Whitney Houston's mother is telling friends ... she fully supports the idea of a family reality show because she believes the exposure will be GREAT for Bobbi Kristina's singing career.

As we previously reported, the family just inked a TV deal with Lifetime to star in a reality show that will follow Whitney's relatives in the wake of the singer's untimely death.

Houston family sources tell TMZ ... Cissy Houston knows BK shares Whitney's passion for music ... and she believes a reality show could be the perfect place to showcase Bobbi's talent.

We're told ... Cissy also believes a reality show will "help with the healing process" by "keeping the family as one."

Cissy also likes the fact that her "extended family" will be making money from the deal.

But don't expect Kardashian-style antics on the Houston show -- producers are suggesting it will have a more serious tone ... at least for now.

Whitney Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina -- and several of her relatives -- have signed a deal to star in a reality show for Lifetime called "The Houston Family Chronicles."

The show will focus on Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law and manager, Pat’s daughter Rayah, Whitney’s brother Gary, and Whitney's mother Cissy. 

Lifetime's EVP, Rob Sharenow says, "In this series, the multi-generations of the Houston family will bravely reveal their lives as they bond together to heal, love, and grow."

So we gotta ask ...

Whitney Houston's mother is "devastated" and "inconsolable" over the L.A. County Coroner's Autopsy Report that makes it clear ... Whitney was deep into cocaine when she died.

Cissy Houston is telling close friends ... she cried hysterically when she first heard about the Coroner's findings -- that white powder (which we know tested positive for cocaine), a drug spoon and other trappings of drug use were found in the hotel room. 

Cissy says her biggest fear is that people will now remember her daughter as a druggie, and not a talented singer and family woman.

Cissy singled out Whitney's performance of the National Anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl, saying, "This is the type of thing people should remember Whitney for."

Cissy added, "No one's perfect. Only the Lord can judge."

Whitney Houston's mother believes Bobby Brown's DUI arrest proves what she's been telling people all along ... he's just a bad dude.

Sources close to Cissy Houston tell us ... she's always felt Bobby was a cancer ... who infected Whitney's life with negative influences.

We're told Cissy felt "vindicated" when she found out Bobby was arrested for driving drunk on Monday afternoon ... and believes the incident is exactly why she wants Bobby to "keep his distance" from his daughter Bobbi Kristina.

The Houstons believe Bobbi K has been in a "vulnerable place" since Whitney passed ... and as one source puts it, "This is the last person she needs to be around."

Instead, we're told Cissy wants Bobbi Kristina to hang around "positive mentors" ... like Clive Davis.

Whitney Houston's mother Cissy was shocked that her daughter was using cocaine at the time of her death but believes the relapse was triggered by anxiety over Whitney's comeback plans.

Sources very close to Cissy who have spoken with her in the last few minutes tell TMZ ... she believed her daughter was completely sober while shooting the movie "Sparkle." 

But Cissy says as Whitney got closer and closer to the Grammys -- where Whitney would make her comeback move -- she fell prey to the drug.

Cissy is saying hearing that Whitney was using again is like reliving her death -- it's that painful.

Whitney Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina isn't fazed by her granny's accusations she's committing incest by hooking up with her "adopted" brother -- telling friends, she's gonna do what she wants ... no matter what.

Sources close to BK tell TMZ, the 19-year-old finally 'fessed up to her close buddies ... she and 22-year-old Nick Gordon are dating -- ten years after Whitney unofficially adopted the boy because he was having problems at home.

TMZ broke the story ... Bobbi's grandma Cissy Houston saw the video we posted -- showing Bobbi and Nick holding hands and kissing on a lunch run in Atlanta this week -- and told a close friend, "What [Bobbi and Nick] are doing is incestuous."

But Bobbi couldn't care less -- telling friends ... she doesn't give a damn about what Cissy thinks about her controversial relationship ... and because Nick's not her blood brother, she definitely doesn't consider it incest.

As one source put it -- Bobbi "can't please everyone, so she is going to please herself by doing what she wants to do for once."

As for the maybe engagement ring Bobbi was wearing -- we're told she's been mum on what it means ... but cryptically told friends, she and Nick ARE planning a trip to Vegas in the near future.

Cissy Houston -- Whitney Houston's mom -- has reacted fiercely to the video we posted Wednesday ... showing Bobbi Kristina and Whitney's "adopted" son Nick Gordon in a romantic grip, and then kissing (below).

Cissy told a close friend, "What they're doing is incestuous." Cissy feels her granddaughter has problems and Nick is taking advantage of her. 



Although Whitney never formally adopted Nick, she considered him her son and Bobbi called him her brother. For his part, Nick called Bobbi his sister.

Cissy is so concerned that Bobbi has become impressionable and therefore an easy target for Nick, she's asking the Whitney Houston Estate to take legal steps to get him evicted from Whitney's home -- where Bobbi Kristina is also living.

Whitney Houston's will has been validated by a judge, and now her daughter Bobbi Kristina stands to inherit her mom's fortune.

Under the will, Bobbi Kristina is Whitney's sole beneficiary. But the will -- which was amended in 2000 -- provides that if the 19-year-old dies before probate is completed, ex-hubby Bobby Brown and various relatives would split up all of her assets -- but she left it up to them to agree on how to divvy things up. There is one thing that Whitney didn't want to put up for grabs -- her jewelry. In the event Bobbi Kristina died, all of Whitney's baubles would go to her mom Cissy.

In addition to Brown, Whitney named her mom Cissy, her dad John and her brothers Michael and Gary as beneficiaries. 

Now here's the catch ... If Bobby and the others couldn't reach an agreement on who gets what, the will says all of Whitney's stuff would be sold and they would just divide the cash.

Whitney Houston's mom is on a mission to eradicate the bad influences from Bobbi Kristina's life ... and she's starting with a 22-year-old man who Whitney treated like her very own son.

Houston family sources tell TMZ ... Whitney invited Nick Gordon to live with her and Bobbi Kristina more than 10 years ago ... when Whitney learned Nick's mother could no longer care for him.

Whitney considered Nick her unofficially adopted son ... and treated him like family up until the end.

But now, sources tell us ... Cissy Houston believes Nick is a bad influence on her granddaughter and wants him OUT of the Houston family home in Atlanta ... ASAP.

We're told Cissy has already informed her lawyers about the eviction ... in case he puts up a fight.

There are reports that Nick was included in Whitney's will ... but so far, we're told the reports have not been confirmed by members of the Houston family.

Whitney Houston's mother Cissy has unfinished business to attend to -- sources tell TMZ she's planning a pilgrimage BACK to the Beverly Hills hotel room where her daughter died ... all in an attempt to get some closure.

According to sources close to Cissy, she wants to go back to room 434 at the Beverly Hilton hotel and reestablish a spiritual connection with her daughter ... in order to come to terms with her sudden death.

We're told Cissy plans to pray while she's there -- and just spend quiet, contemplative time in the space.

As one source put it -- Cissy "won’t be at peace until she gets closure."

It's unclear when Cissy plans to return to the hotel room -- but we're told the visit will be soon ... she's currently planning out the logistics.

Whitney Houston's family had "their heart broken all over again" this week when they saw a photo of Whitney laying in her casket published on the cover of a magazine ... TMZ has learned. 

Sources close to the family tell TMZ the family is disgusted the photo was printed and they have no idea how security surrounding the casket was breached. We're told the family could tell from the photo that it was taken from inside the funeral home, but they have no idea who would have snapped the pic.

Our sources say Whitney's mother, Cissy, has taken the publication of the photo the hardest.

Despite their disgust and outrage, we're told the family will not investigate the matter further.  

The owner of the funeral home has denied any wrongdoing on the part of her or her staff.