Cissy Houston, a gospel icon with a long and successful career, recently passed away. She was also known for being Whitney Houston’s mother and for having a profound influence on the “I Will Always Love You” singer’s life.

However, behind Whitney’s rise to fame was a growing personal struggle her mother couldn’t ignore. During a visit to Whitney’s home, Cissy discovered something deeply unsettling — images that signaled how serious her daughter’s issues had become.

Faced with a difficult decision, Cissy took bold action in a desperate attempt to get her daughter the help she needed. Continue reading to explore the events that unfolded and how Cissy fought to protect her daughter.

Cissy Houston’s Passing and Bobby Brown’s Tribute

Cissy Houston passed away on October 7 at 91. She died while under hospice care, battling Alzheimer’s disease. Cissy’s legacy in the music world was significant — she worked with top artists like Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, and her powerful voice set the stage for a seven-decade career.

Born Emily Drinkard in Newark, New Jersey, in September 1933, Cissy was raised in a devout Christian household. Her father, Nitcholas Drinkard, encouraged her musical talent early on, urging her to sing and perform in church.

She grew up in the Methodist Episcopal denomination, which heavily influenced her faith and later her music. She eventually became the Minister of Sacred Music at New Hope Baptist Church, where her deep connection to gospel music flourished.

She was also widely recognized for her role in helping her daughter to become one of the greatest pop icons of all time. Cissy sang backup on Whitney’s self-titled debut album in 1985, and even contributed vocals on tracks like “I Know Him So Well” and “Who Do You Love?”

As Whitney rose to superstardom, winning Grammy Awards and selling millions of records worldwide, Cissy remained by her side — especially during Whitney’s personal struggles and troubled marriage to ex-husband Bobby Brown.

Following Cissy’s passing, Bobby paid tribute to her, writing, “Sending love and blessings to the Houston family on this great loss. May she rest in Peace and Power.”

Cissy and Whitney Houston’s Complicated Relationship

As Whitney’s career soared in the 1990s, so did her struggles with drug addiction. Though Cissy had heard rumors about her daughter’s drug use for years, those around Whitney often hid the full extent of the problem from her mother.

Music executive Clive Davis, who had worked closely with Whitney, tried to express his concerns, but Whitney’s team kept Cissy largely in the dark. By the mid-2000s, Cissy’s suspicions had grown.

In 2005, she made a visit to Whitney’s home in Atlanta that confirmed her worst fears. The house was in complete disarray, with strange and unsettling images spray-painted on the walls and doors.

Cissy recalled how “big glaring eyes and strange faces” were drawn all over the house. Perhaps the most disturbing sight was a family photograph in which Whitney’s face had been cut out.

Cissy was horrified and realized that her daughter’s drug problem had escalated to a dangerous level. Determined to take action, Cissy returned to Whitney’s house with two sheriff’s deputies.

She insisted on taking her daughter to the hospital, knowing that she couldn’t stand by any longer. Whitney reacted angrily, cursing her mother and refusing help, but Cissy remained resolute.

She knew that despite the pain it caused their relationship, it was the only way to protect her daughter from further harm. In time, Whitney came to acknowledge the intervention and admitted that her mother’s actions saved her life.

Cissy’s concerns about her daughter’s well-being were not limited to Whitney’s drug addiction. She also had reservations about the “I Will Always Love You” singer’s marriage to Bobby.

The couple’s 15-year marriage was riddled with reports of substance abuse, public arguments, and legal issues, all of which played out in the media spotlight. Bobby, for his part, later expressed regret over the role drugs played in the breakdown of his marriage.

“We always felt that our love was strong enough to overcome any obstacle that was put in front of us,” he said. “We would still be together if it wasn’t for, you know, drugs. Drugs just got the best of us,” the R&B star continued.

When Whitney and Bobby divorced in 2007, Cissy felt a sense of relief and humorously added that she thanked God so much she was sure no one else was able to get a prayer in.

Sadly, Whitney’s struggles persisted, and the singer’s sudden death in 2012 at the age of 48 was a devastating blow to her family and fans around the world. Cissy later shared her thoughts on what contributed to her daughter’s untimely death.

She spoke about how Whitney was a kind, gentle person who “got caught up somewhere” and ended up going down the wrong path. “My baby tried. She did. She just had the wrong partner, you know?”

Though Cissy’s relationship with Whitney was strained during the most challenging years of her daughter’s addiction, she never wavered in her love or commitment to helping her daughter.

Cissy’s efforts to help Whitney, though sometimes painful and difficult, came from a place of deep love, and her legacy as a mother who fought for her daughter until the end remains as strong as her contributions to the world of music.