MANILA, Philippines – Mariah Carey mourned the tragic loss of her mother, Patricia, and sister, Alison, who both passed away on the same day. The Grammy-winning singer, 55, confirmed the news to PEOPLE on Tuesday, August 27 (Manila time).
“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…. I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed,” Carey told PEOPLE.
The singer did not disclose Alison and Patricia’s respective causes of death.
Mariah took after her mother’s musical chops, as Patricia was a Juilliard-trained opera singer and vocal coach. She was previously married to Alfred Roy Carey, with whom she had three children: Alison, Mariah, and Morgan.
Mariah’s relationships with her mother and sister were intricate, which she discussed in her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey. In the memoir, the award-winning singer also noted that a complicated love had bound her to her mother, Patricia.
Mariah also revealed that there came a point when it was “emotionally and physically safer for [her] not to have any contact” with Alison or their brother Morgan, emphasizing the difficulties she navigated within her family.
In her statement to PEOPLE, Mariah also extended her gratitude for the outpouring of support from fans. “I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time,” she said.
Mariah’s older brother, Morgan, is her last living family member. Their father, Alfred Roy Carey, passed away in 2002 from cancer.
According to another report by PEOPLE, Mariah’s father, of Afro-Venezuelan descent, married Patricia at a time when interracial marriages were less common. This led to Patricia’s family disowning her, as they had disapproved of their marriage.
Mariah Carey is an American singer who released her self-titled debut album in 1990. Only a year later, in 1991, she was awarded her first two Grammys. She has since gone on to release countless chart-topping hits like “We Belong Together,” “Always Be My Baby,” and “Bye Bye,” among many others.
She’s the artist behind “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” which manages to top the charts year after year whenever the holiday season rolls around.
Mariah has two children with her ex-husband, Nick Cannon. – Rappler.com