Cissy Houston, the celebrated soul and gospel singer and mother of the late Whitney Houston, has passed away at the age of 91. Her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, announced that Cissy died at her home in New Jersey on Monday morning, surrounded by family while receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease.
In a heartfelt statement, Pat Houston expressed the family’s sorrow, stating, “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family. 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.”
Pat Houston 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 many valuable life lessons that she taught us. May she rest in peace, alongside her daughter, Whitney, granddaughter Bobbi Kristina, and other cherished family members.”
Cissy Houston began her entertainment career in Newark, New Jersey, as part of the gospel group Drinkard Four, eventually forming the Sweet Inspirations. The group provided backup vocals for iconic artists such as Otis Redding, Dusty Springfield, and Dionne Warwick, contributing to famous tracks like Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Burning of the Midnight Lamp.” They performed their final show in Las Vegas in 1969 alongside Elvis Presley.
As a solo artist, she released her debut album “Presenting Cissy Houston” in 1970 and continued to produce music, with her last album being 2012’s “Walk on By Faith.” Throughout her career, she lent her voice to numerous recordings, including Bette Midler’s debut “The Divine Miss M” and Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way,” among others.
Cissy was honored with her first Grammy Award in 1997 for her album “Face to Face” in the best traditional soul gospel album category, later winning again in 1999 for her album “He Leadeth Me.”
Coming from a lineage of performers, Cissy’s family includes daughter Whitney Houston, nieces Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick, and opera singer Leontyne Price as a cousin. She was the youngest of eight siblings.
The Houston family expressed their gratitude for the overwhelming support they have received during this difficult period, requesting privacy as they navigate their loss.