Whitney Houston's mother dies aged 91: what disease she has been fighting and what Cissy will be long remembered for. Photo

American soul and gospel singer Cissy Houston, mother of the well-known Whitney Houston, has died at the age of 91. The two-time Grammy winner passed away surrounded by her family at her home in New Jersey, USA, on Monday, October 7.

According to the Associated Press, the tragic news was reported by her daughter-in-law Pat. The artist's heart stopped as a result of a long-term illness - Alzheimer's disease.

"Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We loss the matriarch of our family. Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community. Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts," the woman said.

Emily Cissy Houston was born on September 30, 1933 and wanted to be a singer since childhood. Initially, the celebrity was a member of the family gospel band, and in the 1960s, she made her breakthrough on the professional stage as part of the musical group The Sweet Inspirations.

The singer performed on the same stage as the legendary "Rock and Roll King" Elvis Presley. The star gave the artist a special nickname, which she mentioned in her memoirs, "On the inside of the bracelet he had inscribed his nickname for me: Squirrelly."

Over the course of many years of work as part of the band, the performers have released four albums that have gained great popularity among listeners. After the release of Sweet Sweet Soul, Cissy decided to leave the band to develop her solo career.

The gospel singer's talent was noticed not only by listeners, but also by famous personalities and critics. Since making a name for herself as a solo artist, Cissy Houston has recorded more than 600 songs in various genres. Her voice has appeared in the compositions of popular stars, including Chaka Khan, Donny Hathaway, Jimi Hendrix, Luther Vandross, Beyoncé, Paul Simon, Roberta Flack and Whitney Houston.

The most successful albums of the celebrity are "Face to Face" and "He Leadeth Me". Her collections of gospel songs brought her two Grammy Awards.

The singer has appeared on stage with her daughter Whitney Houston many times. In 1996, they starred in the romantic movie The Priest's Wife.

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