During her world tour last year, singer Whitney Houston shocked critics and fans alike when she would become winded during her performances and need to take breaks during the show.

As it turns out, this is due to her having developed the disease emphysema.

The 47 year old Houston has been told by doctors that if she doesn’t quit her serious smoking habit that she will certainly die a horrible and painful death.

It was reported by the National Enquirer that Houston is in the early stages of the lung disease, which could certainly prove fatal if not properly taken care of.

According to the paper, caring for her ailing mother has now become the task of 18 year old daughter Bobbi Kristina who recently left rehab for her own addiction problems.

Keep in mind that the source here is the Enquirer, so it’s entirely possible that the story is fabricated. Anything written in the NE has to be taken with a grain of salt.

Whitney’s voice is the stuff of legend, and we are certainly pulling for her.

Update: The folks over at E!online have confirmed with Whitney’s camp that the National Enquirer story is UNTRUE. Whew!