Cissy Houston, Grammy-winning gospel singer and mother of the late Whitney Houston, has passed away at the age of 91. She died on October 7, 2024, at her home in New Jersey, surrounded by family while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease. Houston’s daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, confirmed the news, describing her as the “matriarch of our family” and a “woman of deep faith and conviction”.
Cissy Houston, born Emily Drinkard in Newark, New Jersey, in 1933, began her career as a child singer, performing in a family gospel group called the Drinkard Singers. Later, she formed the Sweet Inspirations, a backup group that worked with some of the biggest names in music, including Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin. She eventually went on to have a successful solo career, releasing numerous albums and winning two Grammy Awards in the late 1990s.
Over her seven-decade career, Cissy became a revered figure in the music world, collaborating with artists like Otis Redding, Dusty Springfield, and Van Morrison. One of her most notable moments came when she sang backup for Presley during his iconic Las Vegas comeback in 1969.
In addition to her illustrious career, Cissy’s personal life was marked by her close-knit family ties. She was an aunt to singers Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick and played a pivotal role in shaping Whitney Houston’s legendary career.
The loss of Cissy comes more than a decade after the tragic deaths of her daughter, Whitney, in 2012, and granddaughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, in 2015. Her family expressed deep sadness, saying, “We lost the matriarch of our family. 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”.
Houston’s influence on music and culture will be remembered for generations, as will her contributions to both gospel and popular music. She is survived by her children Gary and Michael, as well as her grandchildren. The family has asked for privacy during this difficult time.