Mariah Carey, the iconic Grammy-winning singer, has announced the tragic loss of both her mother, Patricia, and her sister, Alison, who passed away on the same day over the weekend. In a heartfelt statement released on Monday, Carey expressed her deep sorrow: “My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend. Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day.”
Carey, 55, shared that she felt blessed to have spent time with her mother during the week before her passing and asked for privacy as she navigates this difficult time. The exact causes of death for Patricia, 87, and Alison, 63, were not disclosed.
Patricia, a former opera singer and vocal coach of Irish-American descent, played a significant role in Carey’s early exposure to music. However, their relationship was complicated, as detailed in Carey’s 2020 memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey.” In the memoir, Carey described the pain and confusion caused by their strained relationship, exacerbated by professional jealousy. Despite the challenges, Carey also acknowledged her love 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 was also fraught with difficulty. The two had been estranged for years, with Carey stating in her memoir that it was “emotionally and physically safer” for her to avoid contact with Alison and their brother Morgan. Following the memoir’s release, Alison sued Carey for $1.2 million, alleging “immense emotional distress.”
The loss of Patricia and Alison comes more than two decades after the death of Carey’s father, Alfred, who passed away in 2002 from cancer at the age of 72.
Mariah Carey is widely regarded as one of the most successful singers in the world. Her holiday classic, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” remains the best-selling Christmas song by a female artist, and she holds the record for the most Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles by a solo artist with 19 hits. In addition to her musical achievements, Carey has sold over 220 million records globally and served as a judge on the popular competition show American Idol.
Melissa Enoch
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