Cissy Houston, mother of beloved gospel singer Whitney Houston, has passed away on Monday morning at the age of 91.
It was confirmed and announced by her family in a heartfelt statement stating that she died in her home in New Jersey while receiving hospice care of Alzheimer’s disease
Her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston in the release noted, “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” she expressed, describing the two time Grammy Award winner as a “strong and towering figure” in their lives.
According to Pat Houston, Cissy’s more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of their hearts.
“We are blessed and grateful that God allowed her to spend so many years with us, and we are thankful for all the valuable life lessons she taught us, May she rest in peace alongside her daughter, Whitney, granddaughter Bobbi Kristina, and other cherished family members” Pat added.
Cissy Houston received Grammy Awards for her traditional soul gospel albums, “Face to Face” in 1997 and “He Leadeth Me” in 1998. Additionally, she authored three books, including “Remembering Whitney: A Mother’s Story of Life, Loss, and The Night the Music Stopped,” a tribute to her daughter.
In 2013, she published a memoir titled “Remember Whitney: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped,” during which she sought to set the record straight about Whitney, emphasizing that her daughter was “a wonderful, giving, loving kid” who had her own struggles, just like anyone else.
In the 1960s, she became a member of the R&B group The Sweet Inspirations, known for providing backup vocals for iconic artists such as Otis Redding, Dusty Springfield, and Dionne Warwick. The group also featured on Van Morrison’s classic hit “Brown Eyed Girl.”
After achieving success with The Sweet Inspirations, Cissy launched a solo career, collaborating with renowned artists like Chaka Khan, Jimi Hendrix, Beyoncé, Paul Simon, and her late daughter, Whitney, who tragically passed away in 2012 at the age of 48.
