Mariah Carey’s mother and sister have passed away on the same day in a “disastrous turn of events,” the pop icon has disclosed to US media.
The Grammy Award-winning artist expressed in a statement to People magazine that her “heart is shattered” following the demise of her mother, Patricia, and her sibling, Alison.
The specific circumstances surrounding their deaths remain unknown, as per the celebrity news outlet.
Carey, 55, stated: “My heart is shattered that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend.”
“Unfortunately, in a disastrous turn of events, my sister took her last breath on the same day.”
“I feel fortunate that I was able to share the last week with my mom before she departed.”
“I am grateful for everyone’s love and support and request privacy during this incredibly difficult time.”
Patricia, a former opera singer and vocal instructor, was 87 years old, while Alison was 63, according to a fan site dedicated to Mariah Carey.
Carey shared insights into her complex relationship with her mother in her 2020 memoir “The Meaning of Mariah Carey”.
She reflected: “As with many facets of my existence, my journey with my mother has been rife with contradictions and clashing realities. It has never solely been black-and-white – it’s been a diverse spectrum of emotions.”
Carey also remarked: “Our relationship resembles a thorny cord woven with pride, pain, shame, appreciation, jealousy, admiration, and disappointment.”
“A multifaceted love binds my heart to my mother’s.”
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Mariah Carey, right, appears with her mother Patricia and daughter Monroe in 2015. Pic: AP
Carey did maintain a bond with her mother, collaborating on a festive duet of O Come All Ye Faithful and Hallelujah Chorus in 2010.
She partially dedicated her memoir to her mother, stating: “And to Pat, my mother, who, through all circumstances, I genuinely believe did her utmost. I will cherish you to the best of my abilities, always.”
In another development, Alison initiated legal action against Carey in February 2021 regarding comments she made in the memoir.
The singer recounted in the book that at the age of 12, Alison, then 20, endangered her by exposing her to potential exploitation.
Alison’s lawsuit asserted that she refutes the claims made in the memoir and argues that her sister “provided no evidence to validate these grave allegations.”
Carey has an older brother named Morgan but her father Alfred succumbed to cancer in 2002.
