Irish music legend, Sinéad O’Connor has died at the age of 56.
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Dublin, Ireland native Sinéad O'Connor rose to fame in 1987 with the release of her debut album, The Lion and the Cobra, which earned her a GRAMMY nomination that same year.
She followed up with even more success as she released her cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which instantly became an international hit.
O’Connor’s death comes a year and a half after her son, Shane, took his own life after struggling with his mental health. No cause or place of death have been reported for Sinead, who has also struggled with her own mental health over the years, including a number of suicide attempts.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad,” her family said in a statement to The Irish Times. “Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
According to PEOPLE, the Metropolitan Police reported they “were called at 11:18hrs on Wednesday, 26 July to reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential address in the SE24 area” of South London.
"Next of kin have been notified. The death is not being treated as suspicious,” they continued. “A file will be prepared for the Coroner.”
Sinéad announced her retirement from music in June 2021. The decision came after she postponed all of her tour dates just one year earlier to enter a treatment program for trauma and addiction.
"I had a very traumatic six years and this year was the end of it, but now recovery starts,” she said at the time.
Days ahead of her death, O’Connor took to social media to share the heartache she still battled after losing her son. She wrote, “Been living as undead night creature since. He was the love of my life, the lamp of my soul.”
Sinéad is survived by her three children, Jake, Roisin and Yeshua.
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