Cissy Houston, the iconic Grammy-winning gospel and soul singer, has passed away at the age of 91.
Key Takeaways
- Cissy Houston, the mother of Whitney Houston recently passed away on October 7, 2024.
- With her demise, rumors about Teresa being Whitney’s birth mother have been swirling around the internet.
- Nevertheless, there is no solid evidence to support this claim, leaving it as just another conspiracy theory.
Widely recognized as the mother of music legend Whitney Houston, Cissy left an indelible mark on the music industry with a career that spanned over seven decades.
Her passing, confirmed by her daughter-in-law Pat Houston, occurred on Monday, October 7, at her home in New Jersey, where she had been receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease.
Cissy Houston, cantante de gospel y soul https://t.co/lzgwGvrAFI pic.twitter.com/DnZJvwKXps
— Diario La R (@diariolaruy) October 9, 2024
In a statement, Pat Houston expressed the family’s grief, stating
“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We loss 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.”
Via AP News
However, amid the outpouring of tributes for the legendary singer, an unfavorable rumor has resurfaced regarding Cissy’s motherhood.
Debunking The Relation Between Whitney Houston and Teresa Graves
A group of netizens has long speculated that Cissy Houston may not be Whitney Houston’s biological mother.
Instead, they claim that Whitney is the secret love child of Cissy’s late husband, John Houston, and actress Teresa Graves.
These conspiracy theories have persisted, fueled by claims of Whitney’s striking facial resemblance to Graves, along with similar mannerisms and even vocal similarities.
One user in a Reddit discussion supported these claims and stated in the comment.
Comment
byu/Straight_Seaweed_365 from discussion
inwhitneyhouston
While these conspiracy theories continue to circulate, especially following Cissy’s passing, they remain largely unsubstantiated.
The idea that John Houston had an affair with a 15-year-old Teresa Graves and passed off their child to Cissy to raise is deeply troubling.
This is especially concerning since none of the key individuals involved are alive to address these allegations.
Despite the ongoing speculation, another Reddit user attempted to debunk the rumor with her reasoning.
“Few reasons I’m not buying this story that Teresa is Whitney’s real mom (even though I really want to): the truth is that Teresa would have been 15 years old at the time of Whitney’s birth. While that’s not impossible or unheard of, she would have been in high school at the age of 15 and Wikipedia seems to suggest that Teresa may have been well-liked in high school, receiving the “Most Talented” superlative from her peers. She also graduated on time at the age of 18. Given how controversial teenage pregnancy was in the 60s, I can’t imagine that Teresa would have been popular with her peers if she had been pregnant in 9th or 10th grade. I’m also not sure she would have been able to graduate on time. Furthermore, Whitney Houston was born in New Jersey in 1963. At that time, Teresa was in high school in Los Angeles. The facts of the story are just not lining up for this to be truly a possibility.”
Via Reddit
While the rumors might stir intrigue among some fans and conspiracy theorists, it’s essential to remember that Cissy Houston raised Whitney with love.
She was a guiding force in Whitney’s remarkable ascent in the music industry.
Although there are undeniable physical and vocal similarities between Whitney and Graves, it’s unwise to hastily conclude that they are mother and daughter based on these traits alone.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Whitney Houston was born on August 9, 1963.
- Teresa Graves is well known for her role in the TV series “Get Christie Love”.
- Whitney Houston won 2 Emmy Awards and 8 Grammy Awards including many more awards.
