Whitney Houston ( 1963-2012 )

Celebrities react via Twitter to the passing of Whitney Houston

Lady Gaga: "When I wrote Born This Way I imagined Whitney singing it because I wasn't secure enough to be a star."

Jennifer Lopez: "Such a loss. One of the greatest voices of our time. Sending out prayers to her family... #R.I.P.Whitney."

Toni Braxton: "She's paved the way for every single singer in the music industry. Iconic, legendary, innovating, amazing, humble...1 the best in the world."

Mariah Carey: "She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth."

Goldie Hawn: "I am so very sad to hear of Whitney Houston's passing. She was one of our great artist that graced us all. May she rest in peace."

Justin Bieber: "just heard the news. so crazy. One of the GREATEST VOICES EVER just passed. RIP Whitney Houston. My prayers go out to her friends and family"

Wyclef Jean: "The voice of an Angel, the Heart of a Lamb, the spirit of a Lioness, the presence of a Goddess, love you R.I.P Whitney Houston."

Bruno Mars: "This is terrible news..I'm sick to my stomach. Nobody sang like Whitney"

Rihanna: "No words! Just tears #DearWhitney. I honestly can't think of anything else!!!"

Tony Bennett: "Whitney Houston was the greatest singer I've ever heard and she will be truly missed."

Pink: "Whitney was the reason many of us do what we do."

Kathy Griffin: “She was A TALENT & A LEGEND. She was never a "reality star" No jokes from me about Miss Houston today.

Dolly Parton: “Mine is only one of the millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston. I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, ‘Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed.”

Barry Manilow: I can’t believe that Whitney is gone. My heart goes out to her family, to Clive (Davis), and to everyone who knew and loved this amazingly talented and beautiful artist. I will always love her.

Barbra Streisand: “She had everything, beauty, a magnificent voice. How sad her gifts could not bring her the same happiness they brought us.”

Reba McEntire: “Rest In Peace, Whitney”

Amy Grant: “So, so sad”

Slash: “Shattering news about Whitney”

Ricky Martin: “ RIP Whitney Houston. Sending my love and deepest condolences to her family and friends. Fly Whitney Fly”

Janet Jackson: "Although we are all saddened by her sudden passing and will miss her, please consider her family at this time of difficulty by granting them the patience and comfort they need to mourn their loss in peace."

Romney Crushes Gingrich

ROMNEY CEMENTS FRONT-RUNNER STATUS IN CRUSHING DEFEAT OF GINGRICH

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney cruised to victory in the crucial Florida primary, crushing his main rival Newt Gingrich and re-establishing himself as the party's frontrunner to take on Barack Obama in November.

Romney bounced back from his defeat at the hands of Gingrich in South Carolina just 10 days ago, winning a huge double-digit victory that reverses the momentum Gingrich had coming out of the previous primary.

With 98% of the votes counted, Romney took a massive 46.4% to Gingrich's 31.9%. The social conservative Rick Santorum came third with 13.3%, and Texas congressman Ron Paul fourth on 7%.

In his victory speech in Tampa, Romney suggested that Democrats should not take comfort from the way Republicans have been attacking each other over the last few weeks.

"Primary contests are not easy – and they're not supposed to be. As this primary unfolds, our opponents in the other party have been watching. They like to comfort themselves with the thought that a competitive campaign will leave us divided and weak," he said.

"But I've got some news for them: a competitive primary does not divide us; it prepares us. And when we gather here in Tampa seven months from now for our convention, ours will be a united party with a winning ticket for America."

The Republican convention in Tampa in August will formally annoint the party's presidential nominee.