Cissy Houston

Emily Drinkard (born September 30, 1933), known professionally as Cissy Houston, is an American soul and gospel singer. After a successful career singing backup for such artists as Roy Hamilton, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Chaka Khan, Houston embarked on a solo career, winning two Grammy Awards for her work.

Houston is the mother of singer and actress Whitney Houston, the aunt of singers Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, and a cousin of opera singer Leontyne Price. Houston was the grandmother of Whitney Houston's only child, Bobbi Kristina Brown. Provided by Wikipedia