Cissy Houston, Mother of Whitney Houston and Grammy-Winning Singer, Dies at 91

Mar. 15, 2025

Cissy Houston, mother of the lateWhitney Houstonand an iconic gospel singer herself, has died. She was 91.

Houston died at her home in New Jersey on Monday, Oct. 7 while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston confirmed.

“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We loss the matriarch of our family,” Pat said in a statement. “Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community. Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts."

Pat continued, “Her contributions to popular music and culture are unparalleled . We are blessed and grateful that God allowed her to spend so many years with us and we are thankful for all the many valuable life lessons that she taught us. May she rest in peace, alongside her daughter, Whitney and granddaughterBobbi Kristinaand other cherished family members.”

Houston was also an aunt of singersDionne Warwickand Dee Dee Warwick.

Houston began her singing career in 1938 when she joined her sister Anne, and two brothers Larry and Nicky in a group called the Drinkard Four.

In 1963, she formed a group called the Sweet Inspirations with Dee Dee Warwick, her niece. Within a few years, the band was providing back-up vocals for artists like Otis Redding, Dusty Springfield and Wilson Pickett. They later worked with The Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1967 andElvis Presleyin 1969.

Houston won twoGrammy awardsin her lifetime, in 1996 for best traditional soul gospel album forFace to Faceand in 1998 for albumHe Leadeth Me.

“Watching Whitney was like seeing Cissy grow up again. The voice; the dedication,” she continued. “Every little girl that came along after her wanted to be Whitney Houston.”

Cissy Houston and Whitney Houston.

She also recorded a duet with daughter Whitney titled “I Know Him So Well” in 1987. In 2006, she recorded “Family First” with Dionne and Whitney.

Houston was married to an NBA basketball player, Gary Garland from 1955 to 1997 and they share son Gary together. In 1958, Houston met John Russell Houston, father of Michael and Whitney. The couple legally separated in 1991 and had six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

“She started partying and she didn’t really know how to stop,” she wrote. “I used to wonder what she was doing at night, where she was.”

But when she tried to contact her, Whitney often didn’t return her call.

“Whitney hid from me,” Houston said. And when she did see her, she was often afraid to confront her daughter.

Cissy Houston.

Music producer Maureen Crowe remembered Houston in a statement to PEOPLE.

source: people.com