Sinéad O’Connor Dies at Age 56

Sinéad O’Connor has died, her family confirmed today. She was just 56 years old.

The Irish singer, who changed her name to Shuhada’ Sadaqat in 2018, had been battling mental health issues for years.

Last January, the mom of four lost her 17-year-old son Shane to suicide.

In her last tweet, from earlier this month, O’Connor shared a photo of herself embracing her late son. She wrote: “#lostmy17yrOldSonToSuicidein2022. Been living as undead night creature since. . He was the love of my life, the lamp of my soul. We were one soul in two halves. He was the only person who ever loved me unconditionally. I am lost in the bardo without him.”

She also shared a string of heartbreaking songs on Twitter that day.

O’Connor’s family said in a statement to the Daily Mail today: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.” The cause of death has not been revealed.

Tributes to the singer from loved ones and longtime fans have been pouring in on social media since.

O’Connor rose to fame in the early 1990s with her heart-wrenching cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which was named the no. 1 single worldwide in 1990 by the Billboard Music Awards. She released 10 studio albums and hits including “Mandrinka,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” “Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home,” “You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart,” and “Thank You for Hearing Me.”

Rosa Sanchez is the senior news editor at Harper’s Bazaar, working on news as it relates to entertainment, fashion, and culture. Previously, she was a news editor at ABC News and, prior to that, a managing editor of celebrity news at American Media. She has also written features for Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue, Forbes, and The Hollywood Reporter, among other outlets.