Whitney Houston's Mother, Cissy, Releases New Gospel Album

NEW YORK — Whitney Houston's mother has released a new album of gospel tunes, her first new music since her daughter's death and in more than a decade.

Cissy Houston's "Walk on By Faith" was released by Harlem Records on iTunes this week and includes songs such as "Living Shall Not Be In Vain."

Harlem Records rep Bill Coyle said Wednesday her last album was in 1997. He says she started working on the album last year and musically arranged all four tracks.

Cissy Houston has kept a low profile since her superstar daughter died in February, giving just one interview.

Whitney Houston was 48 when she drowned in a Beverly Hills, Calif., hotel bathtub on the eve of the Grammy Awards. An autopsy showed cocaine played a role in her death.

PHOTOS:

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• Singers Whitney Houston (L) and Dionne W

  Singers Whitney Houston (L) and Dionne Warwick perform onstage during the 2011 Pre-Grammy Gala & Salute to Industry Icons, with Clive Davis Honoring David Geffen at the Beverly Hilton on February 12, 2011. The event, on the eve of the 53rd Annual GRAMMY, honored Geffen Records founder and DreamWorks SKG co-founder David Geffen who was presented with the President's Merit Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the music industry and the impact his efforts have had on music and the business of music. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

• Clive Davis And The Recording Academy's 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala And Salute To Industry Icons Honoring David Geffen - Inside

  BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 12: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Whitney Houston attends the 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute To Industry Icons Honoring David Geffen at Beverly Hilton on February 12, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

• Singer Whitney Houston performs onstage

  Singer Whitney Houston performs onstage during the 2011 Pre-Grammy Gala & Salute to Industry Icons, with Clive Davis Honoring David Geffen at the Beverly Hilton on February 12, 2011. The event, on the eve of the 53rd Annual GRAMMY, honored Geffen Records founder and DreamWorks SKG co-founder David Geffen who was presented with the President's Merit Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the music industry and the impact his efforts have had on music and the business of music. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

• Whitney Houston waves to the crowd at the 36th Ann

  NEW YORK, UNITED STATES: Whitney Houston waves to the crowd at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards in New York 01 March 1994 after she was honored for Record of the Year, 'I'll Always Love You,' and Album of the Year, the soundtrack from the film 'The Bodyguard.' At rear is her producer David Foster, who shared the honors with her. (Photo credit should read POOL/AFP/Getty Images)

• 1994 WORLD CUP FINAL

  17 JUL 1994 : WHITNEY HOUSTON SINGS DURING THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE WORLD CUP BEFORE THE ITALY V BRAZIL 1994 WORLD CUP FINAL AT THE ROSE BOWL STADIUM IN PASADENA CALIFORNIA. Mandatory Credit: Billy Stickland/ALLSPORT

• (FILES) US pop star and entertainer Mich

  (FILES) US pop star and entertainer Michael Jackson (2R) gathers with Elizabeth Taylor (L), Liza Minnelli (2L) and Whitney Houston (R) at the United Nego College Fund dinner at a New York hotel March 10, 1988 in New York. Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009 after suffering a cardiac arrest, sending shockwaves sweeping across the world and tributes pouring in on June 26 for the tortured music icon revered as the 'King of Pop.' AFP PHOTO/Mark CARDWELL (Photo credit should read MARK CARDWELL/AFP/Getty Images)

• 2/27/98 Los Angeles, CA. Whitney Houston at the 12th Annual Soul Train Music Awards. She recieved th

  2/27/98 Los Angeles, CA. Whitney Houston at the 12th Annual Soul Train Music Awards. She recieved the Quincy Jones Award for 'Outstanding Career Achievement' in the field of entertainment.

• 1999 VH1 Divas Live

  Whitney Houston performs during the VH1 DIVAS LIVE '99 at the Beacon Theatre in New York on Tuesday, April 13. Other performers include Brandy, Tina Turner, and Cher, with a special performance by Elton John. Photo by Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect.

• Singers Mariah Carey (L) and Whitney Houston perfo

  LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Singers Mariah Carey (L) and Whitney Houston perform 'When You Believe' during the 71st Academy Awards 21 March 1999 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO Timothy A. Clary (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

• 42nd Annual Grammy Awards - Pressroom

  Whitney Houston at the 2000 Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, CA on Febuary 23, 2000 Photo by Scott Gries/ImageDirect

• (FILES): This 23 February 2000 file phot

  LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: (FILES): This 23 February 2000 file photo shows US pop diva Whitney Houston performing at the 42d Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Houston has checked into a drug rehabilitation clinic, her publicist said 16 March 2004, providing a new twist in her long battle with drug addiction. Houston, 40, has 'chosen to enter a facility for rehabilitation,' her publicist said in a terse statement that provided no further details of the type or location of the treatment, but which contained a message for her fans. 'She thanks everyone for their support and prayers,' the statement said. AFP PHOTO / FILES / Hector MATA (Photo credit should read HECTOR MATA/AFP/Getty Images)

• Clive Davis And The Recording Academy's 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala And Salute To Industry Icons Honoring David Geffen - Inside

  BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 12: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Singer Whitney Houston attends the 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute To Industry Icons Honoring David Geffen at Beverly Hilton on February 12, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

• Whitney Houston In Concert

  BERLIN - MAY 12: US-American singer Whitney Houston performs live during a concert at the O2 World on May 12, 2010 in Berlin, Germany. The concert is part of the 2010 Nothing But Love tour to promote the album I Look To You. (Photo by Jakubaszek/Getty Images)

• Whitney Houston Performs In Milan

  MILAN, ITALY - MAY 03: Whitney Houston performs at Mediolanum Forum on May 3, 2010 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

• 2010 BET Honors - Show

  WASHINGTON - JANUARY 16: Whitney Houston accepts the BET Honor for entertainment during the 2010 BET Honors at the Warner Theatre on January 16, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)

• 17th Mercedes-Benz Carousel of Hope Ball - Arrivals

  BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 28: Producer Clive Davis (L) and singer Whitney Houston arrive at the 17th Annual Mercedes-Benz Carousel of Hope Ball at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 28, 2006 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

• 2009 GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons: Clive Davis - Show

  BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 07: Singer Whitney Houston performs at the 2009 GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons honoring Clive Davis at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 7, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

• World Music Awards 2004 - Show

  LAS VEGAS, NV ? SEPTEMBER 15: Singer Whitney Houston is seen performing on stage during the 2004 World Music Awards at the Thomas and Mack Center on September 15, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

• US singer Whitney Houston attends in a w

  US singer Whitney Houston attends in a welcoming ceremony as a guest of honor for the polygamous Black Hebrew sect 30 May 2003 in the southern Israeli town of Dimona. Houston is in Israel for a week to make a recording with the sect. AFP PHOTO/Tal COHEN ISRAEL OUT (Photo credit should read TAL COHEN/AFP/Getty Images)

• Whitney Houston

  DECATUR, GA - AUGUST 27: Singer Whitney Houston leaves the DeKalb County Courthouse after a probation violation hearing for her husband, singer Bobby Brown on August 27, 2003 in Decatur, Georgia. Brown was sentenced to 14 days in jail followed by 60 days of house arrest for violating conditions of his probation, stemming from 1996 DUI charges. (Photo by Frank Mullen/Getty Images)

• VH1 Divas Duets Post Concert Party

  LAS VEGAS - MAY 22: Actresses (L-R) Tia and Tamara Mowry with singer Whitney Houston attend the VH1 Divas Duets post concert party to benefit the VH1 Save the Music Foundation held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 22, 2003 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

• Singer Whitney Houston Visits Israel

  JERUSALEM - MAY 27: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (R) welcomes singer Whitney Houston (L) and her husband/singer, Bobby Brown (C), at the prime minister's residence May 27, 2003 in Jerusalem, Israel. Houston is on a private tour of Israel. (Photo by Quique Kierszenbaum/Getty Images)

• Bobby Brown Appears In Court

  DECATUR, GA - NOVEMBER 25: Singer/actress Whitney Houston (L) smiles at her husband, singer Bobby Brown, during a court hearing November 25, 2002 in Dekalb County State Court in Decatur, Georgia. Brown was arrested on an outstanding bench warrant for a DUI arrest in 1996. Judge Wayne Purdom set a trial of January 21, 2003. (Photo by Erik S. Lesser-Pool/Getty Images)

• Michael Jackson Concert - Day 1

  Whitney Houston performing on the Michael Jackson '30th Anniversary Celebration, The Solo Years' concert at New York's Madison Square Garden, Friday, Sept. 7, 2001. Photo by Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect.

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Comments

[blkpeanut25]

02:56 PM on 05/15/2012

Maybe this is her healing process its not like she just picked up and mic and said I going to sing she been singing all of her life. some of use have very nasty comments and didn't know anything about her or her family.I sure it still a hard time for her and her family. some of you need prayer!

[thegriffinite]

12:57 AM on 05/14/2012

I'm glad she is trying to make the best of her daughters death by cashing in on it.

[shellfish789]

10:04 PM on 05/13/2012

why is everybody trying to CASH in on Whitney dealth....what a family....did they have an album release before she pass away......WHAT A GREEDY FAMILY

[suemj]

12:01 PM on 05/12/2012

This would be very nice. But Cissy, please don't do the reality show.

[wkingsolomon77]

01:50 PM on 05/13/2012

Whitney houston was once worth over $60 million dollars and her mother has how much? Tiger Woods gave hs ex-wife $100 million dollars,how much has he given his mother? Mike Jackson would buy liz taylor millions of dollars worth of diamonds,and when mike passed away his estate is control buy who?With his mother having only a small amount of power,and if she needs more money she has to beg the estate handlers. Is something wrong here

[shellfish789]

10:08 PM on 05/13/2012

something is wrong here! terribly wrong. Mothers make so much sacrifice for their children and some turn around and try to impress the so-called "Big Shots" that they sometimes forget WHO made if possible for them with God's help

Who sacrifice for them.....

[barbiegonebad]

09:14 AM on 05/12/2012

Cissy with a new record! This is the first good news I've heard since Whitney died. Cissy was a member of a group called "The Sweet Inspirations" when she was younger, they sang back-up and released their own record too. Her voice was incredible, Whitney sounded a lot like her. Then she put all of her energies into gospel. It will be so good to hear her again.

[hjo4]

11:59 AM on 05/12/2012

It's very good to, the songs are inspirational , there are only 4 songs but it's $3.96 which is a deal. You won't be disappointed for your purchase.

[Chicago0048]

08:18 PM on 05/12/2012

I don't mean to be mean, but she's only doing it because her money bags is gone.

[wakeup804]

10:18 PM on 05/12/2012

She was a gospel star before you knew Whitney's name. Do you know anything about gospel music?

[dourdinlives]

02:46 AM on 05/12/2012

gospels? didn t this collard green and chittlin eatin heifer just sit their for years and let her daughter die from drug use.shet yo mouf fool!

[thankulord13]

10:21 AM on 05/12/2012

Wow, you are a sad person who is in need of some help.

[helorisc]

12:42 PM on 05/12/2012

cissy is in need of help

[dourdinlives]

05:23 AM on 05/13/2012

well let me ask you this my dear fragile friend. didn t the whitemans, construct of slavery, and all the appurtenances thereof, and the institutional jimcrow model so brilliantly used against black folk devastate our people enough? do we have to accept along with those successive holecausts, the ravages of drugs, and the wholesale incarceration of our fathers and uncles, sons and nephews too? if we keep losing our jimi hendrix s, billie hollidays, michael jacksons, whitney houstons, etc.,to dope dealers what chance will jamario, tyrone and tenesia in the projects ,have of survival?

[lv1155]

10:27 AM on 05/12/2012

Actually no she did not....guess you don't have children because you would know at some point you cannot control their actions. You should take your own advice and to quote Shet yo mouf fool!

[dourdinlives]

05:15 AM on 05/13/2012

i have 5 grown kids, 4 grandchildren and 3 great grand children. the dopeman would ratherstick his or her hand up a rabid grizzly bear s ass than to sell them drugs, because they know i will revert back to my vietnam era, green beret light and heavy weapons mode. the elleptical beaten pattern of the 50 caliber rounds that will land on their asses will be my greatest masterpiece. there won t be enough of their organic remains left to dab up with small white sponges.

[sharonh]

12:14 AM on 05/12/2012

Cissy's voice is ethereal, listen to her backup on Arethra's "Ain't No Way". If she had chosen to crossover from gospel she would have been a superstar. Kudos Cissy.

[wkingsolomon77]

02:01 PM on 05/13/2012

It was not in cissy destiny,the blessing had to fall on whitney,If u could see into the spirit world,you could see the way things work in spirit

[Rhonda Geissinger]

11:16 PM on 05/11/2012

Next she'll be on DWTS with Bieber...
yawn...next boring story please....

[keepitreal2012]

10:55 PM on 05/11/2012

Can't wait to hear it.....so happy for her!

[jstjuls]

08:22 PM on 05/11/2012

Nice to see that she is able to release new songs. Losing a child is extremely difficult, can't imagine the pain. Cissy Houston has a wonderful voice, the whole family does. One of my all time favorites Dionne Warwick is her niece. They all have incredible voices!

[Marie Speranza]

05:19 PM on 05/11/2012

...ya gotta do what you gotta do...to get you through the misery, pain and grief...it may be singing a song, making a recod, writing a book or chapter...something hurting comes out and eases the pain. People should do what helps them...

[likegrade]

04:12 PM on 05/11/2012

MMauntVF CHRISTINA PLS! SING WHITNEY LEGACY THOUGHT HER MOTHER CISSY YET LIVES GODLEY YES GOD I MISS HER TOO REMEBER ALL BAD NEWS ARE NOT GOOD NEWS AND GOOD NEWS ITS ALWAY THE BEST TO EACH . PLS SING

[Jareen McQuay Sherman]

02:56 PM on 05/11/2012

To God be the glory for Cissy, she's doing what she does best, she's singing to Jesus, for Jesus alone can heal her broken heart. God bless you Cissy and keep the good faith and fight, for Whitney is singing right along with you. God bless you.

[KatherineOne]

02:53 PM on 05/11/2012

I think Whitney was just trying to promote an image of recovery because she knew people love those sappy feel good comebacks, but she was far from it and she knew it . All she was doing was shrewdly marketing "The New and Sober Whitney" until the real and hidden addiction reared it's head and said not so fast. Her own beast wouldnt let her capitalize on it, but I'm not sure why she thought she could sell for long anyway.

[BlacknProud310]

06:05 AM on 05/12/2012

Good to know what YOU think. Now my life has so much meaning. Thanks

[jhightiger]

02:07 PM on 05/11/2012

Just like many Mothers, Cissy is still struggling with Whitney's death. Hard thing for a parent to lose a child. She's moving on, but the pain is still there. She's a STRONG woman of Christ, so she will make it through this on His strength alone.