Mariah Carey has shared the heartbreaking news that both her mother and sister passed away on the same day.
Mariah Carey says her ‘heart is broken’ following the deaths of her mum and sister
The singer, 55, revealed this painful news through a statement to PEOPLE. She referred to the loss as a ‘tragic turn of events’ after both her mother Patricia Carey and her sister Alison Carey died.
She expressed her sorrow by 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.”
“I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed.”
Carey did not disclose the cause of death for her mother, who was 87, or her sister, who was 63. She added, “I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time.”
Patricia Carey was a distinguished opera singer trained at Juilliard and also served as a vocal coach. She married Alfred Roy Carey and they had three children together: Mariah, Alison, and their son Morgan.
The couple divorced when Mariah was just three, and the relationship between Mariah and her mother has been very complex throughout her life.
In her 2020 memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey”, the star described her relationship with her mother as ‘full of contradictions and competing realities.’ She wrote, “It’s never been only black-and-white — it’s been a whole rainbow of emotions.”
“Our relationship is a prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration, and disappointment.”
“A complicated love tethers my heart to my mother’s.”
One memorable moment of their close bond was captured in 2010 when they performed together on the TV special, Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You. They sang a beautiful rendition of the Christmas carol, ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’. Mariah took the time to ask the audience to give her mother ‘a big hand’ for her performance.
Mariah’s relationship with her siblings, particularly Alison, has also been fraught with difficulties. In her memoir, Carey mentioned it felt ’emotionally and physically safer for me not to have any contact’ with her sister and brother.
Following this sad announcement, fans rushed to her social media pages to offer their condolences and support. One fan wrote, “We are sorry for your loss and wishing you all the healing energy possible.”
Another supporter commented, “Sending all the love in the world for you and your family. We are here for you and don’t you ever feel you’re going through this alone; we will always have your back.”
