Houston is the grandmother of Whitney Houston's only child, Bobbi Kristina Brown.īorn Emily Drinkard in Newark, New Jersey, to Nitcholas "Nitch" Drinkard (1895–1952) and Delia Mae Drinkard (née McCaskill) (1901–1941), she was the eighth and final child older siblings were brothers William (1918–2003), Handsome (1925–1986), Nicky (1929–1992), and Larry (1931–2012) and sisters Lee (1920–2005), Marie (1922–2007), and Anne (1927–2003). 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. After a successful career singing backup for such artists as Roy Hamilton, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Presley, and Aretha Franklin, Houston embarked on a solo career, winning two Grammy Awards for her work. Emily " Cissy" Houston ( née Drinkard born September 30, 1933) is an American soul and gospel singer.