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

Whitney Houston had a surprising family connection to the late Elvis Presley thanks to her mother, Cissy, who died earlier today aged 91

Elvis Presley and Whitney Houston were two of America's biggest singers ever. But did you know the incredible links between the two late stars?

Back in 1963, Whitney's mother, Cissy Houston, who died today aged 91, became part of a backing singer group called The Sweet Inspirations. The girls would perform around the USA with some huge headliners like Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley at his Las Vegas residencies, which began in 1969.

Cissy, who said The King wasn't prejudiced, cracked jokes and was so good-looking, recalled: "Elvis loved gospel music. He was raised on it. And he really did know what he was talking about. He was singing Gospel all the time almost anything he did had that flavour. You can't get away from what your roots are."

It wasn't long then before Whitney met Elvis himself that same year when she was just a little girl. Whitney, who died in 2012 at 48, told Access Hollywood: "I just remember at one point being [backstage]...and he just walked into the room with his mink on and his glasses on."

"He says something and you don't say anything, you just look. It was just one of those moments I won't forget as a kid...you just sat back and just looked at him. Amazing to look at, just amazing. Just to be in his presence was awesome." Little did Whitney know that years later, her biggest hit would be a song written by Dolly Parton and that the country singer wouldn't let Elvis sing.

Cissy died at her home in New Jersey following a battle with Alzheimer's, which led to her receiving hospice care. Confirming her death in a statement, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston said: "Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family.

"Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community. Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts. We are touched by your generous support, and your outpouring of love during our profound time of grief. We respectfully request our privacy during this difficult time."

But while Cissy was known for being the mother of Whitney – she was also a successful musician in her own right and had been bagged two Grammy Awards. Her two Grammys came for her albums Face to Face and He Leadeth Me, after years of gospel singing. Born on 30 September 1933, Cissy was the youngest of eight children.

She married Freddie Garland in 1955, and they welcomed a son named Gary Garland in October 1957 - and he went on to be an NBA basketball player and DePaul University Athletic Hall of Famer. Cissy and Freddie divorced in 1957. She married John Houston Jr. in 1964, with whom she welcomed daughter Whitney; however, they divorced in 1991. She also welcomed a son named Michael, who is a songwriter and road manager, with John.

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