Cissy Houston, the Grammy-winning mother of the late Whitney Houston, dies at 91.
She died m in her New Jersey home while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease as revealed by her daughter-in-law Pat Houston.
“It saddens my heart to announce the passing of my beloved Queen Cissy Houston today! Please keep the Houston family in your prayers,” Pat Houston wrote on Instagram.
“Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community. Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts,” she said.
Cissy Houston born Emily Drinkard, sang soul and gospel, boasting a successful backup career for the likes of Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick, including as part of the popular group the Sweet Inspirations.
Along with being Whitney Houston’s mother, she was the aunt of singers Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, and a cousin to famed opera singer Leontyne Price.
Cissy Houston, a popular session singer, recorded hundreds of songs across the genres, with her vocals included on tracks by stars from Jimi Hendrix to Beyonce.
As a gospel soloist, she nabbed Grammys for the albums “Face to Face” and “He Leadeth Me” in the late 1990s.
Her daughter, Whitney is one of the best-selling US musical artists of all time, with classic hits showcasing her remarkable vocals including “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and “I Will Always Love You.”
Whitney Houston died in a shock drowning the day before the Grammy awards in 2012, at age 48.
Pat Houston said she is thankful for the many valuable lessons learned from her mother-in-law. She said the family feels “blessed and grateful” that God allowed Cissy to spend so many years with them.
“We are touched by your generous support, and your outpouring of love during our profound time of grief,” Pat Houston said on behalf of the family. “We respectfully request our privacy during this difficult time.”
Written by Jennifer Amarachi