Grammy Winner Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston’s Mother, Passes Away at 91

Cissy Houston, the celebrated gospel artist and mother of Whitney Houston, passed away on Monday in New Jersey at the age of 91.

Cissy was in a hospice receiving treatment for Alzheimer’s disease at the time of her passing. Pat Houston, her daughter-in-law, shared in a statement that she died surrounded by her loved ones. “Our hearts are heavy with grief and sorrow,” Pat expressed. “We have lost the cornerstone of our family. Mother Cissy was a beacon of strength and prominence in our lives, a woman of profound faith and dedication, deeply committed to her family, her ministry, and her community. Her illustrious career spanning over seventy years in music and entertainment will forever be cherished in our memories.”

Born Emily Drinkard on September 30, 1933, Cissy was the youngest of eight siblings. She embarked on her musical journey in 1938 with the Drinkard Four, a vocal ensemble that included her sister Anne and brothers Larry and Nicky. She first married Freddie Garland in the mid-1950s and, following a divorce, married John Houston Jr. in the mid-1960s. They separated in the 1990s.

As a part of the Sweet Inspirations, Cissy provided backup vocals for icons like Otis Redding and her niece Dionne Warwick, among others. The group also contributed to recordings such as Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Burning of the Midnight Lamp,” and Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way.” In 1969, they performed with Elvis Presley during his Las Vegas shows. The group’s song “Sweet Inspiration” reached number 18 on the charts, and their album, The Sweet Inspirations from 1967, climbed to number 90 on the charts.

In 1970, Cissy released her debut solo album, Presenting Cissy Houston. Over the following years, she emerged as a vocal force in genres including soul, R&B, gospel, and disco. She later won two Grammy Awards in the Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album category, in 1997 for Face to Face and in 1999 for He Leadeth Me. Throughout her storied career, she also lent her voice to recordings by Chaka Khan, Paul Simon, Luther Vandross, and Beyoncé; AP reports she appeared on more than 600 recordings.

Cissy, a mother of three, welcomed Whitney in 1963. She supported her daughter’s career throughout her life and made appearances in Whitney’s videos for “Greatest Love of All” and “I’m Every Woman.” She also acted in The Preacher’s Wife, a film directed by Penny Marshall and starring Whitney.

Following Whitney’s tragic passing in 2012, Cissy fiercely defended her daughter’s legacy. She was notably critical of portrayals she considered misrepresentative, such as a Lifetime biopic and the documentary Whitney. In 2013, Cissy authored a memoir titled Remembering Whitney: My Story of Life, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped.

Cissy also wrote two other books reflecting on her ties to music and faith: He Leadeth Me and How Sweet the Sound: My Life With God and Gospel. In 1998, she discussed her late-blooming fame in a cover story for Jet magazine. “Many of the things I’ve done came later in life, almost like starting a new career,” she reflected. “I have no regrets about how I planned and lived my life, and I’m very proud of what I’ve become.”