Cissy Houston, the esteemed Grammy-winning mother of the late Whitney Houston, has passed away at the age of 91. Her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, shared the news in a heartfelt Instagram post, urging fans to keep the Houston family in their prayers.
Born Emily Drinkard, Cissy Houston had a remarkable career as a soul and gospel singer. She gained fame as a backup vocalist, collaborating with legendary artists such as Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Dionne Warwick, and was part of the well-known group, the Sweet Inspirations.
Beyond her work as a session singer, she recorded extensively across various genres, lending her vocals to tracks by stars like Jimi Hendrix and Beyoncé. In the late 1990s, she received Grammy Awards for her solo gospel albums, “Face to Face” and “He Leadeth Me.”
Cissy was not only Whitney’s mother but also the aunt of singers Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick and a cousin to opera singer Leontyne Price. Whitney Houston, known for her powerful voice and iconic hits like “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and “I Will Always Love You,” remains one of the best-selling artists in U.S. history. Tragically, she passed away in 2012 just before the Grammy Awards, at the age of 48. Cissy Houston’s legacy as a talented musician and matriarch of a musical family will be remembered fondly.