Mariah Carey has announced the deaths of her mother and sister, Patricia and Alison, on the same day over the recent weekend. The causes of their deaths have not been disclosed.
The singer expressed her heartbreak and shared a poignant message regarding her mother’s passing, stating, “I feel blessed to have spent time with my mother in the week before her death.” She also requested privacy during this difficult time.
Patricia, 87, was a former opera singer of Irish-American descent and served as a vocal coach. Carey’s 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, revealed the complexities of her relationship with her mother, marked by both love and professional rivalry, which caused her considerable emotional turmoil. In the dedication of the memoir, Carey reflected on this bond, expressing her belief that her mother did her best and affirming her enduring love.
In a 2022 interview with Gayle King, Carey acknowledged that her mother’s criticisms during her upbringing had a lasting impact on her but also credited her with introducing her to music.
Carey’s relationship with her sister Alison, 63, was similarly complicated. In her memoir, Carey described her estrangement from both Alison and their brother Morgan, stating it was safer for her to remain out of contact. Alison later filed a lawsuit against Carey for $1.2 million, claiming “immense emotional distress” due to the memoir’s revelations, labeling it as “vindictive.”
Carey’s father, Alfred, passed away in 2002 at the age of 72 due to cancer. Widely regarded as one of the most successful artists in the music industry, Carey holds the record for the most number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 by a solo artist at 19 and has sold over 220 million records worldwide. She is also known for her holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which is the best-selling Christmas song by a female artist.