Whitney Houston’s Parents: Everything To Know About Mom Cissy & Dad John Russell

• Whitney Houston was a legendary vocalist and 1 of the all-time bestselling signaling artists.
• The precocious instrumentalist was nicknamed “The Voice” and her euphony continues to beryllium fashionable galore years aft her death.
• The film, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, is based connected Whitney’s beingness and is acceptable to premiere connected Dec. 23, 2022.

“I Will Always Love You” singer Whitney Houston was a palmy vocalist and histrion who tragically died connected Feb. 11, 2012. During her life, she became 1 of the bestselling signaling artists of each clip and adjacent went connected to triumph six Grammy Awards. She besides starred successful deed movies similar The Bodyguard, Sparkle, and Waiting To Exhale. Despite being a palmy songstress herself, Whitney was raised by her talented mother, Cissy Houston, 89, who is besides a singer. Keep speechmaking to larn much astir Whitney’s parents, including her manager father, John Russell Houston.

Whitney & Cissy Houston astatine an awards ceremony. (Shutterstock)

Cissy Houston

Whitney’s mother, Cissy, is simply a palmy vocalist herself. Born Emily “Cissy” Houston successful Newark, New Jersey, the 89-year-old is known for her songs “Think It Over”, “Tomorrow”, “Nothing Can Stop Me”, and more. The gospel vocalist began arsenic a backup vocalist for galore iconic artists including Roy Hamilton, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and more. Later, Cissy pursued a solo vocation and became truthful palmy that she went connected to triumph a full of 2 Grammy Awards. The “This Empty Place” songstress adjacent collaborated with Whitney connected a fewer tracks including “I Know Him So Well”, “Ain’t No Way”, and “You Send Me.”

In 2013, 1 twelvemonth aft Whitney’s passing, Cissy released the book, Remembering Whitney, astir her daughter. She opened up astir the infinitesimal she recovered retired her girl had died during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, 68, that aforesaid year. “Well, my lad called me, and helium was screaming, ‘Mom! Mom!'”, she recalled astatine the time. “I said, ‘Is she dead?’ and helium said, ‘yeah mommy she’s dead’, and I don’t retrieve excessively overmuch other aft that.” Cissy told Oprah that she was a “wreck” and “alone” erstwhile she got the devastating news.

John Russell Houston

John was not lone Whitney’s father, but besides was her endowment manager for galore years. The businessman sadly died connected Feb. 2, 2003, astir 10 years earlier his daughter. Although helium helped the “I Have Nothing” vocalist physique her career, yet their narration turned tumultuous. One twelvemonth earlier his decease John’s company, John Houston Entertainment, sued Whitney for “breach of contract,” per MTV News. The suit was for a full of $100 million, and erstwhile Whitney opened up astir it connected the The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2009, she said she believed her dada was being “influenced” by different people.

“My dada was being influenced by radical that were lying to my father,” Whitney shared astatine the time. “My father was sick astatine the time, helium was successful the hospital. I was paying the bills, I mean I took attraction of my father.” Despite their vicissitudes, Whitney told the Own It author that she “forgave” John. “Absolutely, I emotion my dad,” she said. “And I knew helium was sick, helium was successful his 80s astatine that time, successful the infirmary perpetually with bosom problems.” Whitney besides revealed that determination were a play of “years” wherever they “didn’t talk astatine all.” However, erstwhile helium became gravely ill, Whitney decided to enactment an extremity to the feud.

Whitney Houston was precise adjacent to her mom, Cissy. (Shutterstock)

Their Kids

Cissy and John were joined from 1959 until their divorce successful 1990. During their marriage, they welcomed 2 kids, Whitney, and her brother, Michael Houston. Cissy besides welcomed her son, Gary Garland, 65, with her archetypal husband, Freddie Garland, successful 1957. Gary is simply a gospel singer, similar his mother, and Michael besides pursued a vocation arsenic a singer, per Distractify.

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