Cissy Houston, singer and mother of Whitney Houston, dies at 91

Cissy Houston, celebrated gospel artist and mother of Whitney Houston, passed away on Monday morning at the age of 91, according to a statement released by her family.

Houston, a singer who won two Grammy Awards, passed away at her home in New Jersey where she was receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, according to her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston.

"Our hearts are heavy with grief and sorrow. We have lost the matriarch of our family," she expressed, noting that her mother-in-law was a "powerful and prominent presence" in their lives.

Houston had a long and prosperous career in music, sharing the stage with legends such as Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin.

Born in New Jersey in 1933, Houston was the youngest of eight siblings. She started singing early in life after creating a gospel group with her brothers and sisters.

In the 1960s, she created the R&B group called the Sweet Inspirations, providing backing vocals for prominent artists such as Otis Redding, Dusty Springfield, and Dionne Warwick. They were also featured on Van Morrison's popular track, "Brown Eyed Girl."

Following her success with the Sweet Inspirations, Houston began a solo career during which she collaborated with various artists such as Chaka Khan, Jimi Hendrix, Beyonce, Paul Simon, and her daughter Whitney Houston, who tragically passed away in 2012 at the age of 48.

In 1997, Houston received a Grammy Award for her gospel album Face to Face, which features traditional soul music. She achieved the same honor the next year for her album He Leadeth Me.

She authored three books as well, one of which is a tribute to her daughter, titled Remembering Whitney: A Mother's Journey Through Life, Grief, and The Night the Music Ended.

At 80 years old, Houston reunited with Aretha Franklin for a performance on The Late Show with David Letterman, where they sang a rendition of Adele’s "Rolling in the Deep."

Pat, her daughter-in-law, expressed that Houston's impressive career spanning over seventy years in music and entertainment will always hold a special place in our hearts.

She expressed that the family feels “fortunate and thankful that God gave her the chance to be with us for so many years.”

"May she find eternal peace, reunited with her daughter Whitney, granddaughter Bobbi Kristina, and other beloved family members."