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Remembering Whitney: A Mother's Story of Life, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped
On the eve of the 2012 Grammy Awards, the world learned of a stunning tragedy: Whitney Houston, unquestionably one of the most remarkable and powerful voices in all of music, had been silenced forever. Over the weeks and months that followed, family, friends, and fans alike tried to understand how such a magnificent talent and beautiful soul could have been taken so early and so unexpectedly.
Glamorous and approachable, captivating and sweet, Whitney had long ago won the hearts of America, but in recent years her tumultuous personal life had grabbed as many headlines as her soaring vocal talents. Her sudden death left behind not only a legacy of brilliance, but also painful questions with no easy answers.
Now, for the first time, the beloved superstar's mother, Cissy Houston — a gospel legend in her own right—relates the full, astonishing scope of the pop icon's life and career. From Whitney's earliest days singing in the church choir to her rapid ascent to the pinnacles of music stardom, from her string of number one hits to her topping the Hollywood box office, Cissy recounts her daughter's journey to becoming one of the most popular and successful artists of all time. Setting the record straight, Cissy also speaks candidly about Whitney's struggles in the limelight, revealing the truth about her turbulent marriage to singer Bobby Brown, her public attempts to regain her celebrated voice, and the battle with drugs that ultimately proved too much.
In this poignant and tender tribute to her "Nippy," Cissy summons all her strength to reveal not only Whitney the superstar, but also Whitney as a sweet girl, a bright-eyed young woman, and a deeply caring mother.
Complete with never-before-seen family photographs, Remembering Whitney is an intimate, heartfelt portrait of one of our most revered artists, from the woman who cherished her most.
Glamorous and approachable, captivating and sweet, Whitney had long ago won the hearts of America, but in recent years her tumultuous personal life had grabbed as many headlines as her soaring vocal talents. Her sudden death left behind not only a legacy of brilliance, but also painful questions with no easy answers.
Now, for the first time, the beloved superstar's mother, Cissy Houston — a gospel legend in her own right—relates the full, astonishing scope of the pop icon's life and career. From Whitney's earliest days singing in the church choir to her rapid ascent to the pinnacles of music stardom, from her string of number one hits to her topping the Hollywood box office, Cissy recounts her daughter's journey to becoming one of the most popular and successful artists of all time. Setting the record straight, Cissy also speaks candidly about Whitney's struggles in the limelight, revealing the truth about her turbulent marriage to singer Bobby Brown, her public attempts to regain her celebrated voice, and the battle with drugs that ultimately proved too much.
In this poignant and tender tribute to her "Nippy," Cissy summons all her strength to reveal not only Whitney the superstar, but also Whitney as a sweet girl, a bright-eyed young woman, and a deeply caring mother.
Complete with never-before-seen family photographs, Remembering Whitney is an intimate, heartfelt portrait of one of our most revered artists, from the woman who cherished her most.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Cissy Houston
5 books12 followersEmily Drinkard, known professionally as Cissy Houston, was an American soul and gospel singer. Houston was a founding member of the R&B group The Sweet Inspirations, and sang backup for artists such as Roy Hamilton, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Chaka Khan. Houston embarked on a solo career in 1970, and won two Grammy Awards in the Traditional Gospel Album category.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
January 18, 2020
Popsugar 2020 challenge - A book by a woman of colour
This book has sat on my TBR for years and I've been putting off reading it as I knew it was going to be an emotional read and it was, but not in the way I was expecting.
I am in no way here to review or rate Cissy's parenting skills or her choices. Cissy is a grieving woman who lost her child and not long after publishing this book would go onto losing her grandchild Bobby Kristina so I have the deepest sympathy for the woman.
However, the title of Remembering Whitney is a bit misleading. This book is the biography of Cissy Houston and her own career along with a massive disclaimer that she in no way knew the full details of Whitney's drug use.
And honestly I dont think it would have mattered if she did know, unless someone wants help theres only so far those around an addict can go to help so her constant disclaimer felt uncomfortable.
I read this and watched the Netflix documentary 'Can I be me' in the same weekend which made for an all around reading experience and felt that they both sang from the same song sheet. Whitney was pushed around and all anyone ever cared about was how much money she was making, her mother included. By her own words all she can talk about with regards to Whitney is her multimillion pound house, the amount of money she made, her beautiful face and her success, whitney the human rarely featured.
I did find the topic of the backlash from the black community interesting, I had heard before that Whitney was booed because she wasnt 'black enough' or that she was singing 'white ballards' so it was interesting to read more on that.
Overall I'm just a Whitney fan, I grew up to her, as a teen I doodled in my schoolbooks 'where do broken hearts go?', a teacher once responded to my doodle by writing 'to the broken heart hospital' , clearly she didnt get the point. I sobbed my way through the funeral until the point where Alicia Keyes sang her new song and told us the release date like it was some kind of promotional event when I was just filled with such sadness. Whitney deserved more than that and I feel she also deserves more than this book which I personally feel is another example of her name being used for sales.
Rest peacefully Whitney, I wouldn't say the the music stopped that night but I would say that 'didn't we almost have it all' has been on repeat since.
3 stars purely because I have to rate it something. I'm not here to put a rating on peoples lives.
This book has sat on my TBR for years and I've been putting off reading it as I knew it was going to be an emotional read and it was, but not in the way I was expecting.
I am in no way here to review or rate Cissy's parenting skills or her choices. Cissy is a grieving woman who lost her child and not long after publishing this book would go onto losing her grandchild Bobby Kristina so I have the deepest sympathy for the woman.
However, the title of Remembering Whitney is a bit misleading. This book is the biography of Cissy Houston and her own career along with a massive disclaimer that she in no way knew the full details of Whitney's drug use.
And honestly I dont think it would have mattered if she did know, unless someone wants help theres only so far those around an addict can go to help so her constant disclaimer felt uncomfortable.
I read this and watched the Netflix documentary 'Can I be me' in the same weekend which made for an all around reading experience and felt that they both sang from the same song sheet. Whitney was pushed around and all anyone ever cared about was how much money she was making, her mother included. By her own words all she can talk about with regards to Whitney is her multimillion pound house, the amount of money she made, her beautiful face and her success, whitney the human rarely featured.
I did find the topic of the backlash from the black community interesting, I had heard before that Whitney was booed because she wasnt 'black enough' or that she was singing 'white ballards' so it was interesting to read more on that.
Overall I'm just a Whitney fan, I grew up to her, as a teen I doodled in my schoolbooks 'where do broken hearts go?', a teacher once responded to my doodle by writing 'to the broken heart hospital' , clearly she didnt get the point. I sobbed my way through the funeral until the point where Alicia Keyes sang her new song and told us the release date like it was some kind of promotional event when I was just filled with such sadness. Whitney deserved more than that and I feel she also deserves more than this book which I personally feel is another example of her name being used for sales.
Rest peacefully Whitney, I wouldn't say the the music stopped that night but I would say that 'didn't we almost have it all' has been on repeat since.
3 stars purely because I have to rate it something. I'm not here to put a rating on peoples lives.
February 17, 2013
Remembering Whitney: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped
by Cissy Houston was just an ok book. It is very difficult to write a review about a book on somethng so devastingly personal. I love Whitney and her performance.
A huge portion of this book is about Cissy Houston from her childhood life, singing career, courtship and marriage, to places she traveled.
From the title you would expect the book to be about her mother remembering Whitney. The book should have been about Whitney, not Cissy.
Cissy even when as far as listing all her songs in the book. I wasn't looking for the rumors or drug use to be in the book , but I did think the book would have talked about all of Whitney's childhood to all of the good things Whitney did that most people dont know, not Cissy's.
The title should have been Cissy's Life Story.
The book tricks readers with the title.
by Cissy Houston was just an ok book. It is very difficult to write a review about a book on somethng so devastingly personal. I love Whitney and her performance.
A huge portion of this book is about Cissy Houston from her childhood life, singing career, courtship and marriage, to places she traveled.
From the title you would expect the book to be about her mother remembering Whitney. The book should have been about Whitney, not Cissy.
Cissy even when as far as listing all her songs in the book. I wasn't looking for the rumors or drug use to be in the book , but I did think the book would have talked about all of Whitney's childhood to all of the good things Whitney did that most people dont know, not Cissy's.
The title should have been Cissy's Life Story.
The book tricks readers with the title.
February 13, 2013
I'll say it. I'm a HUGE Whitney Houston fan. I have been since I played the cassette tape of I wanna dance with somebody in my bedroom and danced in circles to exhaustion. I thought I knew it all...till I read this book. Mrs. Houston has painted a heartfelt and warming portrayal of a woman so close to our hearts and even closer to hers. We are invited to learn of Whitney's upbringing, her highs and her lows, her hopes and her doubts and her never ending faith in God.
I spent the day reading this book on the one year anniversary of Whitney's death. I mediated on it and it made me feel a whole new love for the woman who provided the soundtrack to my life. I was so scared it would turn into a drug memoir, and was so happy to see that it was a love memoir. A book spelling out that the woman I felt was so close to perfect had her flaws, just like us all.
Among these stories was a wonderful tid bit about Houston wanting to perform over seas for the troops to show her love and her support, only to be told by security that she was viewed as too much of a national treasure to risk the journey. And so she welcomed them home in a tribute I still watch to this day on video.
In my mind this will be the only book I will give merit to when it comes to anyone writing about our beloved Whitney. I choose not to remember the drugs or the personal struggles, I choose to focus on the gifts that were passed down through her to us. And this book acts as yet another vessel to do so.
If there was a way to go back, I would tell her.. The voice was enough, we didn't need you to be anything but love. This book showed me that in spades.
A must read for anyone who has fallen in love with a song.
I spent the day reading this book on the one year anniversary of Whitney's death. I mediated on it and it made me feel a whole new love for the woman who provided the soundtrack to my life. I was so scared it would turn into a drug memoir, and was so happy to see that it was a love memoir. A book spelling out that the woman I felt was so close to perfect had her flaws, just like us all.
Among these stories was a wonderful tid bit about Houston wanting to perform over seas for the troops to show her love and her support, only to be told by security that she was viewed as too much of a national treasure to risk the journey. And so she welcomed them home in a tribute I still watch to this day on video.
In my mind this will be the only book I will give merit to when it comes to anyone writing about our beloved Whitney. I choose not to remember the drugs or the personal struggles, I choose to focus on the gifts that were passed down through her to us. And this book acts as yet another vessel to do so.
If there was a way to go back, I would tell her.. The voice was enough, we didn't need you to be anything but love. This book showed me that in spades.
A must read for anyone who has fallen in love with a song.
February 25, 2013
The reason that I am giving this book 3 stars is because there isn't an option for half star ratings. I picked up Remembering Whitney because I am a HUGE Whitney fan. When she died, I was shocked and hurt like she was an auntie. I watched that very long funeral like I was a family member.
However, I was left a little disappointed by the book. I guess I thought that because this was a remembrance written by her mother that it would have more.....information in it. I spent the first 110 pages wondering when we were getting to Whitney. What I should have been told before I bought instead of borrowed was that this was a partly autobiographical piece for Cissy herself with Whitney thrown in later.
Cissy's whole story was "I didn't know until it was too late." I don't have children, but I just feel like this isn't the entire truth. I feel like she knew something, but let it slide because she was Whitney Houston. It wasn't a bad book....I was just disappointed at how Whitney seemed to have been let down by major figures in her life.
However, I was left a little disappointed by the book. I guess I thought that because this was a remembrance written by her mother that it would have more.....information in it. I spent the first 110 pages wondering when we were getting to Whitney. What I should have been told before I bought instead of borrowed was that this was a partly autobiographical piece for Cissy herself with Whitney thrown in later.
Cissy's whole story was "I didn't know until it was too late." I don't have children, but I just feel like this isn't the entire truth. I feel like she knew something, but let it slide because she was Whitney Houston. It wasn't a bad book....I was just disappointed at how Whitney seemed to have been let down by major figures in her life.
February 2, 2013
Intentionally or unintentionally, Cissy Houston was in the dark about her daughter. While the book does gives the reader sporadic glimpses of who the woman behind "The Voice" really was, there really isnt too much Whitney in this book. Most of this is because Cissy claimed to not really know the extent of her daughter's issues. Much of the book is spent on Cissy's career in the music industry and her marriage, and i found that rather tedious. Regardless of which, i found Cissy Houston to be a noble woman. It would have been easy to assign blame for Whitney's drug addictions and ultimate death, but she never does. Her deep love & devotion to her daughter, both then and now, are evident in every word she writes. This book is a good read, but don't expect too much Whitney.
May 8, 2013
This book is largely about Cissy with a little bit of Whitney thrown in, however, everything she says about Whitney is always tied back to herself. I was under the impression that this book was supposed to be a tribute to the late great Whitney Houston and more about her story so I was disappointed.
March 28, 2013
When I completed this book, I really thought about it for a few days after. I wondered why Whitney Houston's mom wrote it. It had to be a form of healing, somewhat cathartic, because she does not put herself in a good light. My honest opinion of this book is: the mom put her career before her family and was rarely involved - even when she was needed. Throughout the book, many times it was mentioned where her daughter asked her mom to please come to her, and most times, the mom didn't. My impression was she turned a blind eye to situations that were uncomfortable or "wrong". I was very disappointed in how much the mom didn't know or didn't choose to deal with. I wouldn't recommend this book. I wish I hadn't read it. I liked Whitney Houston too much - I didn't need to know that kind of info.
February 12, 2013
This is probably the most difficult book for me to comment on. My heart and emotions are literally all over the place with it. The things Whitney and I have in common: we were the same age, have daughters the same age, were raised in church, love God, and our mothers were strict disciplinarians. That is where the similarities end, lol. Initially when I began reading this book I felt cheated. It started out I thought as an autobiography of Cissy's life. I thought what does this have to do with Whitney, but as I kept reading and the story began to build I understood the purpose for all of the background information. In the background information, Cissy is explaining the hows and whys of her rearing her children and how she trained Whitney musically. As much as we say we are going to do things differently sometimes when raising our children we find that we are most times just like our parents. I found it hard to believe that she did not know about her drug problem. Maybe initially yes but after awhile...I don't know. There was for me a lot of reading in between the pages. I felt some things were inferred and some things she knew but for the love and protection of her daughter, she just wasn't going to say...in life or in death. Cissy was from the generation that loved their sons and raised their daughters. I see this trend often in African American culture. I don't doubt for a minute she loved her children but I can also identify with the tones of guilt throughout the book about working and leaving her babies and how they, especially Michael responded to her going on the road. The Bible says, "train up a child in the way that they should go..." she did that. She knows that as an adult, Whitney made her own choices but as a parent that loves their children, they always ask what did I do or could I have done to perhaps prevent or make things better. I was looking for things that people said Cissy said but I did not see them in the book. She did not bash Bobby Brown, he is after all the father of her granddaughter. My heart hurt after reading this and just when I thought I was going to make it through, pages 266 through 272 had me just weeping. It is just against nature for the children to leave before the parent but Cissy made peace when she heard the words to Andre Crouch's song, Let the Church Say Amen. There were a few things I learned from reading this book. I learned nothing new about her personality, I believe she exuded that publicly. I learned about the things that shaped the person we came to know and love, Whitney Elizabeth Houston...she will always be missed...
August 22, 2017
Whitney Houston will always be one of my favorite female vocalist. The voice will often be imitated but never duplicated, mocked but never mastered, it has the ability to purge your heart. Reading this memoir was very hard to get through, just to think of the things she endured with. Cissy events about what led to her demise was disheartening, it seems like she tried everything to keep Houston alive. Although I am familiar with some details in this book, some things took me by surprise. I had no idea that even in the womb, Houston was inclined to music.
This was mainly about Cissy life prior to having Whitney and the tribulations that they been through is something to be treasured.
Very sentimental novel, I will always you Whitney Houston.
This was mainly about Cissy life prior to having Whitney and the tribulations that they been through is something to be treasured.
Very sentimental novel, I will always you Whitney Houston.
February 15, 2013
Sad. From page one, this book was sad. I don't think Cissy Houston even realizes how much fame distorted her relationship witn her daughter. I doubt that celebrities who become the meal ticket for their family can ever trust that what they share with them is a healthy give and take.
December 10, 2015
Captivating, Heartwrenching & Insightful Read! I Loved It!
November 20, 2016
What an Inspirational Story!
If you have ever lost a loved one in your life, you must read this book. Is is truly inspirational!
If you have ever lost a loved one in your life, you must read this book. Is is truly inspirational!
February 9, 2015
Four stars: An emotional and informative look at the woman with an amazing voice.
Cissy Houston's her beautiful daughter, Whitney Houston, passed away three years ago. Cissy lost her daughter and the world lost one of the most gifted and talented singers of our time. This is a poignant book that details the life of Whitney or Nippy as Cissy calls her. Cissy shares her memories of her daughter as she rose to fame and catapulted into super stardom with her hit I Will Always Love You. Shortly after, Whitney began the long downward spiral that would eventually lead to her death. What happened to this girl who we thought had it all?
What I Liked:
*I don't usually read biographies, but for some reason, I was drawn to this book. I am not a huge Whitney Houston fan, but I couldn't help but to be interested to learn more about what caused this beautiful, talented girl to fall so far. What is her husband? The pressure? Or something else? Cissy shares her thoughts on how and why her daughter lost it all, as well as how she rose to fame and became the super star that we all will remember. Whether you liked or music or not, there is no denying, Whitney Houston had one of the most amazing and gorgeous voices, and her voice is missed. I recommend reading this account if you are curious about the girl who captured a generation with her voice.
*I was expecting Cissy to dish out the dirt and lay blame for her daughters fall on those around her, namely her ex husband Bobby Brown. The media for years portrayed Bobby Brown as the bad boy who led Whitney into a life of drugs, but Cissy is very open and honest in her account. She doesn't point fingers or place blame on others, instead she admits that Whitney's drug problem started before her relationship with Bobby, and continued after she left him. Cissy rests the blame on Whitney and herself for not interjecting sooner to help her daughter. I appreciated that Cissy refrained from unflattering remarks and making nasty accusations. While I am sure she has strong opinions about Bobby and a couple other people who were close to her daughter, she keeps them to herself. This is not a dish the dirt book that gets ugly. For the most part, it is open, honest and positive.
*The book starts out with Cissy's personal history starting as a young girl. While many readers complained that they didn't want to know all about Whitney's mom, I went into this knowing absolutely nothing about Mrs. Houston, and so I find her story to be of interest. She talks about her own career and how it led Whitney to become a singer.
*This is a book written with love. You could feel Cissy's love for her daughter shining through the pages, as well as her anguish and guilt over her death. Whitney Houston had it all. She was gorgeous, talented, and she had a loving family and fame. Yet, behind the scenes, she struggled like anyone else with self doubt and she eventually cracked under the enormous pressure. Her drug addiction might have started as a recreational activity, but it eventually became an escape that consumed her. It is apparent that Cissy feels partly responsible for her daughter's demise, and she questions whether she could have done things differently. Ultimately at the end of it all, Whitney chose her path and made the decisions that led to her death. A truly sad ending to a starred life.
And The Not So Much:
*While I thought for the most part Cissy was open and honest with her account, I didn't quite buy her denial regarding Whitney's drug use. Early on, Whitney's friend Robyn told Cissy that Whitney was developing a drug problem, this was before her marriage to Bobby. I think Cissy didn't want to believe it because she had a hard time accepting that her beautiful baby could do no wrong, and so I think she decided to turn a blind eye and believed Whitney's denials. I am sure she knew far more about her daughter's drug problem than she chose to reveal. However, toward the end, she is very open about putting Whitney into rehab and trying to get her clean. I think like any mother, she wanted to only see the good in her daughter. I felt like she was holding back when it came to the drug problem.
*While I liked learning more about Cissy, I thought she spent a good deal of the book focusing on her triumphs and her career. Yes, she had a long career, but it almost felt like she was bragging a bit. She also came across as condescending at times.
*I was hoping to glean a bit more information regarding the circumstances surrounding Whitney's death, but there are none. In fact, Cissy doesn't even discuss how her daughter died.
* I was expecting to learn a bit more about Whitney's Daughter Bobbi Kristina, but she is only mentioned briefly. Cissy acknowledges that Krissy's story is hers to tell, so if you are hoing to learn more about Krissy, you will be disappointed.
Remembering Whitney was an interesting read. I liked learning more about Whitney's rise to fame and the trouble that she endured behind the scenes. Even though she appeared to have it all, Whitney struggled behind the scenes with personal insecurities and the pressures of stardom, which ultimately led to her downfall. Regardless of how she lived her life, there is no denying that she shared her glorious voice with us all, and her talent will be missed. If you are interested in learning more about the woman behind the fame, read her mother's account.
I borrowed a copy of this book from the library. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Cissy Houston's her beautiful daughter, Whitney Houston, passed away three years ago. Cissy lost her daughter and the world lost one of the most gifted and talented singers of our time. This is a poignant book that details the life of Whitney or Nippy as Cissy calls her. Cissy shares her memories of her daughter as she rose to fame and catapulted into super stardom with her hit I Will Always Love You. Shortly after, Whitney began the long downward spiral that would eventually lead to her death. What happened to this girl who we thought had it all?
What I Liked:
*I don't usually read biographies, but for some reason, I was drawn to this book. I am not a huge Whitney Houston fan, but I couldn't help but to be interested to learn more about what caused this beautiful, talented girl to fall so far. What is her husband? The pressure? Or something else? Cissy shares her thoughts on how and why her daughter lost it all, as well as how she rose to fame and became the super star that we all will remember. Whether you liked or music or not, there is no denying, Whitney Houston had one of the most amazing and gorgeous voices, and her voice is missed. I recommend reading this account if you are curious about the girl who captured a generation with her voice.
*I was expecting Cissy to dish out the dirt and lay blame for her daughters fall on those around her, namely her ex husband Bobby Brown. The media for years portrayed Bobby Brown as the bad boy who led Whitney into a life of drugs, but Cissy is very open and honest in her account. She doesn't point fingers or place blame on others, instead she admits that Whitney's drug problem started before her relationship with Bobby, and continued after she left him. Cissy rests the blame on Whitney and herself for not interjecting sooner to help her daughter. I appreciated that Cissy refrained from unflattering remarks and making nasty accusations. While I am sure she has strong opinions about Bobby and a couple other people who were close to her daughter, she keeps them to herself. This is not a dish the dirt book that gets ugly. For the most part, it is open, honest and positive.
*The book starts out with Cissy's personal history starting as a young girl. While many readers complained that they didn't want to know all about Whitney's mom, I went into this knowing absolutely nothing about Mrs. Houston, and so I find her story to be of interest. She talks about her own career and how it led Whitney to become a singer.
*This is a book written with love. You could feel Cissy's love for her daughter shining through the pages, as well as her anguish and guilt over her death. Whitney Houston had it all. She was gorgeous, talented, and she had a loving family and fame. Yet, behind the scenes, she struggled like anyone else with self doubt and she eventually cracked under the enormous pressure. Her drug addiction might have started as a recreational activity, but it eventually became an escape that consumed her. It is apparent that Cissy feels partly responsible for her daughter's demise, and she questions whether she could have done things differently. Ultimately at the end of it all, Whitney chose her path and made the decisions that led to her death. A truly sad ending to a starred life.
And The Not So Much:
*While I thought for the most part Cissy was open and honest with her account, I didn't quite buy her denial regarding Whitney's drug use. Early on, Whitney's friend Robyn told Cissy that Whitney was developing a drug problem, this was before her marriage to Bobby. I think Cissy didn't want to believe it because she had a hard time accepting that her beautiful baby could do no wrong, and so I think she decided to turn a blind eye and believed Whitney's denials. I am sure she knew far more about her daughter's drug problem than she chose to reveal. However, toward the end, she is very open about putting Whitney into rehab and trying to get her clean. I think like any mother, she wanted to only see the good in her daughter. I felt like she was holding back when it came to the drug problem.
*While I liked learning more about Cissy, I thought she spent a good deal of the book focusing on her triumphs and her career. Yes, she had a long career, but it almost felt like she was bragging a bit. She also came across as condescending at times.
*I was hoping to glean a bit more information regarding the circumstances surrounding Whitney's death, but there are none. In fact, Cissy doesn't even discuss how her daughter died.
* I was expecting to learn a bit more about Whitney's Daughter Bobbi Kristina, but she is only mentioned briefly. Cissy acknowledges that Krissy's story is hers to tell, so if you are hoing to learn more about Krissy, you will be disappointed.
Remembering Whitney was an interesting read. I liked learning more about Whitney's rise to fame and the trouble that she endured behind the scenes. Even though she appeared to have it all, Whitney struggled behind the scenes with personal insecurities and the pressures of stardom, which ultimately led to her downfall. Regardless of how she lived her life, there is no denying that she shared her glorious voice with us all, and her talent will be missed. If you are interested in learning more about the woman behind the fame, read her mother's account.
I borrowed a copy of this book from the library. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
March 23, 2013
Whitney Elizabeth Houston was one of the best singers in the world. Oprah called her "The Voice". She was brought in a musical family. Her mother, Cissy Houston, was part of the gospel group and worked with prominent artists such as Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Luther Vandross. Whitney's cousin, Dionne Warwick, is an award-winning artist and still active in music industry.
Once, Whitney was on her peak singing "I Will Always Love You" with her flawless voice that gave shivers to millions of people around the world. Once, Whitney was a complete package: a beautiful young woman with unbelievably-perfect voice and a pleasant attitude. Once.
She was a gifted artist with a bright future in front of her. She was born to be a diva. But, that moment didn't last long. She was struggling with her personal demons, was a victim in domestic abuse. On February 11, 2012, the lights went off. The diva has gone.
I was sad when I heard the news. How could I forget that day. Whitney is one of my heroes. Her songs are everlasting. It happened on my birthday last year. I was sad, but not shocked, because somehow I could see it coming. What's in store for a drug addict? It doesn't take a genius to predict the future of druggies. It's just about time.
This is a heartbreaking memoir of a mother who lost her beloved daughter. I believe Cissy was telling the truth. So many facts that were confirmed in this book.
Whitney had a drug problem long before she met Bobby Brown. When she met Bobby for the first time on Soul Train Awards, they just clicked, and not long after that, they got married. People were shocked. Whitney and Bobby, what a joke. Whitney had a squeaky clean image. On the other hand, Bobby was a bad boy. People knew that he was kicked out of New Edition due to his recklessness.
And things got worse after Whitney had a baby, Bobbi Christina (Krissi). Whitney was on a long hiatus, partying with his notorious husband, and nobody wanted to hear Whitney sing anymore. She released some albums. She canceled some concerts. Everyone knew she had a problem with drugs. Until she was kicked out of Academy Awards Performance. She'd shown erratic behavior during rehearsals, couldn't memorize her lines. And that's it.
Cissy knew Whitney had a problem, but she couldn't save her daughter. Whitney hid her addiction. She had all the power to fire her people if 'Barracuda' (Cissy's nickname) found out about that. So, nobody dared to talk. Sadly, Whitney's brothers were on the same boat, which hurt Cissy even more.That was the end of Whitney's career.
The night before Grammy Awards 2012, Whitney's erratic behavior bursted out at a club after she sang "Jesus Loves Me".
She had a catfight with a woman who was rumored to be Ray Jay's girlfriend. Ray Jay is Brandy's brother. Ray and Whitney were rumored to be couple. But according to Bobby Brown's sister, Ray was never Whitney's lover. He was nothing but a drug dealer.
Whitney's death was surrounded by mysterious circumstances. So many odd things happened during that day. For example, Clive Davis's Pre-Grammy Party was held when Whitney died, but nobody wanted to stop partying when the news broke. While Whitney's dead body was lying at the hotel room, people were partying below.
Second, Bobby Brown's sister confirmed that Whitney hated to soak in the bath tub. She believed there waa a foul play involved.
I don't want to remember Whitney as a drug addict. To me, Whitney was a beautiful woman who touched so many people with her amazing voice.
Rest in peace, Whitney.
February 6, 2013
I can't say I was all that big of a Whitney Houston fan. I appreciated that she had a great voice but her music wasn't really my thing and I was turned off by the way she embarrassed herself in the public eye in the later years (crack is wack!).I wanted to read this book because I was more interested in the mother trying to save her daughter perspective of the tragedy. Cissy Houston did not disappoint. The woman is the personification of class. There is no doubt that she loved her daughter but all of the mother's love in the world couldn't save Whitney from her own self admitted demon, herself.
The book starts out with Cissy recounting her own amazing music career and her relationship with Whitney's father, her husband John. Whitney, nicknamed Nippy was the longed for little girl that arrived after two brothers. When it became obvious that Whitney had the gift Cissy spent a lot of time installing a professional work ethic in her daughter before turning her over to a hand picked mentor Clive Davis. Although Cissy tried to do everything right unbeknown to her, Whitney's brother Michael was turning her on to the drugs that would become her downfall. Although Cissy disputes the fact that Bobbie Brown was the cause of Whitney's drug use in her book the fact that it was due to her own brother Michael is revealed in Cissy's interview with Oprah. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZo0lC... The look on Cissy's face when Michael talks about introducing Whitney to drugs is truly heartbreaking. I think all of Cissy's kids broke her heart and now Whitney's daughter is following the same path.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raH8V7...
Through the years Cissy tried many times to talk to Whitney about her problems and even staged an intervention with the police. Whitney was an adult and her choices were her own. Whitney responded by cutting Cissy out of her life when she became ashamed of her actions. Cissy never stopped loving or praying for her daughter. She is one of those people whose own walk with God truly serves as a beacon to others. When Whitney met the sad conclusion to her life Cissy was broken but she never wavered in her faith. Cissy has never been stingy with her love or her ability to tell it like she sees it. If Whitney had listed to her mamma she would be alive today. Bobbie Kristina had better repair the rift with her grandmother before she meets the same fate as her mother.
This book was so well written. Cissy Houston's voice came through loud and clear. Although Cissy addresses all of the controversies and incidents through the years it is never done is a salacious or scandalous way. She just states what she thinks is right even though her opinions may have never been all that popular with her family members. I hope she keeps on giving her opinion. Everyone in her family would be a lot better off if they just followed her advice. Cissy Houston is a classy lady who exudes Christian love. I hope she can find the peace she deserves in her final years.
The book starts out with Cissy recounting her own amazing music career and her relationship with Whitney's father, her husband John. Whitney, nicknamed Nippy was the longed for little girl that arrived after two brothers. When it became obvious that Whitney had the gift Cissy spent a lot of time installing a professional work ethic in her daughter before turning her over to a hand picked mentor Clive Davis. Although Cissy tried to do everything right unbeknown to her, Whitney's brother Michael was turning her on to the drugs that would become her downfall. Although Cissy disputes the fact that Bobbie Brown was the cause of Whitney's drug use in her book the fact that it was due to her own brother Michael is revealed in Cissy's interview with Oprah. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZo0lC... The look on Cissy's face when Michael talks about introducing Whitney to drugs is truly heartbreaking. I think all of Cissy's kids broke her heart and now Whitney's daughter is following the same path.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raH8V7...
Through the years Cissy tried many times to talk to Whitney about her problems and even staged an intervention with the police. Whitney was an adult and her choices were her own. Whitney responded by cutting Cissy out of her life when she became ashamed of her actions. Cissy never stopped loving or praying for her daughter. She is one of those people whose own walk with God truly serves as a beacon to others. When Whitney met the sad conclusion to her life Cissy was broken but she never wavered in her faith. Cissy has never been stingy with her love or her ability to tell it like she sees it. If Whitney had listed to her mamma she would be alive today. Bobbie Kristina had better repair the rift with her grandmother before she meets the same fate as her mother.
This book was so well written. Cissy Houston's voice came through loud and clear. Although Cissy addresses all of the controversies and incidents through the years it is never done is a salacious or scandalous way. She just states what she thinks is right even though her opinions may have never been all that popular with her family members. I hope she keeps on giving her opinion. Everyone in her family would be a lot better off if they just followed her advice. Cissy Houston is a classy lady who exudes Christian love. I hope she can find the peace she deserves in her final years.
July 26, 2015
I can remember the first time I ever heard the voice of Whitney Houston with such clarity. It was 1985 and “Saving All My Love For You” came on the radio. I can remember being blown away and yet envious of her voice. I knew from that first note that this was only the beginning of Whitney songs that I would enjoy throughout the years. Being very shy I never wanted to sing in front of anyone, but I have always loved singing. As a teen I would go in my room and sing along with “Saving All My Love For You” working hard to try and match Whitney’s voice range. I sing in a high soprano range and I found Whitney to be one of my early singing influences. I would sing along and dream of being a singer myself someday.
When I read this book not only did I read it from the perspective of being a fan, but I read it as a mother. The pride that Cissy had in hearing Whitney sing was very evident in the words of this book. It is easy to see how Cissy felt like her little girl had the voice of an angel. As people know Whitney was raised in the church and her singing roots range from Gospel to Soul and more. Cissy has been in the music business for many years and she was able to help Whitney train her natural given talent: her voice.
When it comes down to it I feel that Cissy was Whitney’s biggest fan. As a mother we all want our children to succeed and would give anything to take away the pain that happens in their life. Cissy was able to admit that while Whitney wasn’t perfect, she was her own person who had to account for the things that she did in her life.
This book lets you in to the life of Whitney from her childhood to stardom with the ups and downs until her passing. I won’t go into too many details about the book, but I recommend it to any Whitney fan. I will say that it is tragic that Whitney’s life was cut short, but regardless of what she did in her life that resulted in her early passing, her voice will always be legendary.
When I read this book not only did I read it from the perspective of being a fan, but I read it as a mother. The pride that Cissy had in hearing Whitney sing was very evident in the words of this book. It is easy to see how Cissy felt like her little girl had the voice of an angel. As people know Whitney was raised in the church and her singing roots range from Gospel to Soul and more. Cissy has been in the music business for many years and she was able to help Whitney train her natural given talent: her voice.
When it comes down to it I feel that Cissy was Whitney’s biggest fan. As a mother we all want our children to succeed and would give anything to take away the pain that happens in their life. Cissy was able to admit that while Whitney wasn’t perfect, she was her own person who had to account for the things that she did in her life.
This book lets you in to the life of Whitney from her childhood to stardom with the ups and downs until her passing. I won’t go into too many details about the book, but I recommend it to any Whitney fan. I will say that it is tragic that Whitney’s life was cut short, but regardless of what she did in her life that resulted in her early passing, her voice will always be legendary.
February 23, 2013
I remember Whitney when her music hit the waves from her debut album, "Whitney Houston". She was hot! I was so taken aback by the magnitude of her voice and artistic interpretations that I couldn't hear enough of her music once she stepped onto the scene. She was captivating, beautiful, celebrated and phenomenal. Then came the insidious downward slide in the 90's that started with music awards and acceptance speeches where she was just so in your face about her recreational drug use: twitching or touching her nose repeatedly trying to dispell any traces of lingering cocaine crystals that she snorted. You could tell she just wanted to accept her awards and disappear from the stage after acknowledging her parents and "a god" for whatever recognition she received from her peers in the industry. Subsequently, it was the negative reportage about her public relationship with Bobby Brown and the loss of personal integrity that followed after her swift decline into the world of drug addiction, denial and loss of all control over the public she thought she was fooling. I have read many books about Whitney and was deeply disappointed to learn that in spite of her gifts, her family's sycophantic dysfunction and codependent enabling are the real back story to her tragic demise, of which they are all still in denial about, to this day. Whitney could never seem to reconcile who she was in private and public - ghetto or glam - and after a while, it just didn't matter to her anymore. Her brothers abused her and took advantage of her status to further their own ambitions and addictions. Both parents turned the other cheek while the golden goose was left with her "handlers" to self destruct and inevitably, die. Her mother's anger and guilt are all that she has to live with today and will not bring Whitney back. This book is a tragic and cautionary tale that did not have to be told.
March 19, 2013
The basic gist of this memoir is Cissy going "I had no idea what was going on with Whitney and those drugs. People told me things but I didn't believe them because I didn't see it with my own eyes." "I'm a don't take no mess kinda woman but I let my kid snort her way into an early grave. If only she would have asked me for help but she didn't." "I can't speak on that because I wasn't there." To which I say, well then what exactly was the point of the book Cissy. There was nothing in there that we didn't already know; hell, that Whitney didn't say herself in those interviews with Diane Sawyer and Oprah. The only two things I learned were . Everything else was stuff we all knew already.
February 11, 2013
Whitney Houston's untimely death was very sad, but not surprising. Her mother is obviously still grieving. I do not think this book revealed much of Whitney at all, and it may have highlighted actually how alienated most of her family, especially her mother, was from her. I think the title was an ill-fitting description of the book. The book (and this is not a bad thing because Cissy's life was fascinating) was about Cissy Houston and not very much about the loss of Whitney or the 'night the music stopped.'
March 1, 2013
I wanted to read this book to get Cissy Houston’s perspective. Cissy did a great job of explaining how much she loved Whitney and the book shed light into why Whitney's life turned out the way it did. The books also exemplifies how much Cissy loved her daughter and at the same time shows that Cissy allowed Whitney to live her own life and make her own choices and mistakes. In the end, I believe that Whitney just wanted to sing but she got caught up in bad things because of the choices she made.
June 15, 2013
As a systems thinking marriage and family therapist and a true fan of Whitney I found Cissy view of her daughter through her eyes and experiences enlightening. I felt as though I learned how and why Whitney became the woman she was. Family dynamics play a huge part in who we are as adults...whether you are celebrity or not and Whitney and her brothers' drug addiction says more about tgeir family than her stardom or Bobby.
May 16, 2015
This was a very touching book written by her mother. I think going into this book you need to keep in mind it was written by her mom. No mother is going to write a book full of smut about their daughter. This is filled with positive memories and stories of how Nippy became Whitney Houston. It was nice to read facts about her that weren't all tainted by her drug use. I really enjoyed this and it gave me a greater appreciation for her and her music.
April 21, 2020
I have always loved Whitney. I think she's the greatest singer ever. It's a miracle she survived as long as she did, considering all the pressure she went through.
I had the great pleasure of attending her concert in Globen, Stockholm, in June 2010. It was not a great concert but I was just happy to be breathing the same air with her!
I had the great pleasure of attending her concert in Globen, Stockholm, in June 2010. It was not a great concert but I was just happy to be breathing the same air with her!
February 14, 2013
I am surprised by all the positive reviews for this book. Nothing new was learned in this book. Over half of it told the history of Cissi Houston's career and in the end I just felt sad that Cissi didn't really know Whitney at all.
March 17, 2013
Too much about her mothers's life. Didn't keep my interest. Didn't finish it.
July 30, 2013
Expected the book to be more about Whitney. Disappointed that it was more about her mother.
June 26, 2015
This book was more about Cissy Houston than Whitney Houston. It should be entitled Remember Cissy.
April 27, 2013
Remembering Whitney: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped, is a mother’s moving tribute to her daughter’s memory. Though Whitney Houston’s struggles with drugs were well publicized, Cissy Houston devotes much of the book to providing an intimate glance into her relationship with her superstar daughter.
This is not a mother who was blind to her children’s flaws while making excuses for their self-destructive behavior; nor does she portray herself as a “perfect” mother or wife. The author is forthcoming and balanced in her assessments of both her daughter’s marriage to Bobby Brown as well as the longtime friendship Whitney Houston maintained with an openly gay woman—in spite of the speculations about her sexuality. Yet like mothers throughout time, she’s had to learn that fine balance between knowing when to step in and help her adult children and when to step back and allow them to live their lives and learn from their mistakes, no matter how painful it is to watch.
I really admired Cissy Houston’s courage in addressing the questions that all mothers wrestle with upon losing a child to adverse circumstances, including death. Questions about whether she clearly communicated to her daughter that she loved and approved of her even if she wasn’t being perfect. Or what more she could have done to stop her daughter’s downward spiral. It’s heartbreaking to read these admissions of a mother’s perceived helplessness in the face of her child’s troubles; about the pain, anger, and self-blame she continues to struggle with even now, more than a year after her daughter’s death.
Mothers everywhere will relate to Cissy Houston’s “mother’s guilt”, while at the same time celebrating her unapologetic mother-bear stance when it came to defending her daughter against school bullies or anyone else who threatened her daughter’s safety or happiness—not even her own husband or sons were exempt from her wrath. Remembering Whitney: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped, reminds us why we first fell in love with the angelic, yet powerful voice of Whitney Houston more than 25 years ago and why we’ll always love her.
February 11, 2017
Whitney Houston died on my birthday, so the week before my birthday seemed like a good time to listen to this audiobook. I liked Whitney Houston a lot when I was little, but I didn't really know that much about her personal life, or most of the events that her mom talks about in the book. It was kind of a funny book, because Cissy told her own whole life story too, like it's probably a third of the way into the book before Whitney is even born. And Cissy clearly loves Whitney a lot, but she also makes a lot of stuff about herself. Like when she watched Whitney record "I Will Always Love You" and decided it all about her own relationship with Whitney's dad.
I think Robin Miles' dramatic reading really added to how over-the-top it was. You could just hear the disdain dripping when Robyn Crawford or Bobby Brown came up. Every time, she's all "Now, I did not care for Robyn Crawford." OMG Cissy. We know.
So it was kind of quirky, but it was a touching tribute to her daughter, and I learned a lot about Whitney. Cissy described her as such a sweet girl who just wanted everyone to like her. She just seemed so nice and huge-hearted, and it's so sad that she had so many struggles and died so young. I feel like hardcore Whitney fans would already know most of the stuff in the book, but I still recommend it to all fans.
I think Robin Miles' dramatic reading really added to how over-the-top it was. You could just hear the disdain dripping when Robyn Crawford or Bobby Brown came up. Every time, she's all "Now, I did not care for Robyn Crawford." OMG Cissy. We know.
So it was kind of quirky, but it was a touching tribute to her daughter, and I learned a lot about Whitney. Cissy described her as such a sweet girl who just wanted everyone to like her. She just seemed so nice and huge-hearted, and it's so sad that she had so many struggles and died so young. I feel like hardcore Whitney fans would already know most of the stuff in the book, but I still recommend it to all fans.
February 15, 2013
Who is this book about? That is the question I asked repeatedly asked while reading Remembering Whitney by Cissy Houston and that is NOT a good thing. Cissy spent a great majority of the book telling about her background and her place in popular music history. It really had me scratching my head.
And, when Cissy does speak of her daughter I was in disbelief. Was Cissy really that naïve? Was she really in that much denial? Did she really not see any of the tabloids and/or the news? I do not believe that she did not know her child had a serious drug problem when the rest of the entire world knew.
The one section of the book that did surprise me was the mention of Bobby Brown. Most news outlets reported that the family thought Bobby was Whitney’s downfall and even when seeing Cissy on interviews one would assume she felt that same way but she says in the book: “Yet unlike a lot of people, I don’t blame Bobby for introducing Nippy to drugs or for the things that ended up happening to her.”
Remembering Whitney does not shed any new light on Whitney than what we already knew by keeping up with pop culture. It is not normal for a parent to bury their child and just as when seeing Cissy walk of the church during Whitney’s funeral, my heart broke when she wrote “Then they shoveled the dirt on top of the coffin, and just like that, my baby girl, my only daughter, was gone forever.”
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of Remembering Whitney: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped by Cissy Houston by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
And, when Cissy does speak of her daughter I was in disbelief. Was Cissy really that naïve? Was she really in that much denial? Did she really not see any of the tabloids and/or the news? I do not believe that she did not know her child had a serious drug problem when the rest of the entire world knew.
The one section of the book that did surprise me was the mention of Bobby Brown. Most news outlets reported that the family thought Bobby was Whitney’s downfall and even when seeing Cissy on interviews one would assume she felt that same way but she says in the book: “Yet unlike a lot of people, I don’t blame Bobby for introducing Nippy to drugs or for the things that ended up happening to her.”
Remembering Whitney does not shed any new light on Whitney than what we already knew by keeping up with pop culture. It is not normal for a parent to bury their child and just as when seeing Cissy walk of the church during Whitney’s funeral, my heart broke when she wrote “Then they shoveled the dirt on top of the coffin, and just like that, my baby girl, my only daughter, was gone forever.”
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of Remembering Whitney: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped by Cissy Houston by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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