Whitney Houston was born in what was then a middle-income neighborhood in Newark , New Jersey , the second child of Army serviceman and entertainment executive John Russell Houston , Jr. ( September 13 , 1920 - February 2 , 2003 ) , and gospel singer Cissy Houston ( née Emily Drinkard ) .
She was the second child of Army serviceman and entertainment executive John Russell Houston , Jr. and gospel singer Cissy Houston .