Whitney Houston's Rep: Emphysema Story Is 'Completely Untrue'

By Kiki Von Glinow Posted Jun 2nd 2011 05:36PM

On the heels of sub par and canceled live performances, Whitney Houston now has a much more serious low to battle on her hands. According to a National Enquirer report, doctors informed the singer that she is suffering from early stages of emphysema, which would be an obvious culprit to Houston's poorly received vocal performances as of late.

"She's developed emphysema -- and her doctors are warning her she'll die a horrible death," a friend of the singer told the Enquirer.

Sound too "horrible" to be true? You guessed right, champ. After staying silent most of the day, Whitney's rep Kristen Foster responded, telling E! News the Enquirer's story is "completely untrue."

According to the sensational story, medical professionals have told Houston, 47, that if she does not completely kick her smoking habit, the disease will take her life. But Houston isn't so keen on ditching the cigs, and the task of weening the 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' singer off of her crutch has fallen to 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristin -- who, fresh off a stint in rehab, is recovering from her own substance addictions.

In early April, Houston canceled several of her European tour shows due to a respiratory infection. The tour was initially conceived to promote Houston's 2009 comeback album, 'I Look To You' -- her first album in seven years. We hope that Houston will look to her daughter before she puts herself six feet under.

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Whitney Houston Snapshots

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 12: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Singer Whitney Houston attends the 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute To Industry Icons Honoring David Geffen at Beverly Hilton on February 12, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. Houston has entered an out-patient rehab program for drug and alcohol treatment according to reports on May 9, 2011. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

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Whitney Houston Snapshots

Whitney Houston arrives at Fountain studios on October 18, 2009 in London, England. Celebrity Sightings In London - October 18, 2009 London, England United Kingdom October 18, 2009 Photo by Sam Snap/FilmMagic.com To license this image (58676261), contact FilmMagic.com

Sam Snap/FilmMagic.com

Singer Whitney Houston performs during the German game show "Wetten Dass...?" (Bet it...?) in Freiburg, southwestern Germany, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009. "Wetten Dass...?" is one of the most popular Saturday night programmes in Germany. (AP Photo/Johannes Eisele, Pool)

US singer Whitney Houston talks with TV host Thomas Gottschalk during the 183rd edition of the TV show presented by "Wetten, dass..?" (Let's Make a Bet) on October 3, 2009 in Freiburg, southern Germany. AFP PHOTO DDP/ JOERG KOCH GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read JOERG KOCH/AFP/Getty Images)

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US singer Whitney Houston performs on stage during the 183rd edition of the TV show presented by "Wetten, dass..?" (Let's Make a Bet) on October 3, 2009 in Freiburg, southern Germany. AFP PHOTO DDP/ JOERG KOCH GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read JOERG KOCH/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

FREIBURG IM BREISGAU, GERMANY - OCTOBER 03: Singer Whitney Houston performs during the Wetten dass...? show at the Messe Freiburg on October 3, 2009 in Freiburg, Germany. (Photo by Miguel Villagran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Whitney Houston

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Comments

(257)

Thursday 02 June

By bree

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SO SORRY WHITNEY. I HAVE EMPHYSEMA ALSO.....HAVE HAD IT FOR 9 YEARS. QUIT THE SMOKES.........HOPE YOU DO WELL.......BREE

By Bliss

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my grandmother died from emphysema and it isnt anything like asthma u need more than an inhaler. your lungs shut down and u r grasping for air and they can put a fan down your throat but when your lungs shut down that is it. i quit smoking not because my grandmother died that horrible death. i quit smoking a year after she died because i couldnt stop coughing and my three year old son then was worried. he couldnt really express himself but his facial expression made me quit cold turkey. if her condition is really bad she can stop smoking today and die of emphysema five years later thats what happened to my grandmother. once u have emphysema u have that forever it doesnt go away that is why they said it was deadly because she also has lung infections along with the disease. People think emphysema goes away it doesnt. i have a friend that has a touch of emphysema and she still smokes.

By Evelyn

Houston is not the first or last that throws everything they've given away on either drugs or booze or both. Hollywood is the land of the losers.

By moveover

Ugly Bobby Brown destroyed her. How sad she got involved with this degenerate loser.

By Marsha

No, Whitney Houston destroyed Whitney Houston.

By Reece

Your one of those people who goes through life blaming everything that goes wrong for you on something else aren't you? Nobody forced Whitney to do drugs and be a horrible parent and person. Bobby certainly enabled it and he certainly did not help..but she was an adult and made her own choices. Had she taken accountability..she would not be in this situation.

By dee

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NOPE! NOPE! NOPE! Whitney was at a NBA game in Jersey back in 1988...The girl acted just as you know her to act today. Many ppl wouldn't beleived it if were not there! I heard that she had to be refined for 2yrs before she was allowed on the circuit...now thats just what I heard, yall. So, if thats true she was female ROUGH Neck already! She's a shame...but, moreimportantly, she is the prime example of what happens when you are NOT prayed up and do not have set boundaries that you just wont cross! Set boundaries and talk to your kids about the same. Morals! Morals! Morals people! Love-Peace n Hairgrease!!

By Lassie

I doubt she cares if she has emphysema now. She's been on a downward spiral for years and years, like the recently departed Jeff Conway. Nothing matters to addicts except getting high, and if you told them their private parts were going to rot and fall off if they didn't clean up, they wouldn't care about that, either....If she really wanted to reclaim a life, or be a good role model, or even be a mother to her daughter, she would have cleaned up and started healthy living decades ago. But she doesn't, so everybody stop worrying, sympathizing, tut-tutting, or wondering where it all went wrong for WH. It is what it is. She doesn't care, she's probably aware she will never recover, get her voice back, or have a career, so why not go on as she is?

By radh13

I guess crack really is whack..... Puffing on the pipe sure didn't do her any justice. I do not feel sorry for her, she chose her own destiny.

Friday 03 June

By Tee

Two words: Personal choice! I've been a huge fan of both Bobby & Whitney for a long while and as the years went by it came to my attention (and from watching their show) that BOBBY did not "make or cause" Whitney to be this way. Whitney was this way BEFORE Bobby but was unwilling or unable to show her true colors due to the carefully crafted image that was shoved down our throats by music mogul Clive Davis! I believe Bobby kinda gave her confidence enough to be herself....and thats who she always was! If yall havent noticed, Bobby has been clean for a while now and hasnt had anything negative to say about his ex. Hmmmmmmmm

By damien

Was it the cigs....the crack....who knows.....

By Koz

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She is 47, my brother is 59 he has had it for 20 years and still smokes and living. Doctors are full of crap.

By Allan

Smoking crack for years is probably bad for the lungs. People like this have it made and are too dumb to know it.

By Highland Parker

I dated her cousin many years ago and the family is filled with huge egos . All very talented but HUGE egos .

By Georgia

death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is NOT pretty.....off and on ventillators....gunk in your lungs...smoking is a tough addiction....no happy endings to this story, I'm afraind

By Fudgefase

When I was a nurse, I saw people die of respiratory distress. It really is a horrible, frightening way to go. There's nothing really can be done for you because your lungs just can't get enough air in (even on 100% oxygen) to alleviate your suffering. You are conscious and aware. Basically you suffocate slowly. Sorry to sound so dramatic, but nobody, irrespective of how they lived their lives, should be mocked because they have this terrible condition.

By jill

Yep. Crack is Whack alright.

By Julie

This sad and shocking. I loved Whitney back in the day. Her singing voice was angelic and no one could touch on the charta and at the awards shows. It's so sad to see her downfalling for yesrs.

By Whatthef

Whitney hon, if all this is true then if not for yourself, remember you have a family - a daughter and mother that luvs u.
You still have your looks as I thought you would start looking pop down by now. Find yourself a young boyfriend and get your life back on track.

By joan

With our present and future air quality...all may be in jeopardy.
It is just a matter of time. Sad for Whitney...but, any one of us could be next. Plus....nothing worse than second hand smoke..

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