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Bobby Brown reacts to the death of his former mother-in-law Cissy Houston


Bobby Brown reacts to the death of his former mother-in-law Cissy Houston

Bobby Brown is paying tribute to his late mother-in-law Cissy Houston following her death at age 91.

Brown, 55, was married to Cissy's late daughter Whitney Houston from 1992 to 2007. The “New Edition” star shared a joint statement with his wife Alicia Etheredge-Brown on Monday about Cissy's death.

“I send love and blessings to the Houston family on this great loss,” the statement to People said. “May she rest in peace and strength. The Browns.”

The Post has reached out to Brown's representative.

Bobby Brown, Whitney Houston and Cissy Houston in 1997.
Whitney Houston and Cissy Houston in March 1987. Getty Images

Brown and Whitney's tumultuous relationship began when they met at the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards. Whitney's future in the music industry seemed endless at the time and Brown was labeled a bad boy. She was immediately attracted to him.

Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown at the Ocean Club Resort in 2000. WireImage
Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown. RICHARD YOUNG/REX FEATURES

“He was hot, he was on fire,” Houston told Rolling Stone of their first meeting. “Me and some of my friends were sitting behind him. I hugged her, we laughed, and I kept hitting Bobby in the back of the head… I leaned over and said, “Bobby, I'm so sorry.” And he turned around and looked at me like, “Yeah, well yeah, just don't let it happen again.” And I was like, 'Oooooh, this guy doesn't like me.' Well, I always get curious when someone doesn’t like me.”

Despite all odds, Bobby and Whitney married in July 1992 at the “Queen of the Night” singer's estate in Mendham, New Jersey. However, their 14-year marriage was plagued by allegations of infidelity, allegations of physical abuse and serious drug addiction until their divorce in April 2007.

Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston on September 10, 1998. ZUMAPRESS.com

In March 1993 they had their only child together, daughter Bobbi Kristina. Sadly, she passed away in July 2015 from a combination of drowning and drug intoxication, just three years after Whitney's death. Eerily, the mother-daughter pair died in almost identical ways.

Cissy Houston with her late granddaughter Bobbi Kristina Brown. WireImage
Whitney Houston. Imago/Unimedia

Whitney's death on February 11, 2012 was ruled an accidental drowning, with heart disease and cocaine use as contributing factors.

Cissy has been protective of Whitney over the years, even calling Brown's shocking 20/20 interview about his life with his ex-wife “disgusting.”

“I am deeply disappointed that this interview to publicize the story of Bobby's life seemed more like an expose of Whitney's life,” Cissy said at the time.

Whitney and Cissy Houston in 1987. General entertainment content from Disney via Getty Images
Cissy Houston. Getty Images

On Monday, October 7, the Houston family confirmed Cissy's death at age 91 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease. The Gospel icon died at her home in New Jersey while in hospice care.

“Our hearts are full of pain and sadness. We are losing the matriarch of our family,” her daughter-in-law Pat Houston 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, service and community. Her career spanning more than seven decades in the music and entertainment industry will continue to be close to our hearts.”

Cissy and Whitney Houston at the Keep A Child Alive Black Ball in New York on September 30, 2010. AP
Cissy Houston with The Sweet Inspirations circa 1967. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Pat added: “Her contributions to popular music and culture are unparalleled.” We are blessed and grateful that God allowed her to spend so many years with us and we are grateful for all the many valuable life lessons she taught taught us. May she rest in peace with her daughter Whitney and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina and other cherished family members.”

The sweet inspirations. Getty Images

Cissy was a two-time Grammy winner who rose to popularity in the '60s during her time in The Sweet Inspirations alongside Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee Warwick. Over the course of her legendary career, she was a background singer for Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Paul Simon, Bette Midler and Luther Vandross, among others.

Cissy was married twice.

Her first ex-husband was NBA basketball player Gary Garland, whom she married from 1955 to 1997. They have a son together named Gary. Cissy's second ex-husband was Whitney's father, John Russell Houston. They also had a son, Michael. The couple legally separated in 1991. John died in 2003.

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