To say Cissy Houston has been through a LOT in the past few years, is an understatement. If she were to ever pen an autobiography about herself, it would probably read like both a horror film and triumphant greatness all wrapped into one. She watched her daughter soar to great heights in the music game. She also saw her baby plummet to great lows with drug addiction. Then she saw her rise above her struggles yet again, only to be faced with more heartbreak and tragedy soon afterwards.
In a span of just 3 & 1/2 years, Cissy lost her baby, Whitney Houston, in February 2012; and her grandbaby, Bobbi Kristina Brown, in July 2015. Then, Mama Houston was hit with another devastating blow, when her son, Michael Houston, confessed to her on national TV, that is was he who introduced Whitney to drugs- not Bobby Brown, as Cissy long believed. Three years later, in 2018, she learned of the molestation that reportedly happened to both Whitney and her son, Gary Houston, at the hands of their now deceased cousin, Dee Dee Warwick (Dionne Warwick’s sister and Cissy’s former group member). Then came her still persistent battle with denial, anger, anguish, and pain, regarding the sexual abuse revelations.
Through it all, Cissy Houston, is still managing to pull inner strength to get her through the rough times. And although it can be validly argued that she made several mistakes as a parent, it still doesn’t deny the fact that she loves her family and they love her back as well. That love was evident in her recent birthday party Cissy’s fam’ and friends through for her.
Watch Cissy Cut Up On Her 85th Birthday & Give Emotional Speech
On September 30, 2018, a close friend of Cissy’s and executive manager of Whitney’s estate, Ulysses Carter, shared several moments from her 85th b-day party. One of them was Cissy’s emotional speech, as daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, stood nearby:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoX_3nPnDp6/
The other b-day moment displays how the longtime background singer, Cissy Houston, got her dance on at the private shindig. Ms. Cissy was decked out in an all-white ensemble, lookin’ like the fly deaconess at the church banquet, who still hasn’t forgotten how she used to cut a rug in her secular hey day (I joke, I joke…I kid, I kid). Anywho, as her loved ones cheered the birthday girl on, Cissy did a classic strut with her cane in hand, as if it were not a cane at all, but rather a ‘dance assistant,’ if you will. The look of joy on her face was priceless and a refreshing sight to see, given the amount of turmoil the Houston and Brown families have faced as of late. Check out Cissy’s dancing video below…
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoYAWP8nFti/
Beautiful! If Whitney were here to witness this, she’d probably be yelling, ‘Git it Momma! Git it!!!’
Celeb Friends & Fam’ Who Partied With Cissy For Her B-Day
Below are a few of the stars who showed up to help Cissy Houston ring in her 85th orbit around the sun.
Music legends, Dionne Warwick (Cissy’s cousin), Valerie Simpson (of Ashford and Simpson); and Vy Higginsen (former radio host/co-writer and producer of the longest running Black Broadway musical, “mama I Want To Sing, which was based on the real life story of her sister, Doris Troy) with Cissy Houston:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoX6jQyHUAq/
Luther Vandross’ best friend/background singer, Fonzi Thorton; former Mtume band lead singer, Tawatha Agee, who sang the 80’s hit, “Juicy Fruit”); and “How Can I Ease The Pain” hit singer, Lisa Fischer:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoX9OBXn_-Z/
Happy birthday Cissy!
