The definitive account of Whitney Houston's astonishing life, ground-breaking career and tragic death - complete with never-before-seen photographs - from the only one who truly knows the story behind the headlines: her mother, Cissy Houston. Cissy has said little publicly about Whitney's heart-breaking death. Now, for the first time, she opens up and shares the unbelievable story of her daughter's life, as well as her own, and addresses Whitney's brightest and darkest moments. A legendary Grammy Award-winning gospel singer in her own right, Cissy Houston shows how the lessons from her own musical journey helped to shape Whitney's career - from teaching Whitney to use her voice, to keeping her level-headed throughout her meteoric rise to fame. With candour and respect, she sets the record straight about Whitney, exploring both her turbulent marriage and her misunderstood struggles with drug abuse. Cissy goes behind the tabloid headlines to show fans around the world the true, human side of a strong, successful - yet flawed - musical icon who died much too young.

Offering an insider's perspective like no other, this is the story of Whitney's remarkable career, her highs and lows, her drug problems, her marriage to Bobby Brown and her tragic last days. Cissy describes Whitney's triumphant, heartbreaking life, from childhood memories to adult turmoil, as well as the grief of a mother coming to terms with impossible loss.