Cissy Houston, mother of Whitney Houston, dies at 91

Cissy Houston, the Grammy-winning soul and gospel artist and mother of the late Whitney Houston, passed away at 91 in her New Jersey home on Monday.

Her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, shared the news on Instagram, writing: “It saddens my heart to announce the passing of my beloved Queen Cissy Houston today! Please keep the Houston family in your prayers,” accompanied by a photo collage of the singer.

Houston was born as Emily Drinkard on September 30, 1933, in Newark, New Jersey, and later took on the stage name Cissy Houston. She first gained recognition as part of the gospel group the Drinkard Four and went on to help form the R&B group, the Sweet Inspirations.

Throughout her career, she sang backup for iconic musicians such as Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Otis Redding, and Dionne Warwick. 

Breaking barriers in both gender and race, Houston also worked alongside artists like Elvis Presley, Bette Midler, and Linda Ronstadt—a significant achievement for a Black woman in the industry at the time. In 1970, she embarked on a solo career, earning two Grammy Awards for her contributions to gospel music.

Cissy Houston’s daughter, Whitney Houston, passed away in 2012 after being found unresponsive in a hotel bathtub.