Sinéad O'Connor Dies 1 Year After Son's Passing

Transcript

00:00 The music world is mourning a troubled icon.

00:03 Singer Sinead O'Connor has died at age 56.

00:06 Her family confirmed the news in a statement to Irish and British media on Wednesday, saying,

00:11 "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinead.

00:15 Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."

00:20 The Irish Times was first to report the news.

00:23 Further details, including a cause of death, have yet to be made public.

00:26 Access Hollywood has reached out to O'Connor's rep for comment.

00:30 The songstress rose to fame in the '90s with her rendition of Prince's "Nothing Compares to You,"

00:35 and she went on to release a total of 10 studio albums during her career,

00:39 with several reaching platinum status.

00:41 She faced personal challenges in recent years and was long open about her mental health struggles,

00:46 telling Oprah Winfrey in 2007 that she had attempted suicide when she was 33.

00:51 O'Connor has said she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder four years after the incident.

00:56 Her son Shane took his own life last year at just 17.

01:00 His body was found after he went missing from suicide watch at an Irish hospital,

01:04 and O'Connor left fans concerned with her own harrowing tweets shortly afterward,

01:08 in which she said she wanted to, quote, "follow Shane."

01:12 She later apologized and pledged to get help,

01:14 tweeting at the time that she had contacted police and was on her way to the hospital.

01:18 She is survived by her three other children.

01:21 The musician released a memoir in 2021 titled "Rememberings,"

01:25 and her last public appearance was at the RTE Choice Music Awards in Dublin,

01:29 where she won a classic Irish album for her 1990 LP "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got."

01:35 The crowd reportedly gave her a standing ovation, and she dedicated the honor to Irish refugees.

01:40 Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar issued condolences for her loss,

01:44 and other notable figures soon followed.

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