Cissy Houston more than fifty years, Houston has led the 200-member Youth Inspirational Choir at the New Hope Baptist Church (Newark). She is a driving force behind and performs annually at the McDonald's Gospelfest. Cissy Houston Emily "Cissy" Houston (née Drinkard; born September 30, 1933) is an American soul and gospel singer. After a successful career singing backup for such artists as Dionne Warwick, Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, Houston embarked on a solo career, winning two Grammy Awards for her work. Houston is the mother of singer Whitney Houston, grandmother of Bobbi Kristina Brown, aunt of singers Dionne and Dee Dee
Whitney Houston Wife" (1996). The theme song "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" became her eleventh and final number-one single on the Hot 100 chart, while "The Preacher Wife's" soundtrack became the best-selling gospel album in history. Following the critical and commercial success of "My Love Is Your Love" (1998), Houston signed a $100 million contract with Arista Records. However, her personal struggles began overshadowing her career, and her album "Just Whitney" (2002) became a commercial disappointment. Her drug use and tumultuous marriage to Bobby Brown were widely publicized in media. After a six-year break, Houston returned to the top of the "Billboard" 200 chart