Upon first glance at her family tree, it almost seems predestined that Whitney Houston would become one of pop’s most legendary voices. Her mother, Cissy Houston, used her own powerhouse vocals as a backup singer for a plethora of artists, including soul queen Aretha Franklin. Whitney could also claim 1960s pop diva Dionne Warwick as her cousin. Franklin was brought into the family as Whitney’s godmother, providing a source of guidance to Houston as her career took off. Of course, all the pedigree in the world couldn’t be solely responsible for the immense talent that Whitney possessed and that the world now mourns.