Cissy Houston, Gospel Legend and Mother of Whitney Houston, Dies at 91

Cissy Houston, the legendary gospel singer and mother of Whitney Houston, passed away peacefully at her New Jersey home on Monday morning at the age of 91. Houston had been in hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, as confirmed by her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston.

In a heartfelt statement, Pat expressed the family’s grief: “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” while also paying tribute to Cissy’s strength and lasting impact, calling her a “strong and towering figure” in their lives.

Cissy Houston’s illustrious career spanned decades, with highlights that include collaborations with some of the biggest names in music, such as Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Van Morrison. Born in 1933 in New Jersey, she was the youngest of eight siblings and started her singing journey early on, performing gospel music with her family. In the 1960s, she gained widespread recognition as part of the R&B group The Sweet Inspirations, singing backup for stars like Otis Redding, Dionne Warwick, and on Van Morrison’s iconic hit “Brown Eyed Girl.”

After finding success with The Sweet Inspirations, Houston launched her own solo career, performing with a diverse range of artists including Chaka Khan, Jimi Hendrix, Beyoncé, Paul Simon, and her beloved daughter, Whitney Houston. Her powerful voice earned her two Grammy Awards, one for her gospel album Face to Face in 1997 and another for He Leadeth Me in 1998.

Cissy Houston was also an accomplished author, penning three books, including Remembering Whitney: A Mother’s Story of Life, Loss and The Night the Music Stopped, which shared memories of her daughter Whitney Houston, who tragically passed away in 2012.

Even in her later years, Cissy continued to perform, sharing a memorable stage with Aretha Franklin on The Late Show with David Letterman at the age of 80, where they covered Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.”

Pat Houston expressed the family’s gratitude for Cissy’s extraordinary life and legacy: “Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts… we are blessed and grateful that God allowed her to spend so many years with us.”

Cissy Houston’s memory will live on through her remarkable musical contributions and the deep love she shared with her family. May she rest in peace, reunited with her daughter Whitney and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina.