Mariah Carey has announced the tragic passing of her mother and sister, Patricia and Alison, who both died on the same day over the weekend. The Grammy-winning singer expressed her heartbreak in a statement, describing her feelings of loss and the pain of losing both family members so closely together. Carey revealed that she felt grateful to have spent time with her mother just a week prior to her death and requested privacy during this difficult time.
Patricia Carey, 87, was known for her career as an opera singer and vocal coach. In her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, the singer delved into the complexities of her relationship with her mother, discussing how it brought her significant pain and confusion. Carey noted that professional jealousy had created distance between them, particularly revealing the challenges of such emotions when they come from a parent.
Despite these struggles, Carey expressed her enduring love for her mother, dedicating her memoir to her with the words, “To Pat, my mother, who, through it all, I do believe actually did the best she could. I will love you the best I can, always.”
Carey also reflected on her relationship with her older sister, Alison, who was 63 at the time of her passing. In her memoir, Carey shared that she had been estranged from both Alison and her brother Morgan, believing it was “emotionally and physically safer” to have no contact. Alison had previously sued Carey for $1.2 million, claiming the memoir caused her “immense emotional distress.”
Their father, Alfred, passed away in 2002 from cancer at the age of 72. Mariah Carey remains one of the most successful recording artists in the world, known for her hit holiday song “All I Want For Christmas Is You” and holding the record for the most number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart by a solo artist, with 19 songs to her name. She has sold over 220 million records globally and appeared as a judge on American Idol.