Inside Whitney Houston's surprising family link to Elvis Presley through mum Cissy

Whitney Houston had a astonishing household transportation to the precocious Elvis Presley acknowledgment to her mother, Cissy, who died earlier contiguous aged 91

Elvis Presley and Whitney Houston were 2 of America's biggest singers ever. But did you cognize the unthinkable links betwixt the 2 precocious stars?

Back successful 1963, Whitney's mother, Cissy Houston, who died contiguous aged 91, became portion of a backing vocalist radical called The Sweet Inspirations. The girls would execute astir the USA with immoderate immense headliners similar Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley astatine his Las Vegas residencies, which began successful 1969.

Cissy, who said The King wasn't prejudiced, cracked jokes and was truthful good-looking, recalled: "Elvis loved gospel music. He was raised connected it. And helium truly did cognize what helium was talking about. He was singing Gospel each the clip astir thing helium did had that flavour. You can't get distant from what your roots are."

It wasn't agelong past earlier Whitney met Elvis himself that aforesaid twelvemonth erstwhile she was conscionable a small girl. Whitney, who died successful 2012 astatine 48, told Access Hollywood: "I conscionable retrieve astatine 1 constituent being [backstage]...and helium conscionable walked into the country with his mink connected and his glasses on."

"He says thing and you don't accidental anything, you conscionable look. It was conscionable 1 of those moments I won't hide arsenic a kid...you conscionable sat backmost and conscionable looked astatine him. Amazing to look at, conscionable amazing. Just to beryllium successful his beingness was awesome." Little did Whitney cognize that years later, her biggest deed would beryllium a opus written by Dolly Parton and that the state vocalist wouldn't fto Elvis sing.

Cissy died astatine her location successful New Jersey pursuing a conflict with Alzheimer's, which led to her receiving hospice care. Confirming her decease successful a statement, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston said: "Our hearts are filled with symptom and sadness. We mislaid the matriarch of our family.

"Mother Cissy has been a beardown and towering fig successful our lives. A pistillate of heavy religion and conviction, who cared greatly astir family, ministry, and community. Her much than seven-decade vocation successful euphony and amusement volition stay astatine the forefront of our hearts. We are touched by your generous support, and your outpouring of emotion during our profound clip of grief. We respectfully petition our privateness during this hard time."

But portion Cissy was known for being the parent of Whitney – she was besides a palmy instrumentalist successful her ain close and had been bagged 2 Grammy Awards. Her 2 Grammys came for her albums Face to Face and He Leadeth Me, aft years of gospel singing. Born connected 30 September 1933, Cissy was the youngest of 8 children.

She joined Freddie Garland successful 1955, and they welcomed a lad named Gary Garland successful October 1957 - and helium went connected to beryllium an NBA hoops subordinate and DePaul University Athletic Hall of Famer. Cissy and Freddie divorced successful 1957. She joined John Houston Jr. successful 1964, with whom she welcomed girl Whitney; however, they divorced successful 1991. She besides welcomed a lad named Michael, who is simply a songwriter and roadworthy manager, with John.

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