Irish musician Sinead O’ Connor has died at the age of 56, her family said in a brief statement on Wednesday evening
O’Connor was a prolific artist and activist who remained in the spotlight and shot to fame with a haunting cover version of Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ in 1990.
Born in south Dublin in 1966, O’Connor’s debuted with ‘The Lion and the Cobra’ released in 1987.
‘It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad,’ the statement said. ‘Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.;
The Irish singer’s death came 18 months after she tragically lost her 17-year-old son Shane to suicide.
Ireland taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said ‘Her music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare. Condolences to her family, her friends and all who loved her music.’
In the late 1990s she was ordained as a priest by a bishop from an independent Catholic group and said she wanted to be known as Mother Bernadette Mary.
In 2018 she converted to Islam and changed her name to ‘Shuhada’’, but continued performing as an artist under her original name.
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