Mariah Carey has shared the heartbreaking news that both her mother and sister passed away on the same day.
The renowned singer, 55, expressed her grief in a statement to PEOPLE, describing the ‘tragic turn of events’ involving the deaths of her mother, Patricia Carey, and her sister, Alison Carey.
Mariah conveyed her sorrow by stating, “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.”
The singer did not specify the cause of death for her 87-year-old mother or her 63-year-old sister but acknowledged the overwhelming support and love from her fans. She also requested privacy during this difficult time.
Patricia Carey was a respected opera singer trained at the prestigious Juilliard School and also worked as a vocal coach. She married Alfred Roy Carey and had three children: Mariah, Alison, and their brother Morgan. The couple eventually divorced when Mariah was just three years old.
In her 2020 memoir, ‘The Meaning of Mariah Carey,’ the star reflected on her complex and often challenging relationship with her mother. She wrote, “Like many aspects of my life, my journey with my mother has been full of contradictions and competing realities. It’s never been only black-and-white — it’s been a whole rainbow of emotions.”
She went on to describe their bond as “a prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration, and disappointment. A complicated love tethers my heart to my mother’s.”
Despite their differences, Mariah and Patricia shared memorable moments, including a touching performance for the 2010 TV special, ‘Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You,’ where they sang ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ together. Mariah introduced her mother to the audience, celebrating her talent with a heartfelt request for a round of applause.
Regarding her relationship with her siblings, including Alison, Mariah revealed in her memoir that it was often ’emotionally and physically safer’ for her to keep her distance. This revelation suggests a complicated family dynamic.
In light of this tragic news, Mariah’s fans have shown an outpouring of support and condolences on her social media pages. One fan wrote, “We are sorry for your loss and wishing you all the healing energy possible.”
Another added, “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.”
