<P> John returns to the studio thinking of restarting his career . His band tells him they have gone on without him . At home alone, John begins to write a new song . As he records it, he is interrupted by the phone . Someone asks for Esther and wants to know whether he is her secretary . </P> <P> At the Grammy Awards, Esther wins for best female performance . While she is giving her acceptance speech, John arrives drunk and makes a scene . Later, Esther tries to talk Brian into giving John a last chance . John is writing songs again but in a different way . Brian calls on John and likes the new songs, but suggests John release some of his old hits along with the new songs . However, John wants to go with the new work only, so he turns down the offer . </P> <P> Back at his LA mansion, John finds Quentin, a magazine writer, swimming half - naked in his swimming pool . She says she would do anything to get an exclusive interview with Esther . When Esther arrives soon after, she finds them in bed together . Quentin tries to interview Esther, but John tells Quentin to get out . Esther and John end up going back to their small home out west where they have been happiest . One morning, John drives to the airport to get Brian . He puts on some of Esther's songs, drives recklessly, and is killed in an accident . Afterwards, back at the LA mansion, Esther hears John's voice calling out for someone to answer the phone . But she discovers it's just a tape of the old songwriting session during which the phone had interrupted his singing . </P> <P> At Esther's next concert, the audience raises candles as tribute to her lost husband . She sings one of John's songs but begins it as a ballad and ends it as a rock song . </P>

Who died in the original a star is born