By Nakiwala Barbra
Cissy Houston, the iconic gospel singer and mother of Whitney Houston, passed away on Monday morning at the age of 91, her family confirmed in a statement. A two-time Grammy Award winner, Houston died at her home in New Jersey while in hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, according to her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston.
“Our hearts are heavy with grief. We have lost the matriarch of our family,” Pat said, describing Cissy as a “strong and influential presence” in their lives.
Houston, who enjoyed a lengthy and successful career, performed alongside legendary artists such as Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin.
Born in New Jersey in 1933, Houston was the youngest of eight siblings and began her musical journey early, forming a gospel group with her family. In the 1960s, she founded the R&B group the Sweet Inspirations, which provided backup vocals for stars like Otis Redding, Dusty Springfield, and Dionne Warwick. The group also performed on Van Morrison’s classic hit, Brown Eyed Girl.
Following her success with the Sweet Inspirations, Houston launched a solo career, collaborating with artists including Chaka Khan, Jimi Hendrix, Beyonce, Paul Simon, and her late daughter Whitney Houston, who tragically passed away in 2012 at the age of 48.
Cissy Houston earned two Grammy Awards, one for her traditional soul gospel album Face to Face in 1997 and another the following year for He Leadeth Me. She also authored three books, including Remembering Whitney: A Mother’s Story of Life, Loss, and The Night the Music Stopped, a tribute to her late daughter.
At the age of 80, Houston performed alongside Aretha Franklin on The Late Show with David Letterman, covering Adele’s Rolling in the Deep.
Pat Houston added that Cissy’s “over seven-decade career in music and entertainment will always be in our hearts,” and expressed gratitude for the many years they had with her. “May she rest in peace, reunited with her daughter Whitney, granddaughter Bobbi Kristina, and other beloved family members.”
