Whitney Houston was one of the most successful and influential singers of all time, but she was also a daughter of a talented and supportive mother. Cissy Houston, Whitney’s mom, is a singer herself who has had a long and remarkable career in the music industry. Here are some facts about Cissy Houston and her relationship with her daughter.
Cissy Houston’s Early Life and Career
Cissy Houston was born Emily Drinkard in 1933 in Newark, New Jersey. She grew up in a musical family and started singing in church at an early age. She joined a gospel group called The Drinkard Singers, which included her mother and siblings, and later formed a vocal quartet called The Sweet Inspirations with her niece Dee Dee Warwick and two other singers. The Sweet Inspirations became one of the most sought-after backup groups in the 1960s and 1970s, working with artists like Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Dusty Springfield, and Burt Bacharach.
Cissy Houston also pursued a solo career as a soul and gospel singer, releasing several albums and singles. She won two Grammy Awards for her gospel albums in 1996 and 1998. She also sang on several movie soundtracks, including The Wiz, The Preacher’s Wife, and Sparkle.
Cissy Houston’s Role as Whitney’s Mentor and Mother
Cissy Houston was Whitney’s first and most influential musical mentor. She taught Whitney how to sing and encouraged her to pursue her passion. She also helped Whitney get her first recording contract with Arista Records in 1983. Cissy Houston was very proud of her daughter’s achievements and often performed with her on stage and in the studio.
Cissy Houston was also a loving and protective mother who tried to guide Whitney through the challenges of fame and personal struggles. She supported Whitney through her marriage to Bobby Brown, her drug addiction, and her comeback attempts. She also tried to shield Whitney from the media scrutiny and criticism that often followed her.
Cissy Houston was devastated by Whitney’s death in 2012 at the age of 48. She wrote a memoir called Remembering Whitney: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped, in which she shared her memories of her daughter and expressed her grief and loss. She also accepted Whitney’s posthumous induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020 on behalf of her family.
Cissy Houston’s Legacy and Current Status
Cissy Houston is still active in the music industry and continues to perform and record. She is also involved in various charitable causes, such as the Whitney E. Houston Academy of Creative and Performing Arts, a school in East Orange, New Jersey that was named after her daughter. She is also the grandmother of Bobbi Kristina Brown, Whitney’s only child who died in 2015 at the age of 22.
Cissy Houston is now more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community than she was before. She admitted that she disapproved of Whitney’s rumored relationship with Robyn Crawford, her longtime friend and assistant, but she said that she still loved her daughter as fiercely as ever.
Cissy Houston is a singer, a mother, and a survivor who has witnessed the highs and lows of the music industry. She is also the mother of one of the greatest singers of all time, Whitney Houston, who inherited her talent, passion, and spirit.
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