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It is all a long and very sad list of life designed to crack or destroy itself - eventually.

But the tumultuous life of the singer who sang, 'I Will Always Love You,' played out on every tabloid news stand and it never read terribly well.

It was made worse because it was such a distinctive fall from grace. From sparkling to sordid, talented to tawdry, dazzling to dismal. The dirty laundry of a rocky marriage aired for all to look upon. We watched in speculation from the wings as this talented, bright and effervescent performer crashed out from her own chaotic demons, thrashing about from within.

Clive Davis, Houston's long time mentor, was to hold his annual pre-Grammy Gala and dinner event with Whitney gracing the stage. And, while she appeared at the rehearsals on Thursday - her once power-house, church window shattering voice no longer and a far cry from the fresh faced, glowing 'good ole days.'

However, the day before her death, she was seen chain smoking, binge drinking and looking ever the worse for wear.

Do we like keeping our icons perched so high on the pedestal suspended in mid air never wishing them to fall foul to the temptations of life that will so devour the flesh, given half the chance.

Miss Houston proved that it is so hard to keep that light shining bright for all of us to worship in awe. Her music did give us hope, it did make us dream and it did make us feel alive. It is a shame she could not live by the words and the enthusiastically high spirited music that she sang about. But she was a 'Pop Queen' and as with many Queens, she died too soon and tragically, fell on her own sword.

So, because of these remarkable abilities, it is never really surprising when such a bright light flickers out before it's 'due by date.'

Coming on the eve of the music industry's biggest night - The Grammy Awards - the legendary singer, who once had the recognisable voice of an angel, allegedly drowned in the bathtub of the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel, having partied heavily the previous evening.

Houston herself admitted openly that she was her own worst enemy and her self destructive actions would spiral out of control whenever she tempted fate. Sadly, there was no happy ending to this sweet sounding gospel voice which held everyone in its grasp with its magnanimous power and range, as Houston died as she had lived, tragically.

She came onto the music scene as a wide-eyed and glowing teenager and in ability and marketability soon eclipsed family and even friends. Her Mother, the great gospel singer, Cissy Houston, her cousin, Dionne Warwick and she even out shone the outstanding talents of her earth shattering Godmother, Aretha Franklin.

But, like so many before her, whether the speedy elevation was too heady to live up to, or, the nagging insecurities of self doubt crept in, making a dependency on life ravaging drugs a notable necessity - one can only surmise. But if a life is told in pictures, then this voice in a million songstress' photo gallery surely speaks louder than words themselves.

From desirably, sweet and innocent girl next door with the golden voice range so rich and illuminating, to a binging, out of control, loud and obnoxious addict to her many vices, who's voice had become an excruciating
rasp of its once indescribably glorious former self. Once someone who would have theatre audiences hanging off every mezzo soprano note, to having fans leaving their auditorium seats in their droves, disappointed at what this supreme, aspirational figure had reduced herself to.

But Houston is not alone. The early death of 27 year old Amy Winehouse last year brought on by a similar set of unsympathetic circumstances. Requiring a false crutch that can only bring disaster to the user. A quick remedy for fear, pain or inadequacy.

One finds it hard to contemplate that these majestic stars who often define the word 'genius' in their chosen domain, could possibly have irrational vulnerabilities that would more than surpass us mere mortals. But they do. And, history tells us to the tune of many.

From Judy Garland at age 47, Hank Williams 29, Jimi Hendrix 27, Janis Joplin 27, Jim Morrison 27, Elvis Presley 42, Keith Moon 32, Jon Bonham 32, Kurt Cobain 27, Michael Hutchence 37 and even Michael Jackson 50.

depicting adversity as a strengthening tool to one's committed spirit, as opposed to the hardship it endured.

He was the second child of John and Elizabeth Dickens. Born in Landport, Hampshire he had a rather troubled childhood and spent the happiest of years living in Chatham on the southeast cost of England. His father was transferred to London in 1822 but was arrested for debt shortly afterwards, leaving Charles and his older sister Fanny to fend for themselves.

In 1828, aged sixteen Charles Dickens decided he wanted to become a reporter and taught himself shorthand and found work as a court reporter. Later he joined the Mirror of Parliament, a newspaper that reported the daily proceedings of Parliament.

The Daily News was not a great commercial success and Dickens  resigned as editor. However, he was determined to create a means where he could communicate his ideas on social reform and in 1850 he began editing Household Words. 

Dickens published Household Words between 1850 and 1859 and during that time campaigned in favour of parliamentary reform and improvements in the education of the poor. Dickens was extremely hostile to the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act and wrote several articles on the workhouse system. Dickens was also concerned with public health and the reform of the legal system.

In 1859, he closed the journal and replaced it with All the Year Round. The new journal still covered social issues but mainly concentrated on literary matters. Several important novels were serialized in All the Year Round including Dickens' own 'A Tale of Two Cities' (1859) and 'Great Expectations' (1860-61). The journal also published three of Wilkie Collins' novels, 'The Woman in White' (1860), 'No Name' (1862) and 'The Moonstone' (1868). Dickens continued to publish All the Year Round until his death.

On a more personal note; Charles met his wife Catherine  whilst working at the Morning Chronicle and they married in April 1836. They had ten children together called Charles, Mary, Kate, Walter, Francis, Alfred, Sydney, Henry, Dora and Edward. However, despite them having such a big family Charles and Catherine split in the year of 1858.

Dickens died on 8th June, 1870 and is buried at Westminster Abbey in London. Britain marked the 200th anniversary of his birth by the laying of a wreath at his grave and a street party has been held in his native Portsmouth. Prince Charles and Ralph Fiennes, who will star in the latest film version of Dickens' masterpiece "Great Expectations", attended the ceremony in Poets' Corner at the abbey, where Dickens was buried in 1870.

Dickens considered most politicians to be "pompous," "shallow" and "vacuous." However, he was impressed with some of the MPs who genuinely appeared to be interested in making Britain a better place to live.

Dickens became interested in the subject of social reform and started contributing articles to the radical newspaper, the True Sun. In 1833 Dickens had his first story published in the Monthly Magazine. Using the pen-name of 'Boz', Dickens also began contributing short stories to the Morning Chronicle and the Evening Chronicle. The publisher, William Hall, now commissioned Dickens to write 'The Pickwick Papers' in twenty monthly installments.

'Oliver Twist' came next, published in Bentley's Miscellany (1837-38) and 'Nicholas Nickleby' (1838-39), also published monthly. Dickens was now the most popular writer in Britain enjoying the fame and popularity that no other previous author, during his lifetime had received. Over the next few years he wrote a series of popular novels including 'The Old Curiosity Shop' (1840-1), 'Barnaby Rudge' (1841), 'Martin Chuzzlewit' (1843-4) and 'A Christmas Carol' (1843).

Although Dickens was now a very successful novelist, he continued to be interested in social reform and while in America in 1842 he upset his hosts by condemning slavery.

Dickens also decided to invest some of his royalties in a new radical newspaper, The Daily News where he became editor and in the first edition published on 21st January 1846, he wrote: "The principles advocated in The Daily News will be principles of progress and improvement; of education, civil and religious liberty, and equal legislation."