The body of deceased diva Whitney Houston arrived in her home state of New Jersey, CNN reported, as her family made funeral preparations with the cause of her untimely death still unknown.
CNN said a hearse and a large police procession arrived late Monday at the funeral home, where a large crowd had gathered, adding that Houston\'s mother Crissy was waiting inside.
Fans are awaiting autopsy results that may not come for weeks, as speculation has swirled that the pop legend with a troubled past may have died from a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol.
Houston, who was one of the biggest singing stars of the 1980s and 1990s, selling more than 170 million records, fought a long and public battle with substance abuse after her career and personal life went off the rails.
She was found dead on Saturday afternoon, at the age of 48, in her bathtub in a luxury suite of the Beverly Hilton hotel as preparations were under way for the Grammy Awards, the highlight of the music industry calendar.
An autopsy on her body was completed on Sunday but the toxicology probe is said to be ongoing and a "security hold" has been placed on its results, which officials say may not be published for six to eight weeks.
Houston\'s death led to an outpouring of grief from fellow musicians, friends and fans, and sales of her records have soared, with her 1992 hit "I Will Always Love You" the top seller on iTunes.
© Copyright AFP Agence France-Presse GmbH - All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed. All reproduction or redistribution is expressly forbidden without the prior written agreement of AFP.
KATALOG FIRM W INTERNECIE
