Sinead O'Connor, the Irish singer known for her stunning voice, songs such as "Nothing Compares 2 U" and her outspoken dedication to social causes, has died. She was 56.
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Her cause of death has yet to be revealed.
The news was confirmed by O'Connor's family in a statement to RTE.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad," the statement read. "Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."
O'Connor's breakthrough hit was the timeless heartbreak anthem "Nothing Compares 2 U," which was penned by Prince. The song, featured on her 1990 album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, was nominated for four Grammy Awards in 1991. However, O'Connor boycotted the Grammys that year, sharing in an open letter that she felt the Recording Academy "acknowledge[s] mostly the commercial side of art."
O'Connor would remain outspoken throughout her career. In 1992, during her performance on Saturday Night Live, she made headlines for ripping up a photo of Pope John Paul II and stating "Fight the real enemy." The act was in protest against generations of abuse toward children within the Catholic church.
"A lot of people say or think that tearing up the pope's photo derailed my career. That's not how I feel about it," O'Connor wrote in her 2021 book Rememberings (quote via People). "I feel that having a number-one record derailed my career and my tearing the photo put me back on the right track."
In a 2021 interview with Carson Daly, O'Connor addressed the incident yet again, explaining that the act represented how she saw herself: as a protest singer.
"'Sinéad O'Connor' was never meant to be a pop star," she said. "I was really a protest singer, you know?"
O'Connor also shared that the photo of the pope had actually belonged to her own mother, who had been abusive toward her.
"It was a way of ripping her up, as well, I guess," she said.
O'Connor opened up about the abuse at the hands of her mother during an appearance on Dr. Phil in 2017. She shared that she has since forgiven her mother, who died in a car crash in 1986, for the abuse and added that she missed her "horribly."
"I hate not being able to love her," O'Connor said (quote via People). "I hate not being able to take care of her, maybe give her some love back. And help her, nobody helped her. I hate that I can't put my arms around her and tell her I love her and tell her she's all right and mother her. I would have taken care of her because she's an absolute monster."
O'Connor is survived by three children: Jake, 24, Roisin, 26, and Yeshua, 15.
In 2022, O'Connor's son Shane died by suicide.
"My beautiful son, Nevi'im Nesta Ali Shane O'Connor, the very light of my life, decided to end his earthly struggle today and is now with God," O'Connor wrote. "May he rest in peace and may no one follow his example. My baby. I love you so much. Please be at peace."
Though she initially announced her retirement in 2021, she quickly retracted that statement. In recent weeks, O'Connor had shared plans to work on new music and tour once again in the coming months.
"Hi All, recently moved back to London after 23 years absence. Very happy to be home : ) Soon finishing my album. Release early next year : )," she wrote on July 11. "Hopefully Touring Australia and New Zealand toward end 2024. Europe, USA and other territories beginning early 2025 : ) #TheBitchIsBack"
