Cissy Houston's Life in Photos

Mar. 15, 2025

Cissy Houston in 1977.Photo:Gilles Petard/Redferns

Gilles Petard/Redferns

The world lost another powerful voice whenCissy Houstondied at age 91.On Oct. 7, 2024, theGrammy-winning singer and mother ofWhitney Houstondied at her New Jersey homewhile under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, her daughter-in-law Pat Johnson confirmed.“Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives," Pat said in a statement. “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.“Cissy, the grandmother of Whitney’s late daughterBobbi Kristina Brown, won two Grammy Awards in her lifetime for best traditional gospel album. She also sang backup for the likes ofElvis Presley,Bette Midler,Aretha Franklin,Chaka Khanand her nieceDionne Warwick.As music mourns Cissy and her contributions to the industry, remember her accomplished life in photos.

The world lost another powerful voice whenCissy Houstondied at age 91.

On Oct. 7, 2024, theGrammy-winning singer and mother ofWhitney Houstondied at her New Jersey homewhile under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, her daughter-in-law Pat Johnson confirmed.

“Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives,” Pat said in a statement. “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.”

Cissy, the grandmother of Whitney’s late daughterBobbi Kristina Brown, won two Grammy Awards in her lifetime for best traditional gospel album. She also sang backup for the likes ofElvis Presley,Bette Midler,Aretha Franklin,Chaka Khanand her nieceDionne Warwick.

As music mourns Cissy and her contributions to the industry, remember her accomplished life in photos.

01of 09Cissy Houston’s ChildhoodCissy Houston.Charlie Gillett/RedfernsCissy Houston was born as Emily Drinkard in Newark, New Jersey, on Sept. 30, 1933, to Nitcholas “Nitch” and Celia Mae Drinkard. She was the youngest of eight children and grew up under the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

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Cissy Houston’s Childhood

Cissy Houston.Charlie Gillett/Redferns

Charlie Gillett/Redferns

Cissy Houston was born as Emily Drinkard in Newark, New Jersey, on Sept. 30, 1933, to Nitcholas “Nitch” and Celia Mae Drinkard. She was the youngest of eight children and grew up under the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

02of 09The Drinkard SingersCissy Houston in 1977.Nitcholas encouraged four of his children, Cissy, Anne, Larry and Nick, to form the gospel singing group The Drinkard Four. The quartet later expanded to include their sister Marie, and they became The Drinkard Singers. Another sister, Lee Drinkard Warrick — who is the mother of Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick — served as their manager.

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The Drinkard Singers

Cissy Houston in 1977.

Nitcholas encouraged four of his children, Cissy, Anne, Larry and Nick, to form the gospel singing group The Drinkard Four. The quartet later expanded to include their sister Marie, and they became The Drinkard Singers. Another sister, Lee Drinkard Warrick — who is the mother of Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick — served as their manager.

03of 09The Sweet InspirationsCissy Houston, Myrna Smith, Estelle Brown and Sylvia Shemwell of The Sweet Inspirations.James Kriegsmann/Michael Ochs Archives/GettyAfter several lineup changes, Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick formed the R&B girl group The Sweet Inspirations. When Dionne left in 1963, Cissy replaced her niece in the group, and they went on to sing backup for artists like Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix and Van Morrison on “Brown Eyed Girl.“Cissy departed the group in 1969 to pursue a solo career, and the following year, she released her debut albumPresenting Cissy Houston.

03of 09

The Sweet Inspirations

Cissy Houston, Myrna Smith, Estelle Brown and Sylvia Shemwell of The Sweet Inspirations.James Kriegsmann/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

James Kriegsmann/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

After several lineup changes, Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick formed the R&B girl group The Sweet Inspirations. When Dionne left in 1963, Cissy replaced her niece in the group, and they went on to sing backup for artists like Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix and Van Morrison on “Brown Eyed Girl.”

Cissy departed the group in 1969 to pursue a solo career, and the following year, she released her debut albumPresenting Cissy Houston.

04of 09Love with John Houston Jr.John Houston Jr. and Cissy Houston.NY Daily News via GettyJohn Russell Houston Jr. met Cissy in 1957, and the couple wed in May 1964, a month after John divorced his first wife. Their relationship produced two children, son Michael and daughter Whitney. They also shared Gary, whom Cissy gave birth to in 1957 during her first marriage to Freddie Garland.The pair divorced in 1991, and John died in 2003 at age 82.“We always loved each other,” Cissy toldUSA Todayin 2013, though she acknowledged the challenges she faced in their marriage.

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Love with John Houston Jr.

John Houston Jr. and Cissy Houston.NY Daily News via Getty

NY Daily News via Getty

John Russell Houston Jr. met Cissy in 1957, and the couple wed in May 1964, a month after John divorced his first wife. Their relationship produced two children, son Michael and daughter Whitney. They also shared Gary, whom Cissy gave birth to in 1957 during her first marriage to Freddie Garland.

The pair divorced in 1991, and John died in 2003 at age 82.

“We always loved each other,” Cissy toldUSA Todayin 2013, though she acknowledged the challenges she faced in their marriage.

05of 09Becoming Grammy WinnerCissy Houston with her Grammy.Steve Eichner/WireImageIn 1996, Cissy won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album with her sixth studio albumFace to Face. She claimed another accolade in the category at the 1998 ceremony with her albumHe Leadeth Me.

05of 09

Becoming Grammy Winner

Cissy Houston with her Grammy.Steve Eichner/WireImage

Steve Eichner/WireImage

In 1996, Cissy won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album with her sixth studio albumFace to Face. She claimed another accolade in the category at the 1998 ceremony with her albumHe Leadeth Me.

06of 09Her Bond with Daughter WhitneyWhitney Houston and Cissy Houston.Cissy’s only daughter, Whitney Houston, was born on Aug. 9, 1963. Whitney inherited her mother’s passion and talent for music, going on to become one of the bestselling artists of all-time. The mother-daughter duo collaborated on occasion, singing Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way” together onThe Merv Griffin Showand recording the duet “I Know Him So Well.” They also worked with close relative Dionne Warwick on “Family First” for theDaddy’s Little Girlssoundtrack in 2006.After Whitney wasfound dead on Feb. 11, 2012, in her hotel bathtub, Cissy wrote an emotional open letter in the program of her late daughter’s homegoing service.“How I love you Nippy and how I miss you, your beautiful smile, your special little things you used to say to me and sometimes you’d call just to say ‘hi Mommie, I love you so much,’ I loved you so much more. I love you, I’ll miss you, Thank you for being such a wonderful daughter,” she concluded her farewell.

06of 09

Her Bond with Daughter Whitney

Whitney Houston and Cissy Houston.

Cissy’s only daughter, Whitney Houston, was born on Aug. 9, 1963. Whitney inherited her mother’s passion and talent for music, going on to become one of the bestselling artists of all-time. The mother-daughter duo collaborated on occasion, singing Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way” together onThe Merv Griffin Showand recording the duet “I Know Him So Well.” They also worked with close relative Dionne Warwick on “Family First” for theDaddy’s Little Girlssoundtrack in 2006.

After Whitney wasfound dead on Feb. 11, 2012, in her hotel bathtub, Cissy wrote an emotional open letter in the program of her late daughter’s homegoing service.

“How I love you Nippy and how I miss you, your beautiful smile, your special little things you used to say to me and sometimes you’d call just to say ‘hi Mommie, I love you so much,’ I loved you so much more. I love you, I’ll miss you, Thank you for being such a wonderful daughter,” she concluded her farewell.

07of 09

Cissy Houston and Her Nieces

Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston and Dionne Warwick in March 1987.Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

Cissy Houston was the aunt of singers Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick, who also sang with her in The Drinkard Singers. Dionne was outspoken about how she looked up to Cissy and viewed her as an older sister, because the two were close in age.

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Being a Grandmother

Cissy Houston and Bobbi Kristina Brown attend ‘The Houstons: On Our Own’ premiere in N.Y.C. on Oct. 22, 2012.Jim Spellman/WireImage

Jim Spellman/WireImage

In 2013, Cissy penned an open letter to her granddaughterBobbi Kristina Brown, writing, “Krissi, all I want for you is your good health and happiness.”

09of 09Cissy Houston DiesCissy Houston in 2017.On Oct. 7, 2024, Cissy Houston died in her Newark, New Jersey, home at age 91 under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease. Her daughter-in-law Pat Johnson confirmed the singer’s death in a statement: “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We loss the matriarch of our family.“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 granddaughter Bobbi Kristina and other cherished family members.”

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Cissy Houston Dies

Cissy Houston in 2017.

On Oct. 7, 2024, Cissy Houston died in her Newark, New Jersey, home at age 91 under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease. Her daughter-in-law Pat Johnson confirmed the singer’s death in a statement: “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We loss the matriarch of our family.”

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 granddaughter Bobbi Kristina and other cherished family members.”

source: people.com