Cissy Houston, Grammy winning gospel singer and mother of Whitney Houston, dies at 91 surrounded by family

Cissy Houston

Cissy Houston, a renowned gospel and soul singer, and mother of pop icon Whitney Houston, passed away at the age of 91. She died peacefully on Monday morning in her New Jersey home, under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston confirmed. Cissy was surrounded by her loved ones during her final moments.

“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” Pat Houston said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. She also described Cissy’s contributions to popular music and culture as “unparalleled.”

Cissy Houston’s incredible career spanned more than seven decades. She started as a gospel singer in a family group and later broke into the popular music scene in the 1960s. She was a founding member of the legendary R&B group The Sweet Inspirations, which provided backing vocals for iconic artists like Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Roy Hamilton, and her niece, Dionne Warwick. The group is perhaps best known for their work on Aretha Franklin’s hits “Think” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” as well as Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man.”

Throughout her career, Cissy collaborated with an impressive range of musicians. The Sweet Inspirations performed with a who’s who of the industry, including Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, and Van Morrison. Aside from her contributions to the group, Cissy’s solo career flourished, leading her to record over 600 songs in various genres. She won two Grammy Awards for her gospel albums Face to Face and He Leadeth Me, and worked with artists like Jimi Hendrix, Luther Vandross, and Chaka Khan.

Outside of her professional achievements, Cissy Houston was deeply rooted in her church and community. For decades, she led the Youth Inspirational Choir at Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church, the same church where Whitney Houston first began singing. Her leadership and dedication to the church were defining aspects of her life, as much as her extraordinary musical legacy.

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Pat Houston also shared that, “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.”

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The Houston family expressed their gratitude for the love and support they have received during this difficult time, while also requesting privacy as they mourn Cissy’s passing.