Mariah Carey has announced the heartbreaking news that her mother, Patricia, and sister, Alison, passed away on the same day over the weekend. In a statement released on Monday, the renowned singer expressed her deep sorrow, saying, “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.”
The Grammy-winning artist shared that she felt fortunate to have spent time with her mother in the week leading up to her death and requested privacy during this difficult time. The causes of death have not been disclosed.
Patricia Carey, 87, was a former opera singer and vocal coach of Irish-American descent. Mariah Carey had previously spoken about her complicated relationship with her mother in her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey. She described the pain and confusion their relationship caused her, citing professional jealousy as a source of tension between them. Despite this, Carey expressed deep love for her mother, dedicating the memoir to her and acknowledging that Patricia had done her best.
In a 2022 interview with Gayle King, Carey admitted that her mother’s criticism had a significant impact on her during her upbringing. However, she also credited Patricia with introducing her to music.
Carey’s relationship with her older sister, Alison, 63, was also fraught with difficulties. In her memoir, she mentioned being estranged from Alison and their brother Morgan, stating that it was safer for her, both emotionally and physically, to maintain no contact. Following the memoir’s release, Alison sued Carey for $1.2 million, alleging “immense emotional distress” and calling the book “vindictive.”
Mariah Carey’s father, Alfred, passed away in 2002 from cancer at the age of 72.
Globally recognized as one of the most successful singers, Mariah Carey holds the record for the most Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles by a solo artist, with 19 chart-topping hits. She has sold over 220 million records worldwide, and her holiday classic, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” remains the best-selling Christmas song by a female artist. Carey also served as a judge on the popular television show American Idol.
