Mariah Carey has announced the heartbreaking news that both her mother, Patricia, and her sister, Alison, passed away over the weekend. The singer shared a statement on Monday expressing her grief, saying, "My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend. Tragically, my sister also passed away on the same day."
Carey, a Grammy-winning artist, mentioned that she felt fortunate to have spent time with her mother in the week leading up to her passing. She requested privacy during this difficult time, and no additional details regarding the causes of death were provided.
Patricia Carey, 87, was of Irish-American descent and had a background as an opera singer and vocal coach. In her 2020 memoir, *The Meaning of Mariah Carey*, the singer opened up about the complicated relationship she had with her mother, describing the pain and confusion it caused her. The memoir highlighted the tension that arose from professional jealousy, which Carey said was especially painful given it came from her own mother.
Despite the challenges, Carey expressed deep love for her mother in the memoir’s dedication, writing, "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."
In a 2022 interview with Gayle King, Carey reflected on how her mother’s criticism had impacted her during her upbringing, but she also credited her mother with introducing her to music.
Carey’s relationship with her older sister Alison, 63, was also fraught with difficulties. In her memoir, Carey discussed her estrangement from both Alison and their brother Morgan, stating that it was "emotionally and physically safer for me to not have any contact." Alison later sued Carey for $1.2 million, alleging "immense emotional distress" caused by the memoir, which she described as "vindictive."
The singer’s father, Alfred Carey, passed away in 2002 from cancer at the age of 72.
Mariah Carey is recognized as one of the most successful singers worldwide. Her iconic holiday single "All I Want For Christmas Is You" holds the title of the best-selling Christmas song by a female artist. With 19 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, she also holds the record for the most by a solo artist. Carey has sold over 220 million records globally and served as a judge on the television show American Idol.
