Cissy Houston

Emily "Cissy" Houston (née Drinkard; September 30, 1933 – October 7, 2024) was an American soul and gospel singer. After a successful career singing backup for such artists as Roy Hamilton, Dionne Warwick (her niece), Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Chaka Khan, Houston embarked on a solo career, winning two Grammy Awards for her work.

Cissy Houston
Houston in 1975
Born	Emily Drinkard (1933-09-30)September 30, 1933 Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	October 7, 2024(2024-10-07) (aged 91) Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1938–2018
Spouses	Freddie Garland ​ ​ (m. 1955; div. 1964)​ John Houston Jr. ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1991)​
Children	3, including Whitney and Gary
Relatives	Bobbi Kristina Brown (granddaughter) Dionne Warwick (niece) Dee Dee Warwick (niece) Leontyne Price (cousin) Damon Elliott (grandnephew)
Musical career
Genres	Soul gospel disco R&B pop
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	RCA Commonwealth United Private Stock Motown Janus Major Minor Columbia A&M Delta Music Harlem

Houston was the mother of singer and actress Whitney Houston, the aunt of singers Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, and a cousin of opera singer Leontyne Price. Houston was the grandmother of Whitney Houston's only child, Bobbi Kristina Brown.

Houston died on October 7, 2024 under hospice care in Newark, New Jersey from problems caused by Alzheimer's disease at the age of 91.^[1][2]