One of the most persistent rumors in the entertainment industry is that Teresa Graves, the star of the 1970s TV series Get Christie Love!, was actually the biological mother of Whitney Houston, the legendary singer and actress. But is there any truth to this claim, or is it just a wild speculation based on some superficial similarities? In this article, we will examine the evidence and try to answer the question: is teresa graves related to whitney houston?
Who was Teresa Graves?
Teresa Graves was born on January 10, 1948, in Houston, Texas, to Marshall and Willie Graves. She had two siblings, a brother and a sister. The family moved to Los Angeles, California, when Teresa was young. She graduated from Washington High School in 1966, where she was voted “Most Talented” by her classmates.
Teresa began her career as a singer with The Doodletown Pipers, a vocal group that performed on various TV shows. She also recorded a self-titled album in 1970. She soon switched to acting and became a regular on the comedy shows Our Place and Turn-On. She also appeared in several movies, such as That Man Bolt and Black Eye.
However, Teresa’s most famous role was as Detective Christie Love, the protagonist of the ABC crime drama series Get Christie Love!. The show was based on a novel by Dorothy Uhnak and featured Teresa as a smart and sassy undercover cop who fought crime with her catchphrase “You’re under arrest, sugah!”. The show was a hit and made Teresa the first African-American woman to star in her own hour-long TV series and the first for a drama TV series.
Teresa was also a devout Jehovah’s Witness and used her fame to raise awareness about the persecution of her fellow believers in Malawi under the dictatorship of Hastings Kamuzu Banda. She retired from show business in 1983 to focus on her faith and care for her mother.
Teresa died on October 10, 2002, at the age of 54, when her home caught fire due to a faulty space heater. She was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery.
Who was Whitney Houston?
Whitney Houston was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, to John and Emily “Cissy” Houston. She had two brothers, Gary and Michael. Her mother was a gospel singer and her cousin was Dionne Warwick, both of whom influenced Whitney’s musical talent. Whitney began singing in the church choir at the age of 11 and later performed as a backup singer for various artists.
Whitney’s career took off when she signed with Arista Records in 1983 and released her self-titled debut album in 1985. The album was a huge success and spawned several hit singles, such as “Saving All My Love for You”, “How Will I Know”, and “Greatest Love of All”. Whitney became a global superstar and won numerous awards, including Grammys, Emmys, and American Music Awards.
Whitney’s fame continued to grow with her subsequent albums, such as Whitney, I’m Your Baby Tonight, and The Bodyguard. She also ventured into acting and starred in movies like The Bodyguard, Waiting to Exhale, and The Preacher’s Wife. She was widely regarded as one of the best singers of all time and influenced many other artists.
However, Whitney’s personal life was troubled by her marriage to Bobby Brown, a singer and rapper who had a history of drug abuse and domestic violence. Whitney also struggled with addiction and depression and faced legal and financial problems. Her career declined in the late 1990s and early 2000s, although she attempted to make a comeback with her albums Just Whitney and I Look to You.
Whitney died on February 11, 2012, at the age of 48, when she accidentally drowned in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. She had traces of cocaine, marijuana, and prescription drugs in her system. She was buried at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey.
Is Teresa Graves Related to Whitney Houston?
The rumor that Teresa Graves was Whitney Houston’s mother started to circulate in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when some people noticed the resemblance between the two women. They claimed that Teresa had given birth to Whitney when she was 15 years old and had given her up for adoption to Cissy Houston, who was her aunt. They also pointed out that Teresa and Whitney were both born in Houston, Texas, and shared the same middle name, Marie.
However, there is no evidence to support this rumor, and plenty of evidence to refute it. First of all, Teresa was not 15 years old when Whitney was born, but 25. She was already a successful singer and actress by then, and there is no record of her being pregnant or giving birth in 1963. Secondly, Teresa and Cissy were not related by blood or marriage. They had different maiden names and different parents. Thirdly, Teresa and Whitney did not share the same middle name. Teresa’s middle name was M., not Marie. Whitney’s middle name was Elizabeth, not Marie. Fourthly, Teresa and Whitney were not born in the same city. Teresa was born in Houston, Texas, but Whitney was born in Newark, New Jersey. Fifthly, Teresa and Whitney did not look alike. They had different facial features, skin tones, hair textures, and eye colors.
Therefore, the rumor that Teresa Graves was Whitney Houston’s mother is false. It is a baseless speculation that has no factual basis. Teresa and Whitney were two separate and distinct individuals who had their own lives and careers. They were not related by blood or adoption.
Conclusion
The question of “is teresa graves related to whitney houston” has been asked by many people who have been intrigued by the rumor that the two women were mother and daughter. However, the rumor is not true. Teresa Graves and Whitney Houston were not related in any way. They were both talented and beautiful women who made their mark in the entertainment industry, but they had different backgrounds, families, and stories. They deserve to be remembered and respected for who they were, not for who they were not.