Hip pain

Now that I'm exercising regularly, it has come to my attention that I may have a bit of an issue with my right hip. I've never been able to stretch it down to the floor as far as the left one when sitting cross-legged. And now that I'm doing more lower body work I find it's really very inflexible and I sometimes experience twinges, not screaming pain but aches, when I'm working out. I was doing a Fitnessblender workout this morning that involved lying on my back with the leg extended making large circles in the air. Every time I rotated up and out to the right I would feel a small pop as I brought my leg down and around. No pain with the pop.

Does this sound like something that might work itself out as I become fitter? Something I need to accommodate so as not to cause injury? I'd like to push it as far as I can, safely, to try and improve the hip strength and flexibility. I should mention that my mother had a hip replacement recently and my daughter had hip joint formation issues at birth that had to be corrected with a brace. So it may also be a hereditary thing that was never diagnosed for me. I know you're not doctors but thanks for any input or advice!