Cissy Houston, the Grammy-winning singer and mother of Whitney Houston, has passed away at the age of 91.

 Cissy Houston, Grammy-Winning Singer and Mother of Whitney Houston, Dies at 91

Cissy Houston, the acclaimed Grammy-winning singer and mother of Whitney Houston, has passed away at the age of 91. Gwendolyn Quinn, a representative for The Estate of Whitney E. Houston, confirmed her death. She died on Monday at 10:30 a.m. ET while receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, surrounded by family.

In a statement, her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, expressed profound sorrow: “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family. Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives—a woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared deeply about family, ministry, and community. Her over seven-decade career in music and entertainment will always be remembered.”

Born Emily Drinkard, Cissy was the youngest of eight children of Nitcholas and Delia Mae Drinkard. She grew up in Newark, New Jersey, and was active in the New Hope Baptist Church, where she later served as the Minister of Sacred Music.

Houston's singing career began at the young age of five, joining her siblings in the gospel group The Drinkard Four. The group evolved into The Drinkard Singers, featuring future stars like Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick. They gained prominence, performing at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall and the Newport Jazz Festival.

In 1963, Houston co-founded The Sweet Inspirations, a group known for providing backup vocals for iconic artists such as Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding. She released her debut solo album, Presenting Cissy Houston, in 1969 and went on to win two Grammy Awards during her successful career.

As a sought-after backup vocalist, she worked with numerous legendary artists, including Bette Midler, Elvis Presley, and her daughter Whitney. Whitney Houston tragically passed away in 2012 at the age of 48.

Cissy Houston penned a memoir titled Remember Whitney: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped in 2013, aiming to shed light on her daughter's true character, which she felt was misrepresented in the media.

Cissy is survived by her sons, Gary and Michael, as well as several grandchildren. Tragically, her granddaughter Bobbi Kristina Brown died three years after Whitney at the age of 22.

In her statement, Pat Houston reflected on the family's gratitude for the time spent with Cissy, saying, “We are blessed and grateful that God allowed her to spend so many years with us. May she rest in peace, alongside her daughter, Whitney, and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina, along with other cherished family members.”