Watch Whitney Houston's Game-Changing National Anthem Performance

The legendary Whitney Houston, famous for her hits "How Will I Know" and "I Will Always Love You," has passed away at the age of 48, as confirmed by her publicist and reported by the Associated Press.

Houston's powerful voice and career in music lead her to be one of the most revered figured in the history female pop vocalists, taking the emotional ballad to new heights. Houston also starred in a few major motion pictures, such as "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale."

Houston's personal life lead to the downfall of her career after she peaked in the early 1990's, as her drug use took its toll on her voice and caused record sales to plummet. Her marriage to Bobby Brown also lead to stress in her personal life and a mark, deserved or not, on her public image.

As of yet, the cause of Houston's death is unknown. There were reports last year that the singer had returned to rehab, but there hadn't been much news of late as to her health. In fact, there were rumors flying over the past week that Houston may participate in season two of "The X Factor."

We will provide updates as to the location and cause of Houston's death as they arrive. For a sample of the incredible talent that Houston was, here's a clip from her performance of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl during the first Gulf War in 1991: