Cissy Houston, best known as the mother of the iconic singer Whitney Houston, has been out of the spotlight for almost a decade since her last public performance in 2014. As such, her whereabouts have long been the subject of different speculations, including a death hoax. However, we can confirm that she’s still alive. Nonetheless, she has been unmarried since parting ways with her second husband, John Russell Houston, in 1990. Before him, she was married to Freddie Garland for three years.
Before Cissy disappeared from the limelight, she was active in the music industry as a soul and gospel singer. She started off with a family group called “The Drinkard Singers” before forming the “Sweet Inspiration” group. Later, she pursued a solo career and received a Grammy for her albums Face to Face (1996 ) and He Leads Me (1997).
The 91-Year-Old Cissy Houston is Alive and Currently Living with Dementia
The news of Cissy’s death made waves sometime in 2022, and unfortunately, this speculation is still in circulation even after her niece Dionne Warwick publicly debunked the rumors. In a tweet she made, she said, “My aunt Cissy is very much alive.” “This Earnest Pugh needs to get a life and stay out of other people’s lives.”
The gospel singer Earnest Pugh misled the public through a Facebook post that read, “Rest in Peace, Cissy Houston.” However, when her family confirmed that the iconic singer was still alive, he deleted the post and also sent out a public apology to the family.
“Ms. Warwick please accept my sincere apologies for reposting such inaccurate info about Mother Cissy Houston. It was a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction to a post I saw about someone I love dearly. I meant no ill intent whatsoever and I take full accountability for my actions. You and the Houston Family are forever in my thoughts and prayers. May God continue to shower bountiful blessings upon Mother Cissy.
Even though Cissy’s whereabouts are still vague at the moment, it’s comforting to know that she’s very much alive. A close family member revealed in 2018 that she has been battling dementia, stating that “she repeats herself a lot and doesn’t remember what she says.” “She just says she’s getting old.”
There have been no updates on her health since then; however, we are hopeful that she’s simply aging well and surrounded by family and friends.
She Made Her Last Performance in 2014
As earlier hinted, Cissy’s last appearance dates back to 2014. She sang backup beside Aretha Franklin during Adele’s performances of Rolling in the Deep (2011) and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (1967) on The Late Show with David Letterman.
As you would find, Cissy was already a renowned gospel and soul singer before she became known as the mother of Whitney Houston. She started off in 1938 alongside her siblings Anne and Nicky in a gospel singing group known as “The Drinkard Four.” Together, they performed in churches and at several events before gaining fame for their performance at the Newport Jazz Festival.
Following the birth of her daughter Whitney, she formed the “Sweet Inspiration” group alongside her nieces Dee Dee Warwick and Doris Troy. The group grew to become one of the most sought-after backup singers. They were known for their performances alongside artists such as Dionne Warwick, Elvis Presley, and Aretha Franklin.
At the height of her success as a background singer, Cissy began a solo career and released several albums, including Think It Over (1978), Step Aside For A Lady (1980 ), and I’ll Take Care of You (1992).
In 1996, she won her first Grammy for her record Face to Face in Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album. Two years later, she won her second Grammy in the same category for her album He Leadeth Me (1997).
Since then, she has graced several occasions as a performer and has also inspired young talents, including the Youth Inspirational Choir at the New Hope Baptist Church in Los Angeles, where she served as their leader for several years.
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She Has Been Married and Divorced Twice
At the moment, Cissy is unmarried. However, she has been married before, not just once but twice. She was first married to Freddie Garland in 1955; however, their marriage only lasted for two months as they were divorced in 1957.
Not so much has been established about her first husband, Freddie, as he led a private life away from the spotlight. Even though their marriage was short-lived, it saw the birth of a son named Gary Garland. He was born on October 12, 1957, shortly before his parents’ divorce.
Shortly after Cissy parted ways with Freddie, she met John Russell Houston Jr. while he was working as a taxi and trunk driver. When they met, John was still married to his first wife, Elsie Hamiton. Nonetheless, they continued a relationship that saw the birth of two children: Michael Houston, who was born on August 14, 1961, and Whitney Houston, born on August 9, 1963.
The following year, after John’s divorce from his first wife, he tied the knot with Cissy, and the two shared several years together. These years saw him join the entertainment industry as a manager of the vocal group Gospelaires, which was formed by his wife’s nieces. He later became the manager of his wife’s vocal group, “The Sweet Inspirations.” Unfortunately, their marriage began to go south after John’s near-fatal heart attack in 1976. The following year, the couple decided to stay separately, even though they were still married. Well, since the relationship between them didn’t get any better, they officially divorced in 1990.
There has been no one in Cissy’s life since then, or rather, none that the public knows of. She focused on caring for and staging interventions for her daughter Whitney, who was struggling with drug addiction. Unfortunately, Whitney passed on in 2012.
