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The high price of talent

FILE - This Feb. 16, 1997 file photo shows Elizabeth Taylor arriving with Michael Jackson at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles for her birthday celebration. Publicist Sally Morrison says the actress died Wednesday, March 23, 2011 in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure at age 79. (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)
Rebecca Nappi
FILE - This Feb. 16, 1997 file photo shows Elizabeth Taylor arriving with Michael Jackson at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles for her birthday celebration. Publicist Sally Morrison says the actress died Wednesday, March 23, 2011 in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure at age 79. (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)
FILE - This Feb. 16, 1997 file photo shows Elizabeth Taylor arriving with Michael Jackson at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles for her birthday celebration. Publicist Sally Morrison says the actress died Wednesday, March 23, 2011 in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure at age 79. (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

When the news of Whitney Houston’s death hit Saturday, CNN showed a photo of her taken years ago with Liza Minnelli, Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson. All people blessed with great talent. All people who used the talent well for many years.

But all four fought battles with addiction. Only Minnelli remains alive.

If you were given a great talent — in acting, singing, dancing, fine art, writing — would you accept it, knowing that the addiction demon comes with it? Post-mortem questions today.

(Spokesman-Review archives photo)

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "EndNotes." Read all stories from this blog