First published 1998
Cissy Houston opens her story in Newark, New Jersey, where she grew up as the youngest of eight children in 1933. Her father passed down his musical gifts and love of gospel harmony. She began singing early and never stopped, even as life pulled her in different directions. The narrative follows her journey from the tough Newark streets to Grammy-winning success as a gospel artist. She becomes mother to pop sensation Whitney Houston while building her own career in Off-Broadway productions and film. The central tension emerges between her devotion to family and the demands of a career that takes her around the world. Cissy struggles to maintain her moral principles and integrity in an industry that often lacks both. She navigates the challenges of being wife, mother, and sister while pursuing her calling as a performer. The story reveals how she searches for meaning and direction through music, faith, and family bonds.
Genres: biography, christian, 20th-century, african-american, autobiography, biography-memoir, 21st-century, christian-living
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, pursuit-of-calling
Setting: Newark, New Jersey
Period: 1933
282 pages · Hardcover · Doubleday