Cissy Houston, Grammy-Winning Gospel Singer and Mother of Whitney Houston, Passes Away at 91

Cissy Houston, the legendary gospel singer and mother of the late Whitney Houston, has died at the age of 91.

Cissy died Monday morning at her home in New Jersey while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston confirmed to The Associated Press. She was surrounded by her family at the time of her passing.

“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” Pat Houston said in a heartfelt statement, describing Cissy’s contributions to music and culture as “unparalleled.” She added that Cissy was a “woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community.”

Known for her powerful voice and incredible contributions to gospel and soul music, Cissy won two Grammy Awards during her career and was a guiding force in her daughter Whitney’s rise to stardom.

Throughout her life, Cissy made her mark as a solo artist and a renowned background vocalist, working with iconic musicians like Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, and Dionne Warwick, her niece. Her immense talent and musical legacy, however, are most often linked to her role in shaping Whitney Houston into one of the greatest voices in music history.

“We are touched by your generous support, and your outpouring of love during our profound time of grief,” the Houston family said in a statement. “We respectfully request our privacy during this difficult time.”