Whitney Houston Death: Pictures of the Pop Music Icon over the Years

Whitney Houston, a pop-music icon and one of the most award-winning female singers of all time, has died at the age of 48.

The performer's struggles with drug abuse and strained relationship with her ex-husband Bobby Brown frequently made covers of tabloids around the world.

Despite her personal struggles, however, Houston is one of the most adored singers of all time.

Here's a look back on Houston's career through the decades.

Whitney Houston poses with her Grammy after she was named Best Pop Vocal Performer-Female at the 30th annual Grammy Awards show at New York's Radio City Music Hall on March 2.

Singer Whitney Houston poses with one of four Image Awards she received Jan. 5 from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) at the 26th Image Awards in Pasadena, Calif.

Singer Whitney Houston poses with husband Bobby Brown at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) 26th Image Awards on Jan. 5 in Pasadena, Calif.

South African President Nelson Mandela hugs Whitney Houston in his house in Pretoria on Nov. 10. Houston is on a three-concert tour in South Africa.

South African President Nelson Mandela and American pop star Whitney Houston smile for photographers on Nov. 10.

Actress and singer Whitney Houston poses with her husband Bobby Brown and their daughter Bobbi Kristina as they arrive for the premiere of Houston's new made-for-television movie, Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella," on Oct. 13 at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Calif.

Whitney Houston, left, and Faith Hill perform during the Billboard Music Awards on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas. The awards honor the year's top artists, songs, and albums.

Singer Whitney Houston and her husband, singer Bobby Brown, arrive for the fourth annual International Achievement in Arts Awards show on Oct. 11 in Beverly Hills, Calif. Brown was one of the performers at the event, which benefited several charities, including the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children Inc.

Former boxing great Muhammad Ali is given the Courage Award by singer Whitney Houston at the GQ Men of the Year awards show on Oct. 21 in New York. Ali was among a group of 16 men of distinction selected by the readers of GQ magazine.

Whitney "I"m Every Woman" Houston appears during the VH1 television network's broadcast concert "Divas Live '99" at New York's Beacon Theater on April 13. The concert benefited a VH1 program that supports music education in public schools around the country.

Singer Whitney Houston and Clive Davis, head of Arista Records, arrive for the Arista Records pre-Grammy party on Feb. 23 at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

A fast-spreading rumor that singer Whitney Houston was dead is false, according to a statement by her publicist Nancy Seltzer on Sept. 13. The rumor began when Houston -- pictured at Michael Jackson's "30th Anniversary Celebration, The Solo Years" at New York's Madison Square Garden on Sept. 7 -- was a no-show at Jackson's second concert on Sept. 10. Seltzer said Houston was "perfectly fine" and at home with her family in New Jersey.

Arista Records and singer Whitney Houston announced on Sept. 19 their plans to re-release the pop diva's moving rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," originally perfomed Jan. 27, 1991 at Super Bowl XXV. Royalties and proceeds from the sale of the single will be donated to the New York Firefighters Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Fraternal Order of Police to benefit the departments and their families affected by the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. Houston is pictured in a file photo taken June 19 at the BET Awards in Las Vegas.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon smiles as he meets with American singer Whitney Houston in Jerusalem on May 27. Houston was in Israel with her husband, rhythm-and-blues singer Bobby Brown, to visit "friends and family" among the Black Hebrews, an African-American community that moved to Israel in 1969 and settled in the southern town of Dimona. "It's home. It's a friendship I've never had with any other country," Houston, dressed in a long red robe with white embroidery, told Sharon.

American pop diva Whitney Houston emerges from the waters of the River Jordan near the Sea of Galilee during a Holy Land pilgrimage on May 29. Houston is in Israel with her husband, rhythm-and-blues singer Bobby Brown, to visit friends and family among the Black Hebrews, an African-American community that moved to Israel in 1969.

U.S. singer Whitney Houston enjoys herself in the swimming pool of a hotel near the Dead Sea on May 30. Houston was in Israel with her husband, rhythm-and-blues singer Bobby Brown, to visit "friends and family" among the Black Hebrews, an African-American community that moved to Israel in 1969 and settled in the southern town of Dimona.

Singer Whitney Houston appears on stage during a concert that was taped for ABC television's "Good Morning America" show in New York on Dec. 8. Houston did her concert outdoors at Lincoln Center.

Singer Whitney Houston stands as she is introduced at the 15th annual Society of Singers ELLA Awards on Sept. 12 in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Singer Whitney Houston poses as she arrives as a guest at the 15th annual Society of Singers ELLA Awards show on Sept. 12 in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Singer Whitney Houston appears on the German TV game show "Wetten Dass" (Bet it ... ?) in Freiburg on Oct. 3. Wetten Dass is one of the most popular Saturday night programs in Germany.

Whitney Houston performs at the Pre-Grammy Gala & Salute to Industry Icons with Clive Davis honoring David Geffen held on Feb. 12 in Beverly Hills, Calif.