Legendary singer Mariah Carey is in mourning following the tragic deaths of her mother, Patricia, and her sister, Alison, who both passed away on the same day over the weekend.
In a heartfelt statement released on Monday, Carey expressed her profound sadness. “My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend,” said the five-time Grammy Award winner. “Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day.”
Patricia Carey, an 87-year-old former opera singer and vocal coach of Irish-American descent, was described by her daughter as a complex figure. In her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, the singer detailed their complicated relationship, characterized by professional jealousy and painful experiences from her youth. Despite these challenges, Carey conveyed her deep affection for her mother, writing in the dedication: “To Pat, my mother, who, through it all, I do believe actually did the best she could. I will love you the best I can, always.”
Carey’s relationship with her older sister Alison, 63, was also fraught with complexity. The singer mentioned in her memoir that she was estranged from Alison and her brother Morgan, describing it as “emotionally and physically safer” to avoid contact with them. Alison had previously sued Carey for $1.2 million, alleging “immense emotional distress” and describing the memoir as “vindictive.”
The causes of death for both Patricia and Alison have not been disclosed. Carey has requested privacy during this difficult time and has expressed gratitude for the time spent with her mother in the week preceding her passing. The singer’s father, Alfred, passed away in 2002 from cancer at the age of 72.
Despite these personal losses, Mariah Carey remains a prominent figure in the music industry. She holds the record for the most Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles by a solo artist, with 19 hits, and has sold over 220 million records worldwide.
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