Cissy Houston, the Grammy-winning gospel and soul singer, and mother of the late Whitney Houston, has passed away at the age of 91, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston confirmed on Monday. Pat shared the news on Instagram, writing, “It saddens my heart to announce the passing of my beloved Queen Cissy Houston today! Please keep the Houston family in your prayers.”
Born Emily Drinkard, Cissy Houston had a remarkable career as a backup singer, collaborating with music legends like Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Dionne Warwick. She was a key member of the popular group, The Sweet Inspirations. In addition to being Whitney Houston’s mother, Cissy was also the aunt of singers Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick, and a cousin of opera star Leontyne Price.
Cissy’s own legacy in music is vast, contributing her vocals to numerous tracks across genres, from Jimi Hendrix to Beyoncé. As a solo gospel artist, she won Grammy Awards for her albums Face to Face and He Leadeth Me in the 1990s.
Her daughter, Whitney Houston, remains one of the best-selling music artists in U.S. history, celebrated for iconic hits such as “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and “I Will Always Love You.” Whitney tragically passed away in 2012 at the age of 48.
Cissy Houston’s death marks the end of a profound musical era, and her contributions to the industry will be remembered for generations to come.