Sinead O'Connor, 'Nothing Compares 2 U' Singer, Dead at 56

etonline.com:

was first to report the news. No cause of death has yet been reported.«It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad,» her family confirmed in a statement to RTE. «Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.»Born in Glenageary, Ireland in 1966, O'Connor went on to become one of the country’s most prominent musicians, joining the ranks of U2, Enya, and The Cranberries, all of whom achieved worldwide fame in the '80s and '90s.O'Connor's personal life, however, was marred by tragedy and struggles with mental illness.

Her son, Shane, died by suicide at 17 in January 2022 after going missing in Ireland, and the singer publicly threatened suicide herself multiple times in recent years.Her solo career started when she was signed to Ensign Records and hired Fachtna O'Ceallaigh, U2’s former head of Mother Records, as her manager.

In 1987, O'Connor released her first album,, earning college radio play in the U.S. and a GRAMMY nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.It wasn’t until her second album,, that O'Connor achieved international recognition.

The critically acclaimed album was nominated for four GRAMMY awards, winning Best Alternative Music Performance, and sold seven million copies worldwide.It also featured the 1990 hit, «Nothing Compares 2 U,» O'Connor’s arrangement and cover of a record composed by Prince for one of his side projects.