NEW YORK, USA – Sinead O’Connor, the groundbreaking Irish singer-songwriter known for her striking vocal prowess and audacious political dissent, has died at the age of 56, confirmed her longtime friend Bob Geldof and her family in a statement issued to the BBC and RTE, the Irish public broadcaster.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinead,” the family statement read on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. “Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
No further details were provided regarding the cause of death.
Ms. O’Connor, famed for her shaved head and expressive eyes, had a vibrant music career that spanned over three decades and included 10 studio albums.
Her debut album, “The Lion and the Cobra,” was released in 1987 and her rise to international fame came with the 1990 album “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got.”
The album featured her rendition of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which topped the charts and won her a Grammy Award for best alternative music performance in 1991.
She was as much known for her stirring voice as for her outspokenness. Her refusal to comply with societal norms and her rejection of the commercialization of the music industry were central to her persona.
In one of the most talked-about events of her career, Ms O’Connor caused an uproar on Saturday Night Live in 1992 when she ripped a picture of Pope John Paul II, declaring, “Fight the real enemy,” as a protest against sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church.
Her action ignited an immediate backlash, transforming her into a target of scorn. Despite the toll it took on her career, Ms O’Connor remained unapologetic.
She later referred to the incident as a “righteous act of protest” in her 2021 memoir, “Rememberings.” In the same year, she told The New York Times, “I’m not sorry I did it. It was brilliant.”
Born in Dublin on Dec. 8, 1966, Sinead O’Connor was discovered by drummer Paul Byrne when she was 15 years old.
Despite a turbulent start, marked by personal hardship and clashes with her record company over her unconventional image, Ms O’Connor carved out a distinct path in the music world.
Her remarkable voice and emotive performances touched millions worldwide, and she continued to find success on the British charts even as her popularity in the United States waned after the ’90s.
She remained active in the public eye, often sharing her struggles with mental health openly, earning her a unique place as a trailblazer in the music industry.
Ms O’Connor converted to Islam several years ago and began going by the name Shuhada Sadaqat, though she continued to also answer to O’Connor.
In reflecting on her career in 2021, Ms O’Connor succinctly summed up her lifelong defiance of norms and expectation.
“It seems to me that being a pop star is almost like being in a type of prison. You have to be a good girl,” she said. Throughout her life and career, Sinead O’Connor undeniably broke free from that prison.
