Cissy Houston, Mother of Whitney Houston, Passes Away at 91
Cissy Houston, the Grammy-winning singer and mother of the late Whitney Houston, has died at the age of 91.
Gwendolyn Quinn, a representative for The Estate of Whitney E. Houston, confirmed her passing, which occurred on Monday at 10:30 a.m. ET while her family surrounded her in hospice care due to Alzheimer’s disease.
In a heartfelt statement, Cissy’s daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, expressed the family’s deep sorrow. “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” she said.
Pat Houston described Cissy as a formidable presence in their lives. As a woman of strong faith who deeply cared about her family, ministry, and community. “Her contributions to popular music and culture are unparalleled,” she added.
Born Emily Drinkard, Cissy was the youngest of eight siblings in a musical family that included future stars Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick. She began her singing career at just five years old. She joined her siblings in the gospel group The Drinkard Four, which later evolved into The Drinkard Singers.
Cissy performed at prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Newport Jazz Festival, and formed The Sweet Inspirations, providing background vocals for renowned artists like Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding.
Cissy Houston released her first solo album, “Presenting Cissy Houston,” in 1969 and enjoyed a successful career, earning two Grammy Awards. She also published a memoir in 2013 titled “Remember Whitney,” sharing insights into her daughter’s life.
Pat Houston concluded with gratitude for the time they shared with Cissy, stating, “May she rest in peace, alongside her daughter, Whitney, and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina, as well as other cherished family members.”