**Gospel and Soul Icon Cissy Houston Dies at 91**

Cissy Houston, celebrated gospel and soul singer and matriarch of a renowned musical dynasty, passed away on Monday at her residence in Newark. She was 91. Her family confirmed her passing, noting she had been receiving hospice care for Alzheimer's disease.

Houston's remarkable career spanned decades, beginning as a prominent backup singer before emerging as a gospel star. Her soul-stirring voice and deep religious faith earned her significant influence in gospel music circles, securing Grammy Awards for her albums "Face to Face" in 1997 and "He Leadeth Me" in 1999.

Born Emily Drinkard in Newark on Sept. 30, 1933, to a factory worker and a devout mother, Houston began singing gospel music at the tender age of five alongside her siblings. They formed a group called the Drinkard Singers, which performed regularly at the New Hope Baptist Church and even graced the stage of Carnegie Hall in 1951.

In the 1960s, Houston was a key member of the Sweet Inspirations, a highly sought-after R&B group that provided background vocals for artists like Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, and Van Morrison. She eventually pursued a solo career, leaving the group in 1969 to record her own music and perform in nightclubs and theaters.

Throughout her career, Houston was known for her exemplary control and emotive performances. A reviewer for The New York Times once praised her "majestic voice" and noted that she could make even mundane material sound exceptional.

Houston's legacy is deeply intertwined with that of her daughter, Whitney Houston. Aided by her mother’s guidance and training, Whitney ascended to global superstardom, although their family experienced profound tragedies with Whitney’s death in 2012 and her granddaughter Bobbi Kristina Brown's death in 2015.

Outside of her professional achievements, Houston's personal life saw her as a dedicated mother and grandmother. She was married twice, first to Freddie Garland and later to John Houston, with whom she had three children. She spent over half a century as the choir director at New Hope Baptist Church, the very place where her own musical journey began.

Cissy Houston's contributions to music, both as a performing artist and as a mentor, have left an indelible mark on the industry. She is survived by her sons, Gary Garland and Michael Houston, along with her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As she once said, "What I feel is what I sing," a testament to the emotive power and authenticity she brought to her music.