Mariah Carey, the renowned Grammy-winning singer, announced on Monday the deaths of both her mother, Patricia, and her sister, Alison, which occurred on the same day. The tragic news has left the singer heartbroken and seeking privacy during this difficult time.
“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 said in a statement. She expressed gratitude for being able to spend the last week with her mother before her passing and thanked everyone for their love and support.
Alison Carey, 63, who had been largely estranged from the singer, reportedly died from complications with her organ function while in hospice care, according to the Times Union.
Patricia Carey, a Juilliard-trained opera singer, was a significant influence on Mariah’s musical career from a young age. In her 2020 memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey,” the singer wrote, “I would sing little tunes around the house, to my mother’s delight. And she always encouraged me.”
Mariah’s relationship with her mother and sister was complex, as detailed in her memoir. She described her connection with her mother as “a prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration and disappointment. A complicated love tethers my heart to my mother’s.”
Despite the challenges in their relationship, Mariah and Patricia maintained contact over the years. They even recorded a duet of “O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus” for Mariah’s second Christmas album in 2010.
Patricia was previously married to Alfred Roy Carey, Mariah’s father, who passed away in 2002 at age 72. The couple divorced when Mariah was three years old, after which she primarily lived with her mother in Suffolk County on Long Island.
As the music industry and fans alike offer their condolences, Mariah Carey has requested respect for her privacy during this “impossible time.” The simultaneous loss of her mother and sister marks a profound moment of grief for the singer, whose personal life has often been as scrutinized as her celebrated musical career.
