Gospel singer Whitney Houston’s mother has died at the age of 91

Houston died Monday morning at her home in New Jersey while receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease. Houston’s daughter-in-law Pat Houston confirmed this in a statement to USA TODAY through Gwendolyn Quinn, a representative of Whitney Houston’s estate.

“Our hearts are full of pain and sadness. We have lost the matriarch of our family,” Pat said in a statement. “Mother Cissy was a strong and prominent figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction who cared deeply about family, pastoral care and community. Her career spanning more than seven decades in the music and entertainment industry will continue to be at the forefront of our hearts.”

Houston was born Emily Drinkard in Newark, New Jersey in September 1933 and was encouraged to sing and perform in church by her father, Nitcholas “Nitch” Drinkard. Houston, who was raised under the Methodist Episcopal denomination of Christianity, later became minister of church music at New Hope Baptist Church.

Houston began her music career as a member of the family group The Drinkard Singers, which also included her siblings Anne, Larry and Nick. The group released the album “A Joyful Noise” on RCA Records in 1958, becoming one of the first gospel groups to have an album released on a major label.