Cissy Houston, GRAMMY-Winning Singer & Mother of Whitney, Dies at 91

Source: Paul Zimmerman / Getty

We are sad to report that Cissy Houston , GRAMMY-winning gospel/soul singer and mother to music icon Whitney Houston, has passed away at the age of 91.

In a statement to the Associated Press , her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, confirmed that Cissy passed away on Monday, October 7, in her New Jersey home while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease.

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

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.

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

A Legend In Her Own Right

Born Emily Drinkard in 1933, in Newark, New Jersey, young Cissy started singing with her siblings as The Drinkard Singers. They were one of the first gospel acts to record on a major label, releasing 1958’s A Joyful Noise .

In 1963, Cissy (who was just about to give birth to daughter Whitney) formed The Sweet Inspirations with Doris Troy and niece Dee Dee Warwick. Throughout the 1960s, they provided backup vocals for artists like Otis Redding, Dionne Warrick, and Aretha Franklin.

Most notably, The Sweet Inspirations sang backup for Elvis Presley in Las Vegas during his residency in July and August 1969. Many of these performances were featured on the All Shook Up and Live In Las Vegas live albums. After those shows, Cissy decided to stop touring to work on a solo career and focus on her family.

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Cissy released 10 studio albums throughout her career. Her 1996 album, Face To Face , won the GRAMMY for “Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album.” She earned a second GRAMMY in 1998 for her album, He Leadeth Me.

Cissy also continued working with other artists as a session vocalist. She sang backup on Bette Midler’s debut album, The Divine Miss M., Linda Ronstadt’s multi-platinum album, Heart Like A Wheel , and on other projects. In addition, Cissy was a longtime Minister of Music at Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church.

A Mother’s Love

Source: L. Busacca / Getty

Perhaps the biggest part of her legacy was the special bond that Cissy had with her children, especially her daughter, Whitney.

Serving as her guide throughout Whitney’s career, Cissy collaborated with her on more than a few occasions. The two collaborated on a cover of “I Know Him So Well” (from the Broadway show Chess ) in 1987 and the track “Family First” with Dionne Warwick for the Daddy’s Little Girls soundtrack in 2006.

After Whitney’s passing in 2012, Cissy continued to be a fierce defender of her daughter’s legacy. In a 2020 statement about an unauthorized Lifetime biopic of Whitney’s life, she condemned the film, saying, “I find it difficult to believe people who knew and supposedly loved her would participate in a movie about her done by folks who didn’t know her. We are exhausted by the continuing misinformation and comments offered by people who did not know her. Please, please let her rest.”

Cissy Houston leaves behind her two sons, Michael Houston & Gary Garland, and daughter-in-law Pat Houston.

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