Who Is Cissy Houston? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Cissy Houston, born on September 30, 1933, is an esteemed American singer and the mother of the late pop icon Whitney Houston. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she has made significant contributions to the music industry, both as a solo artist and as a sought-after background vocalist. In 2025, at the age of 92, Cissy continues to be celebrated for her immense talent and enduring legacy in music.
| Occupation | Gospel Singer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 30, 1933 |
| Age | 91 Years |
| Birth Place | Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Libra |
| Country | Jersey |
| Date of death | 7 October, 2024 |
| Died Place | Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
Popularity
Cissy Houston's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Cissy Houston stands at approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs around 145 pounds. Although age has transitioned her measurements over the years, she maintains a graceful presence that reflects her decades of experience in the entertainment industry.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Cissy Houston was married to John Russell Houston Jr. from 1959 until his passing in 2003. Together, they had three children, including Whitney Houston, who was born in 1963. As of 2025, there is no publicly available information on her current dating status; Cissy preferred to keep her personal life private following the loss of her daughter.
Besides her session work and work with the Sweet Inspirations, Houston was also best known as the mother of renowned singer and actress Whitney Houston, the aunt of singers Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, and the grandmother of Whitney Houston's only child, Bobbi Kristina Brown. She was also a first cousin of opera singer Leontyne Price.
Houston was honored by several institutions over her career. In 1990, she received the Stellar Award of Excellence for her contributions to gospel. Five years later, in 1995, Houston earned the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award for her contributions to rhythm and blues and soul music.
With the Sweet Inspirations, Houston was inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in 2014 (same year as daughter Whitney) and, in 2019, was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame joining Whitney and niece Dionne.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Cissy Houston's net worth is estimated to be between $5 million and $10 million. Much of her wealth has been accrued through her successful music career, album sales, performances, and royalties from Whitney's songs, alongside various investments in her musical endeavors.
Career, Business and Investments
Cissy Houston’s career spans several decades, with her beginnings in gospel music leading her to background vocals for legendary artists. Over her lifetime, she has released multiple albums and collaborated with prominent musicians, establishing her in the industry. Her investments in music-related ventures and mentoring young artists demonstrate her commitment to sustaining her legacy while also investing in the future of music.
Emily Drinkard (September 30, 1933 – October 7, 2024), known professionally as Cissy Houston, was an American soul and gospel singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Houston began singing with three of her siblings in the family gospel group, The Drinkard Singers.
By the early 1960s, Houston began a career as a session vocalist for several secular musicians in the rhythm and blues, soul, rock and roll, pop and rock genres.
After initially joining her nieces' group the Gospelaires for a session with Ronnie Hawkins in 1961, Houston gradually took control of the group, which revamped into "The Group" with Houston, niece Sylvia Shemwell, Myrna Smith and teenager Estelle Brown.
She eventually founded the girl group The Sweet Inspirations with Shemwell, Smith and Brown in 1967 and that year signed a contract with Atlantic Records where, with Houston as lead singer, they would record four albums before Houston departed for a solo career in 1970.
Her best known solo singles include the top 20 R&B chart single, "I'll Be There" and the top 5 dance single, "Think It Over". Her solo career culminated with two Grammy Award wins, both in the Traditional Gospel Album category.
Social Network
Cissy Houston maintains a moderate presence on social media platforms, where she shares insights about her life and career. While she may not be as active as younger celebrities, she has a loyal following and engages occasionally with fans. Her Instagram and Facebook are platforms where she honors her family and continues to connect with her audience.
After singing background for the two Warwicks, Garnet Mimms, Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin among others for a number of years, the group was hired to back Irish soul singer Van Morrison on his composition, "Brown Eyed Girl", in 1967.
After the song hit the top ten that year, Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records offered the group, then going by "The Group", a recording contract of their own and advised them to change their name to "The Inspirations". Only after learning that another group had that name, Wexler added "Sweet" in front of their name.
Their first album, The Sweet Inspirations, charted, reaching number 90 on the Billboard 200 and number 12 on the Billboard Best-Selling R&B Albums chart, producing three Billboard Hot 100 singles, including their sole top twenty Hot 100 hit, "Sweet Inspiration", which later earned the group a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rhythm & Blues Performa
nce by a Duo or Group.
The group would record three more albums during Houston's tenure and would continue to back up Aretha Franklin, who began to have a successful recording career after signing with Atlantic the same year as the Sweet Inspirations.
The group backed Franklin on hits such as "Think", "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman", "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" and "Ain't No Way", the latter of which would feature Houston's descant in the background.
The group would also back Franklin during her concerts of this period and also occasionally appeared on TV with Franklin as they did on The Jonathan Winters Show.
Education
Cissy Houston's musical foundation was built through a combination of formal training and life experiences. She developed her voice in church choirs and community performances, honed her skills through various musical collaborations, and learned from the legends alongside her in the industry. Her education, while not extensive in traditional academics, is rooted deeply in the artistry of music and vocal performance.
Houston married twice. In 1955, she married Freddie Garland, with whom she gave birth to her first child, Gary Garland (b. 1957), an NBA basketball player and DePaul University Athletic Hall of Famer. Houston's marriage to Garland ended in divorce in 1957.
