Whitney Houston emphysema rumours "untrue"

A representative for Whitney Houston has denied rumours that the singer suffers from emphysema.

The National Enquirer claimed this week that the singer had been diagnosed with the illness and given an ultimatum to either give up her cigarette smoking habit or face death.

The tabloid also claimed that Houston was being cared for by 17-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina, who finally convinced her to kick her addiction to nicotine.

However, her spokesperson Kristen Foster told E Online that the story is "completely untrue".

Houston checked into an out-patient rehab facility for drug and alcohol addiction last month.

Ex-husband Bobby Brown has wished Houston the best in her recovery, describing her as a "strong woman".

It was rumoured earlier this year that Bobbi Kristina was in talks to star in her own reality television show. Brown and Houston both appeared in Bravo reality show Being Bobby Brown between 2004 and 2005.a