Mariah Carey has confirmed the heartbreaking news that both her mother, Patricia, and her sister, Alison, passed away on the same day this past weekend, PEOPLE reports.
In an exclusive statement, the Grammy-winning singer expressed her profound grief: “My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend. Tragically, my sister also lost her life on the same day.” Carey, 55, reflected on the precious time she had with her mother before her passing, saying, “I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed. I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time.”
At this moment, details surrounding the causes of death for Patricia and Alison have not been disclosed.
Patricia Carey, a Juilliard-trained opera singer and vocal coach, was married to Alfred Roy Carey, with whom she had Mariah, Alison, and a son, Morgan. The couple divorced when Mariah was three years old. The singer’s complex relationship with her mother was documented in her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey. In the memoir, Carey described their relationship as “a prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration and disappointment,” reflecting a multifaceted emotional bond.
Despite their turbulent relationship, Mariah Carey and her mother maintained a connection. In 2010, they performed together in ABC’s Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You, delivering a memorable duet of “O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus.” Carey also dedicated a portion of her memoir to her mother, writing, “And 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’s relationship with her sister Alison was similarly intricate. The singer noted in her memoir that maintaining contact with Alison and Morgan was, at times, “emotionally and physically safer” for her not to do so.
The Carey family’s recent losses have sparked an outpouring of sympathy from fans and the public, who continue to offer their support during this profoundly difficult time.