Tragedy Strikes Mariah Carey as She Loses Both Mother and Sister on the Same Day

Mariah Carey, the iconic five-time Grammy Award-winning singer, has shared the heartbreaking news that she lost both her mother, Patricia, and her sister, Alison, on the same day this past weekend. In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, Carey expressed the profound grief she is experiencing. “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,” the “We Belong Together” singer revealed.

The details surrounding the deaths of Patricia, 87, and Alison have not been disclosed at this time. Patricia, a former opera singer and vocal coach, passed down her incredible vocal talents to her daughter. Mariah has often spoken about the complexities of her relationship with her mother, particularly in her 2020 memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey.”

In her memoir, Carey provided a deep and emotional exploration of her connection with Patricia. She described their relationship as one filled with contradictions and a mix of emotions. “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. She went on to describe their bond as a “prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration, and disappointment.”

Despite the complexities, Carey also dedicated a heartfelt section of her memoir to Patricia, acknowledging her mother’s efforts. “And to Pat, my mother, who, through it all, I do believe actually did the best she could. I will love you the best I can, always,” she added.

Mariah’s relationship with her sister Alison was similarly fraught with difficulty. In the same memoir, Carey revealed that she had been estranged from Alison and her brother, Morgan, stating that it was “emotionally and physically safer for me to avoid any contact.”

This dual loss has undoubtedly been a devastating blow to the singer, who has asked for privacy as she navigates this “impossible time.”