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    Whitney Houston’s mother, Cissy Houston, dead at 91 after battle with Alzheimer’s

    By Alexandra Bellusci,

    1 days ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2uQtai_0vxhYeho00

    The mother of Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston, has died at 91.

    Cissy’s daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, told the Associated Press that the two-time Grammy winner passed away in her New Jersey home on Monday while in hospice care for Alzheimer’s.

    “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We loss the matriarch of our family,” Pat said in a statement. She added that her mother-in-law’s contributions to music and culture are “unparalleled.”

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3500UU_0vxhYeho00
    Singer Cissy Houston performs onstage during the 2012 BET Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on July 1, 2012, in Los Angeles, California. Michael Buckner
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3oSMwA_0vxhYeho00
    Singers Cissy Houston (left) and her daughter, Whitney Houston, at the Keep a Child Alive Black Ball in New York on Sept. 30, 2010. AP

    “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,” Pat shared.

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    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=15Aa6y_0vxhYeho00
    Singer Whitney Houston (right) and mother Cissy Houston attend the World Music Awards Ceremony on May 4, 1994, in Monaco. Corbis Via Getty Images
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1S4899_0vxhYeho00
    Whitney (right) and Cissy Houston were featured on a special that celebrated moms and aired on Mother’s Day on May 10, 1987. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

    Cissy was the youngest of eight children.

    “We are touched by your generous support, and your outpouring of love during our profound time of grief,” concluded the statement. “We respectfully request our privacy during this difficult time.”

    Pat also took to Instagram to share a sweet tribute with pictures of Cissy throughout the years. She captioned her post, “It saddens my heart to announce the passing of my beloved Queen Cissy Houston today! Please keep the Houston family in your prayers.”

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=16nBYO_0vxhYeho00
    American gospel singer and author Cissy Houston poses for a portrait in New York on Jan. 22, 2013. Dan Hallman/Invision/AP

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    The hitmaker’s death comes 12 years after Whitney died at the age of 48 from an accidental drowning in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

    In the early ’60s, Cissy was in the popular vocal group the Sweet Inspirations alongside Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee Warwick. The group sang backup for some of the era’s best soul singers, including Dionne Warwick, Otis Redding, Lou Rawls and the Drifters.

    In 1967, the Sweet Inspirations sang background vocals for the Jimi Hendrix Experience on the song “Burning of the Midnight Lamp” and Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.”

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Jf01g_0vxhYeho00
    Myrna Smith (clockwise from bottom left), Sylvia Shemwell, Estelle Brown and Cissy Houston of the vocal group the Sweet Inspirations pose for a portrait circa 1967 in New York. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1OYzR0_0vxhYeho00
    Cissy Houston poses for a studio portrait in 1977. Redferns

    Cissy also worked on Aretha Franklin’s classic “Ain’t No Way.”

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    Her last performance with the Sweet Inspirations was when they took the stage for Elvis Presley’s 1969 Las Vegas show. She recorded her final tune with the ladies shortly after, what became one of the biggest R&B hits, “(Gotta Find) A Brand New Lover.”

    The tune appeared on the group’s fifth album, “Sweet Sweet Soul.”

    After four albums together, Cissy left the Sweet Inspirations to pursue a solo career.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2j1saO_0vxhYeho00
    Singer Cissy Houston performs onstage during the 2012 BET Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on July 1, 2012, in LA. Getty Images For BET
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3aGi6i_0vxhYeho00
    Singer Cissy Houston performs onstage at the 35th anniversary Mother’s Day weekend Gospelfest 2017 at Prudential Center on May 13, 2017, in Newark, New Jersey. Getty Images

    In 1971, Cissy’s vocals were featured on Burt Bacharach’s eponymous solo album, which includes “Mexican Divorce,” “All Kinds of People” and “One Less Bell to Answer.”

    She went on to win Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album Grammys for her albums “Face to Face” in 1997 and “He Leadeth Me” in 1999.

    Cissy also wrote three books: “He Leadeth Me,” “How Sweet the Sound: My Life With God and Gospel,” and “Remembering Whitney: My Story of Life, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped.”

    For the latest in entertainment, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/entertainment/

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    Tina Moritz
    1d ago
    so sorry for everyone's loss my sincere condolences and prayers for her and the rest of her family may she's rest in peace. now she's with beloved beautiful daughter whitey and beloved beautiful granddaughter Bobby Christina. may theas beautiful lady all rest in peace 🙏 cissy. whitey. and Bobby Christina. with love from all their beloved fan's
    Deidra Greer
    1d ago
    OH NO!!! my condolences goes out to the rest of the Houston family and friends and may she Rest In peace!🙏🌹
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