Cissy Houston, the legendary gospel singer and mother of the iconic Whitney Houston, passed away on Monday morning at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy that spans generations.
Houston, a two-time Grammy Award winner, breathed her last in her New Jersey home while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, as confirmed by her daughter-in-law Pat Houston. The family released a statement expressing their profound grief at the loss of the matriarch of their family, describing her as a “strong and towering figure” in their lives.
Born in New Jersey in 1933, Houston began her musical journey at a young age, forming a gospel group with her siblings. In the 1960s, she went on to co-found the R&B group the Sweet Inspirations, which provided backing vocals for music legends like Otis Redding, Dusty Springfield, and Dionne Warwick. Houston’s talent and passion for music led her to a successful solo career, where she collaborated with artists such as Chaka Khan, Jimi Hendrix, and her own daughter Whitney.
Throughout her illustrious career, Houston won multiple Grammy Awards for her soulful gospel albums and penned several books, including a touching tribute to her daughter titled “Remembering Whitney: A Mother’s Story of Life, Loss and The Night The Music Stopped.”
Even in her later years, Houston continued to captivate audiences with her soul-stirring performances, as seen in her duet with Aretha Franklin on The Late Show with David Letterman at the age of 80.
Pat Houston expressed gratitude for the many years they were blessed to have Cissy in their lives, and prayed for her to rest in peace alongside her daughter Whitney and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina. The world mourns the loss of a musical icon, but her timeless music and unforgettable spirit will continue to resonate for years to come.
