Cissy Houston, legendary singer and mother of Whitney Houston, dies at 91

Cissy Houston, the celebrated gospel singer and mother of Whitney Houston, passed away at the age of 91 on Monday morning. She died peacefully at her home in New Jersey, where she had been receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston confirmed. Pat described Cissy as the “matriarch” and a “strong, towering figure” in their family’s life.
Cissy Houston enjoyed a long and successful career, performing with legends like Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin. She began singing in a gospel group with her siblings and later formed the R&B group Sweet Inspirations, which performed backup vocals for icons such as Otis Redding and Dionne Warwick. After finding success with the Sweet Inspirations, she launched a solo career, collaborating with major artists like Chaka Khan, Paul Simon, and her daughter Whitney.
Houston won two Grammy Awards for her gospel albums Face to Face and He Leadeth Me. In addition to her musical achievements, she penned three books, including one reflecting on her daughter Whitney’s life and passing. At 80, Cissy performed with Aretha Franklin on The Late Show with David Letterman, covering Adele’s Rolling in the Deep.
Her family expressed deep sadness and gratitude for her life, remembering her as an incredible figure both in music and their personal lives.
Music by Yevhen Onoychenko from Pixabay