Mariah Carey announced on Monday that she is mourning the loss of both her mother Patricia and her sister Alison, who passed away on the same day. In a heartfelt statement, the Grammy-winning singer shared, “My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend. Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day.”
Feeling fortunate for the time she spent with her mother before her passing, Carey added, “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.”
According to The Times Union, Alison, who had been largely estranged from Carey, died at the age of 63 due to complications with her organ function while in hospice care. People Magazine first reported the news of their deaths and Carey’s statement.
Patricia, who Carey credits as an early inspiration, was a Juilliard-trained opera singer. “I would sing little tunes around the house, to my mother’s delight. And she always encouraged me,” Carey recalled in her 2020 memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey.”
Patricia was married to Alfred Roy Carey, Mariah’s father, until their divorce when the “Vision of Love” singer was just three years old. Carey grew up primarily with her mother in Suffolk County on Long Island. Her father passed away from cancer in 2002 at the age of 72.
In her memoir, Carey elaborated on her complex relationships with her mother and sister. She described frequent clashes with Patricia, which caused her significant emotional pain and confusion. Regarding her sister, Carey accused Alison of placing her in dangerous situations during their childhood.
“Like many aspects of my life, my journey with my mother has been full of contradictions and competing realities. It’s never been only black-and-white — it’s been a whole rainbow of emotions,” Carey wrote. “Our relationship is a prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration and disappointment. A complicated love tethers my heart to my mother’s.”
Despite their complicated relationship, Carey maintained contact with her mother. They even recorded a duet of “O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus” for Carey’s second Christmas album in 2010.
