After bursting on to the scene in the US in the 1980s, Houston went on to become one of the world's biggest R&B stars, with hits including I Have Nothing, All At Once and Get It Back.

To date, she has sold more than 170 million albums and still holds the record for the most Grammy's won by a female artist.

Her success in China came in the early 1990s, following the global hit The Bodyguard, forwhich she recorded I Will Always Love You. At the time, the only way for many people to hear about Western pop acts was through limited edition tapes and music magazines.

Following her divorce from Bobby Brown in 2007, Houston is reported to have struggled with alcohol and drug problems, which some critics say seriously affected her vocal range.

Last year, Houston canceled several dates on her world tour, including concerts in China, citing illness.

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