“I Will At all times Love You” singer Whitney Houston was a profitable singer and actress who tragically died on Feb. 11, 2012. Throughout her life, she turned one of many bestselling recording artists of all time and even went on to win six Grammy Awards. She additionally starred in hit films like The Bodyguard, Sparkle, and Ready To Exhale. Regardless of being a profitable songstress herself, Whitney was raised by her proficient mom, Cissy Houston, who was additionally a singer. Sadly, Cissy died on the age of 91 in October 2024. Preserve studying to be taught extra about Whitney’s mother and father, together with her supervisor father, John Russell Houston.
Cissy Houston
Whitney’s mom, Cissy, was a profitable singer herself. Born Emily “Cissy” Houston in Newark, New Jersey, the 91-year-old was identified for her songs “Assume It Over”, “Tomorrow”, “Nothing Can Cease Me”, and extra. The gospel singer started as a backup singer for a lot of iconic artists together with Roy Hamilton, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and extra. Later, Cissy pursued a solo profession and have become so profitable that she went on to win a complete of two Grammy Awards. The “This Empty Place” songstress even collaborated with Whitney on just a few tracks together with “I Know Him So Nicely”, “Ain’t No Approach”, and “You Ship Me.”
In 2013, one 12 months after Whitney’s passing, Cissy launched the ebook, Remembering Whitney, about her daughter. She opened up concerning the second she discovered her daughter had died throughout an interview with Oprah Winfrey that very same 12 months. “Nicely, my son known as me, and he was screaming, ‘Mother! Mother!’”, she recalled on the time. “I mentioned, ‘Is she lifeless?’ and he mentioned, ‘yeah mommy she’s lifeless’, and I don’t keep in mind an excessive amount of else after that.” Cissy instructed Oprah that she was a “wreck” and “alone” when she acquired the devastating information.
John Russell Houston
John was not solely Whitney’s father, but in addition was her expertise supervisor for a few years. The businessman sadly died on Feb. 2, 2003, almost 10 years earlier than his daughter. Though he helped the “I Have Nothing” singer construct her profession, finally their relationship turned tumultuous. One 12 months earlier than his loss of life John’s firm, John Houston Leisure, sued Whitney for “breach of contract,” per MTV Information. The lawsuit was for a complete of $100 million, and when Whitney opened up about it on the The Oprah Winfrey Present in 2009, she mentioned she believed her dad was being “influenced” by different folks.
“My dad was being influenced by people who have been mendacity to my father,” Whitney shared on the time. “My father was sick on the time, he was within the hospital. I used to be paying the payments, I imply I took care of my father.” Regardless of their vicissitudes, Whitney instructed the Personal It writer that she “forgave” John. “Completely, I really like my dad,” she mentioned. “And I knew he was sick, he was in his 80s at the moment, within the hospital consistently with coronary heart issues.” Whitney additionally revealed that there have been a interval of “years” the place they “didn’t communicate in any respect.” Nevertheless, when he turned gravely unwell, Whitney determined to place an finish to the feud.
Their Youngsters
Cissy and John have been married from 1959 till their divorce in 1990. Throughout their marriage, they welcomed two children, Whitney, and her brother, Michael Houston. Cissy additionally welcomed her son, Gary Garland, together with her first husband, Freddie Garland, in 1957. Gary is a gospel singer, like his mom, and Michael additionally pursued a profession as a singer, per Distractify.