Cissy Houston, a Grammy-winning gospel singer and mother of late pop icon Whitney Houston, died Monday at her New Jersey home, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston confirmed. She was 91.
Houston, who had been under hospice care due to Alzheimer’s disease, passed away surrounded by family. “She was a strong and towering figure, a woman of deep faith and conviction,” Pat Houston said in a statement.
Born Emily Drinkard in Newark, Cissy Houston began her musical career in 1938, singing gospel with her siblings. She later became a sought-after backup singer, working with music legends including Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Jimi Hendrix.
As a solo artist, Houston won two Grammy Awards for best traditional soul gospel album, for her 1997 album “Face to Face” and 1998’s “He Leadeth Me.”
“Cissy Houston’s contributions to gospel and soul music are immeasurable,” said Dr. Robert Darden, professor of journalism at Baylor University and former gospel music editor for Billboard Magazine. “Her influence extended far beyond her own recordings.”
Houston’s career also included collaborations with contemporary artists such as Beyoncé and Luther Vandross. She was the aunt of singer Dionne Warwick and mother to former NBA player Gary Garland, in addition to Whitney Houston.
Her death marks the end of an era in American gospel music and adds to the Houston family’s musical legacy.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
