FRESNO, Calif. (KMPH) -
Whitney Houston fans here in the Valley say they are also feeling the loss of the legendary singer.
And although the cause of her death has not been released yet, many believe her battle with substance abuse, ultimately led to her demise.
At the peak of her career, it seemed Whitney Houston had it all.
Many of those we spoke with in Downtown Fresno say they thought of her as a role model.
"I grew up in the 80's, and I would get in the mirror and sing, and swear up and down that I was her, and then when she came out with a bodyguard. That was just awesome," said Laura Rose Peters, a Fresno resident.
"Especially in the black community, she was huge. She was a trendsetter. And set a precedent for a lot of black girls and women. And it's just unfortunate that her life ended," said Sherman Holmes, a Fresno resident.
One day after her death, her music seemed to have come full circle.
Her greatest hits album found its way back to the top of several charts. It's the most downloaded album on iTunes and her albums are in the top ten on Amazon's best seller chart.
"She was a great singer. She contributed a lot to the art of singing. But she was on a downward spiral, so we knew what the end result was going to be," said Elliott Major, a Fresno resident.
The LA County Coroner has done an autopsy on Houston, but the results are on hold pending toxicology tests which could several weeks to process.
Officials say prescription drugs were found in Houston's hotel room.
She was 48 years old.
