Exclusive: Why Cissy Houston Left the Music Business - Oprah's Next Chapter - Oprah Winfrey Network

Before she was known around the globe as Whitney Houston's mother, Cissy Houston was a powerhouse vocalist in her own right. In her prime, she sang backup for everyone from Elvis Presley to Van Morrison. Watch as Cissy tells Oprah why she walked away from her career—and why she never wanted her daughter, whom she nicknamed Nippy, to go into the music business.

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[Zalophone123]

Cissy said NOTHING about illuminatti, etc. She said singing was wonderful, making a living & more money but her kids were crying when she left, etc. Debbie you focused on innuendo more than the plain truth: Cissy wanted to be a wife and mother. Showbiz could NEVER give her that.

[sweetpeepauline]

The sacrifices that women make for greater good.

[Diomond96]

The Realest!!!

[Fonze Knight]

I love Cissy so classy so graceful such a lady a woman. so sad for her loss at the hands of evil but even under all of that look at who she is we get to see why whitney became whitney. because of this precious woman.

[MusicBoy Kameron]

I believe that she "walked away" from a chance at fame. The music business or any other career isn't for everyone and just because WE aren't aware of the record deals, sessions or tours she passed on doesn't mean she didn't pass on them. The public doesn't know everything little thing that goes on in an artist's career. We may think we know but I'm sure we're only aware of 1/2 of the story.

[JordanjamesX]

Wow you really don't know what you are talking about Cissy Houston was a successful singer as Oprah pointed out. The lady sang backup for Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin do you think they would choose someone without talent to sing for them. Get a brain please. Cissy Houston is a very talented singer I believe Cissy she wanted to be there for her children. Also, Cissy did not push Whitney into show biz she wanted to be a singer. Also, Cissy cousin Dionne Warwick was a very famous singer too.

[D Thomas]

Whitney played the "I LOVE MY MOM SO MUCH" face for two reasons: 1) Guilt (because she was successful and her mom wasn't), and 2) Fear (she had such fear and anxiety about her mom because of her strict upbringing (which included corporal punishment (i.e., what we today call child abuse), and her fear of her mom's admonishment because of her sexuality issues. Its all coming out now.

[D Thomas]

I don't think Cissy "walked away" from the biz. I think her work dried up. Look at the facts. What record deals did she turn down or walk away from? What session work did she pass on? What tours did she quit or refuse to participate? None. When she says she "knew what this business was about", she talking about the failure and rejection, not the temptations and crooks. I think she gave Whitney the standard warnings and once Whitney ON HER OWN decided to proceed, Cissy jumped on the train.

[Cal Gary]

I love her honesty!!

[runxz1]

I don't believe that cissy didnt want to be famous. I just don't think it worked out for her. So what she did was live vicariously through whitney by putting her in the business. It is very common.

[Coco Lahtay]

That explains it then. Too bad they didn't have the same approach as Patti. It doesn't bode well for Beyonce's voice either. Her speaking voice has been getting raspier and raspier by the year. She's too young to be sounding like that.

[lcowles]

That's because, unlike almost all pop/gospel/R7B/country singers, Patti actually sings with correct technique. That's what's going to keep the voice youthful. Otherwise, you end up like Cissy or Mariah Carey. You gradually get more raspy and gravely sounding until you can't sing at all. That's from WAY too much pressure on the vocal cords...and probably, smoking.