Just a day after the death of music legend Cissy Houston, her niece Dionne Warwick opened a tribute on social media.
Houston — the mother of pop icon Whitney Houston who had a Grammy-winning music career herself — died Monday at the age of 91 while receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease.
Warwick, 83, took to her verified X account (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday to pay a heartfelt tribute to her aunt.
“However, I am so deeply saddened that knowing that my Aunt Cissy died peacefully and that she is in a much better place is a comfort and comfort to me,” she began.
“I saw your condolence messages. On behalf of my family, thank you,” Warwick concluded.
Just a day after the death of music legend Cissy Houston, her niece Dionne Warwick opened a tribute on social media
Warwick, 83, took to her verified X account (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday to pay a heartfelt tribute to her aunt (center)
Warwick, 83, took to her verified X account (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday to pay a heartfelt tribute to her aunt
Cissy Houston (center) — the mother of pop icon Whitney Houston (left), who had a Grammy-winning music career herself — died Monday at the age of 91 while receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease
The death comes 12 years after Cissy’s daughter Whitney Houston drowned in a Beverly Hills hotel bathtub at the age of 48.
Cissy’s daughter-in-law Pat Houston told the Associated Press that the singer died surrounded by her family.
‘Our hearts are filled with pain and sorrow. We are losing the matriarch of our family,” she said in a statement announcing the 91-year-old’s death.
“Mother Cissy has been a strong and prominent figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared deeply about family, ministry and community.”
“Her career in music and entertainment spanning more than seven decades will remain at the forefront of our hearts.”
Both Warwick and Houston grew up in New Jersey and began their careers in the family singing group known as The Drinkard Singers.
“I called her Aunt Cissy growing up. Because we were so close in age, I always saw her as an older sister. It was heaven when we all sang together,” Warwick said in a 2022 interview People.
She added that her cousin Whitney Houston “came up just like we all did, in the church choir. It was just meant to be that she would sing.
Cissy’s daughter-in-law Pat Houston told the Associated Press that the singer died surrounded by her family
‘Our hearts are filled with pain and sorrow. We lose the matriarch of our family,” she said in a statement announcing the 91-year-old’s death
“Her career in music and entertainment spanning more than seven decades will remain at the forefront of our hearts.”
‘Her fate was like the rest of the family. As if God pointed a finger at us and said, ‘Let those vocal cords do what they’re supposed to do,'” she added.
Cissy founded The Sweet Inspirations and served as a backup singer for Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan and more.
After going solo, she won two Grammy Awards for Traditional Gospel Album in 1997 and 1999.