Cissy Houston, the celebrated soul and gospel singer and mother of Whitney Houston, has passed away at the age of 91.
Houston died at her home in New Jersey on Monday morning, surrounded by family, as confirmed by her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston. She had been receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease.
“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” Pat Houston expressed in a statement. “Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, she cared immensely about family, ministry, and community.”
The statement continued, “Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts. Her contributions to popular music and culture are unparalleled. We are blessed and grateful that God allowed her to spend so many years with us and we are thankful for all the invaluable life lessons she imparted. May she rest in peace, alongside her daughter, Whitney, and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina, as well as other beloved family members.”
Cissy Houston began her career in entertainment as a member of the gospel group Drinkard Five and subsequently formed the Sweet Inspirations with Dee Dee Warwick and Doris Troy, providing backup vocals for artists like Otis Redding and Dusty Springfield. She was featured in iconic tracks such as Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Burning of the Midnight Lamp.”
The Sweet Inspirations’ final performance took place in Las Vegas in 1969, alongside Elvis Presley. As a solo artist, Houston released her first album, “Presenting Cissy Houston,” in 1970, followed by numerous records, including her most recent, “Walk on By Faith,” released in 2012. Throughout her career, she provided backup vocals for numerous notable artists, including Bette Midler, Aretha Franklin, and Diana Ross.
Houston won her first Grammy in 1997 for the album “Face to Face,” which was awarded Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album. She received a second Grammy in the same category for her album “He Leadeth Me” in 1999.
She hailed from a lineage of entertainers, including her daughter Whitney Houston, nieces Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick, and cousin Leontyne Price, an acclaimed opera singer. Cissy was the youngest of eight siblings.
In a family statement, they expressed, “On behalf of The Houston Family, we are touched by your generous support and the outpouring of love during this profound time of grief. We kindly request our privacy during this difficult time.”