Nationwide — Cissy Houston, a two-time Grammy-winning soul and gospel artist who sang alongside legends like Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, has passed away at the age of 91. She died peacefully in her New Jersey home on Monday morning, surrounded by family while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, according to her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, who confirmed the news to the media.
As a solo artist, Cissy continued to shine. She won two Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album, for Face to Face in 1997 and He Leadeth Me in 1998. Her vocal versatility allowed her to work with artists across genres, from Burt Bacharach to Jimi Hendrix to Luther Vandross and even Beyoncé. She also collaborated with her daughter Whitney on numerous occasions, including on the hit “I Know Him So Well” from Whitney’s 1987 album. Their relationship was not only professional but deeply personal, with Cissy playing an influential role in Whitney’s rise to stardom, despite at times discouraging her daughter from entering show business due to its challenges.
Cissy’s life was filled with both triumph and heartbreaking loss. She outlived her beloved daughter Whitney Houston, whose struggles with addiction tragically ended her life in 2012. Cissy reflected on these challenges in her 2013 memoir Remembering Whitney, blaming Whitney’s ex-husband, Bobby Brown, for her downward spiral into substance abuse. Sadly, the family would endure more heartache in 2015 when Cissy’s granddaughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, died at the age of 22, following months in a coma after being found unconscious in a bathtub.
Born Emily Drinkard in Newark, New Jersey, Cissy was the youngest of eight children. Her musical journey began at the tender age of five when she and her siblings formed the Drinkard Singers, a gospel group that performed alongside Mahalia Jackson. Though she initially desired to remain in gospel music, Cissy was encouraged by her husband, John Houston, to pursue work as a session singer, a decision that led her to collaborate with some of the biggest names in the industry.
Her work ethic and talent allowed her to transcend racial barriers during a time when segregation was still prevalent. In her 1998 memoir How Sweet the Sound, she recalled how the studio environment allowed people of different backgrounds to come together, creating music that was free of societal prejudices.
Pat Houston expressed the family’s gratitude for the outpouring of love and support they’ve received during this difficult time. “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness,” she said, calling Cissy a “strong and towering figure” who left an indelible mark on the world of music and in the hearts of her family.
Cissy Houston’s legacy will endure through the timeless music she helped create and the impact she made on the countless artists she inspired. While her death marks the end of an era, her spirit lives on in the music, faith, and love she shared with the world.
