Cissy Houston, Legendary Gospel Singer and Whitney Houston’s Mother, Dies at 91

Cissy Houston, the celebrated two-time Grammy-winning soul-gospel artist and mother of Whitney Houston, has passed away at the age of 91. Her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, shared the sad news that Cissy died Monday morning at her New Jersey home while receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease.

“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” Pat Houston expressed in a heartfelt statement. “Her contributions to popular music and culture are unparalleled.” She described Cissy as a woman of profound faith and commitment who cared deeply for her family, ministry, and community. “Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts. We appreciate your generous support and the outpouring of love during this incredibly difficult time, and we respectfully ask for privacy as we grieve.”

Before her passing, Cissy Houston enjoyed a distinguished singing career, sharing the stage with music legends such as Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin. Born Emily Drinkard in New Jersey in 1933, Cissy was the youngest of eight children and began singing in church at an early age. By the time she was five, she and three of her siblings had formed the Drinkard Singers, a gospel group that thrived for 30 years and performed alongside iconic artists like Mahalia Jackson, releasing the album “A Joyful Noise” in 1959.

Cissy Houston rose to prominence in the 1960s as a member of The Sweet Inspirations, a renowned backing vocal group that included Doris Troy and her niece, Dee Dee Warwick. The group provided backup for a wide array of soul artists, including Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, and Dionne Warwick, while also performing with Elvis Presley, who fondly remembered Cissy for her infectious spirit during rehearsal breaks.

After a successful run with The Sweet Inspirations, producing four albums, Cissy ventured into a solo career that flourished. As a sought-after session singer, she recorded over 600 songs across various genres, lending her remarkable vocals to tracks featuring artists like Chaka Khan, Donny Hathaway, Jimi Hendrix, Luther Vandross, Beyoncé, Paul Simon, and even her daughter Whitney Houston.

Throughout her career, Cissy released several influential records, including “Presenting Cissy Houston,” the disco-era “Think It Over,” and Grammy-winning gospel albums “Face to Face” and “He Leadeth Me.” One of her standout moments came in 1971 when her signature vocals were featured on Burt Bacharach’s solo album, which included songs such as “Mexican Divorce” and “One Less Bell to Answer.” She also showcased her talent with timeless standards, including Barbra Streisand’s “Evergreen.”

Never straying far from her roots in New Jersey, Cissy Houston dedicated decades to leading the 200-member Youth Inspirational Choir at Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church, the same church where Whitney Houston sang as a child. Cissy often mentioned that she had discouraged her daughter from pursuing a career in show business, yet their musical journeys intertwined throughout Whitney’s life—from church performances to concert tours and recording sessions together. They first captivated national audiences with a medley of Aretha Franklin hits on “The Merv Griffin Show,” and Cissy provided backup vocals on Whitney’s multi-platinum debut album. The duo also shared the spotlight in “The Preacher’s Wife” and frequently performed together in concert.

Tragically, Whitney’s struggles with addiction took a severe toll on her life and career, culminating in her untimely death in a Beverly Hills bathtub on February 11, 2012. In her 2013 memoir, “Remembering Whitney,” Cissy Houston expressed her feelings, placing blame on Bobby Brown for Whitney’s drug issues.

Adding to her heartbreak, in 2015, Cissy Houston lost her granddaughter Bobbi Kristina Brown, Whitney Houston’s only daughter, who was found unresponsive in a bathtub and later died at the age of 22.

Cissy Houston was married to Whitney’s father, John Russell Houston, an entertainment executive, from 1959 until their divorce in 1990. Her legacy as a mother, grandmother, and musical icon will continue to resonate through the countless lives she touched.