed that Houston was found dead at a Beverly Hills hotel.

"At 3:55pm (Saturday local time) Whitney Houston was pronounced dead at the Beverly Hilton hotel," said Mark Rosen, a police spokesman.

Mr Rosen said police received an emergency call from someone in her entourage and found Houston on the floor of her room on the hotel's fourth floor as attempts were being made to resuscitate her.

"There were no obvious signs of criminal intent at this time, and it is being investigated by the Beverly Hills Police Department," he added.

Houston was in Los Angeles for the Grammys, the music industry's biggest honours program that will take place on Monday AEDT.

She died hours before she was expected to perform at record producer Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammys party, being held at the Hilton.

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Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating