Sinéad O’Connor has passed away at the age of 56, The Irish Times reports. A statement from her family, shared with The Irish Times, reads, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
The singer said she had moved back to London after 23 years away earlier this month, where she said she was “finishing my album. Release early next year : ) Hopefully Touring Australia and New Zealand toward end 2024. Europe, USA and other territories beginning early 2025 : )” Previously, she had announced her retirement from touring and “working in the record business” in 2021, then changed her mind a couple of times about the matter.
From Variety:
O’Connor’s career progressed after she began working with ex-U2 record head Fachtna O’Ceallaigh and she found early success with the 1987 release of her debut album “The Lion and the Cobra,” which achieved gold status and earned her a Grammy nomination for best female vocal rock performance.
Her international breakthrough came with the release of her second album, “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got,” which included O’Connor’s new arrangement of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” a song originally written by Prince and released under his side project, the Family. The song reached no. 1 in several countries, and remained at no. 1 in Ireland for 11 weeks. The song earned her a Grammy nom for record of the year, as well as another best female vocal rock performance nod. The album won her a Grammy for best alternative music performance.
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Throughout her career, O’Connor has gained notoriety for her outspoken nature and several controversies that have surrounded her. In 1993, O’Connor ripped a picture of the Pope into pieces while singing an a capella version of Bob Marley’s “War” on “Saturday Night Live” as a protest against sexual abuse within the church; NBC received over 4,400 complaint calls as a result.
Read their obituary in full here.
Rest in peace, Sinead. Listen to some of her songs below, and read tributes from Billy Corgan, Phoebe Bridgers, Janelle Monae, Jason Isbell, and more.
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