Cissy Houston, the Grammy-winning gospel and soul singer, and mother of the late Whitney Houston, passed away at the age of 91.
Her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, confirmed her passing.
“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 shared on Instagram.
Her family stated that she had been in hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease.
Born Emily Drinkard, Cissy Houston enjoyed a successful career as a backup singer for music legends like Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Dionne Warwick. She also performed with the popular group the Sweet Inspirations. Along with her remarkable solo gospel career, she was related to several prominent musical figures, including her niece Dionne Warwick and her cousin, opera singer Leontyne Price.
Houston’s voice can be heard on recordings with artists ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Beyoncé. As a gospel soloist, she earned two Grammy Awards for her albums Face to Facein and He Leadeth Me in the late 1990s.
Her daughter, Whitney Houston, is remembered as one of the best-selling musical artists in U.S. history, with unforgettable hits like “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and “I Will Always Love You.” Whitney tragically passed away in 2012 at age 48, the day before the Grammy Awards, in a shocking accidental drowning.
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