Sinead O’Connor death – latest: Tributes pour in for ‘fearless and uncompromising’ Irish singer

Irish musician Sinéad O’Connor has died at the age of 56.

O’Connor’s death was confirmed by her family in a statement provided to BBC News.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad,” it read. “Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”

No cause of death has been disclosed.

The Dublin-born singer-songwriter’s death comes a year after the death by suicide of her 17-year-old son Shane.

Throughout her life, O’Connor was known for her political activism and personal candour, as well as a string of acclaimed albums.

To many, she was most famed for her hit cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U”, written by the musician and producer Prince, which featured on her 1990 album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got.

O’Connor changed her name to Shuhada’ Sadaqat in 2018 after converting to Islam, but continued to work and perform under her birth name.

Tributes to the artist have already begun pouring in on social media – see below.

Key points

• O’Connor’s family confirm news of her death in a statement

• Taoiseach Leo Varadkar pays tribute to O’Connor on social media

• The day Sinead O’Connor tore up a photo of the Pope on Saturday Night Live

• Artists, comedians and musicians pay homage to the late Dublin-born singer

Presenter and producer Siobhán McAndrew pays tribute to Sinéad O’Connor

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“You were so loved by so many Sinéad O’Connor,” Siobhán McAndrew wrote on Twitter along with a video of the “Jackie” singer taking the stage at the RTÉ Choice Music earlier this year.

“This video was taken just 4 months ago at the @choiceprize awards in Dublin and the atmosphere in the room when Sinéad took to the stage was just electric,” McAndrew added. “I’m sorry the world was so cruel to you. Rest in Power Irish Princess.”

08:30 , Peony Hirwani

Story of the song: Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O’Connor

08:00 , Peony Hirwani

From The Independent archive: Robert Webb on a discarded Prince song that packed an emotional punch for the Irish singer.

Story of the song: Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O’Connor

Sinead O’Connor, the Irish artist who put her pain, and the pain of others, into song

07:30 , Peony Hirwani

O’Connor shot to fame in 1990 with her cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”, confronting the nation with all her trauma and vulnerability. The Independent’s Helen Brown pays tribute to a complicated, brilliant artist.

Sinead O’Connor, the Irish artist who put her pain, and the pain of others, into song

Director of Sinead O’Connor documentary ‘devastated’ at singer’s death

07:00 , Peony Hirwani

Director Kathryn Ferguson, who made a documentary called Nothing Compares about O’Connor’s life, told BBC Radio 4’s Front Row show on Wednesday (26 July) that she was “devastated” to hear the news of the singer’s death.

Read more:

Director of Sinead O’Connor documentary ‘devastated’ at singer’s death

Russell Crowe recalls encounter with Sinéad O’Connor outside Irish pub

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Russell Crowe has paid tribute to Sinéad O’Connor.

On Wednesday (26 July), the 59-year-old actor recalled a chance encounter he had with the late singer outside a pub in Ireland last year.

“Last year, working in Ireland, having a pint in the cold outside a Dalkey pub with some new friends, a woman with purpose strode past us,” Crowe wrote on Twitter. “Puffy parker zipped to the nape and her bowed head covered in a scarf. One of my new friends muttered an exclamation, jumped up and pursued the woman.

“Thirty metres down the road the friend and the woman embraced and he waived me over. There under streetlights with mist on my breath, I met Sinéad,” Crowe wrote. “She looked in my eyes, and uttered with disarming softness, ‘oh, it’s you Russell.’”

The Unhinged star continued by writing that O’Connor then joined him and his friends at a table as they engaged in a “conversation without fences,” that included discussions about a recent Dublin heatwave, local and American politics, the ongoing fight for indigenous recognition, her memories of New Zealand, faith, music, movies, and her brother.

“When her second cup was taking on the night air, she rose, embraced us all and strode away into the fog-dimmed streetlights,” Crowe wrote. “We sat there the four of us and variously expressed the same thing. What an amazing woman. Peace be with your courageous heart Sinéad.”

06:00 , Inga Parkel

Sinead O’Connor’s lifelong dedication to women’s rights: ‘We aren’t merely objects of desire’

Irish singer was vocal advocate for women in the music industry and reproductive rights

05:00 , Inga Parkel

In the years leading up to her death, O’Connor was vocal about her struggles with addiction and trauma.

The Irish singer cancelled her 2021 tour in order to undergo a year of rehabilitation for both.

O’Connor, who had frequently spoken about her mental health issues over the years, said that the stress of 2020, as well as the death of a loved one, led to her being “briefly addicted to a drug other than weed”.

At the time, she had tweeted: “Message for folks who have tickets for next year’s shows: those shows are being postponed until 2022 so that I may go into a one year trauma and addiction treatment program because I had a very traumatic six years and this year was the end of it but now recovery starts.

“I grew up with a lot of trauma and abuse. I then went straight into the music business. And never learned really how to make a normal life. Never took proper time to heal. Wasn’t ready to either.

“Music business is a very unforgiving place for artists who need to postpone due to emotional or mental health issues,” she added.

Sinead O’Connor, the Irish artist who put her pain, and the pain of others, into song

04:00 , Inga Parkel

Read Helen Brown’s beautiful tribute to the “complicated and brilliant” Sinead O’Connor for The Independent.

Sinead O’Connor, the Irish artist who put her pain, and the pain of others, into song

O’Connor shot to fame in 1990 with her cover of Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’, confronting the nation with all her trauma and vulnerability. Helen Brown pays tribute to a complicated, brilliant artist

03:00 , Inga Parkel

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The Independent’s own Roisin O’Connor shares her personal connection to Sinead O’Connor in a lovely tribute.

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Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor pays homage to an “artist with the voice of an Angel”.

“I have lost a friend. Sinead’s music will live on and continue to inspire! Rest In Peace, Sinead you are home with your son I am sure,” he tweeted.

01:30 , Inga Parkel

‘Her talent was unmatched’: The world pays tribute to Sinead O’Connor

Irish musician is being remembered for her music, which ‘was loved around the world’, for her punk spirit, and for her campaigning for women’s rights

‘Nothing Compares 2 U’: How Sinead O’Connor turned Prince’s song into a classic

01:00 , Inga Parkel

The music world was rocked on Wednesday (26 July) by the news that Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor has died at the age of 56.

While many are paying homage to O’Connor’s expansive musical and political legacy, others are remembering the singer for her 1990 cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U”.

Read more:

‘Nothing Compares 2 U’: How Sinead O’Connor turned Prince’s song into a classic

Dublin-born singer shot to fame with her cover of a previously forgotten Prince song

Thursday 27 July 2023 00:30 , Inga Parkel

Author Marian Keyes found the news “heartbreaking”. “How she suffered. Poor, poor Sinead. Rest in peace, you amazing, brave, beautiful, unique wonder,” she wrote.

Thursday 27 July 2023 00:00 , Inga Parkel

This is an in depth look at one of O’Connor’s most famous moments, when she tore up a photograph of the Pope on live TV to take a stance against paedophilia in the church.

A brave, singular force in the world of music.

The day Sinéad O’Connor tore up a photo of the Pope on Saturday Night Live

Thirty years ago, a young Sinéad O’Connor shocked America with her political protest on ‘Saturday Night Live’. She was promptly banned for life by broadcaster NBC, pelted with eggs in the street and booed during live shows. Ed Power reflects on the impact of that night and the contrasting reactions in the US and Ireland

Sinead O’Connor, the chart-topping singer who courted controversy

Wednesday 26 July 2023 23:30 , Inga Parkel

Sinead O’Connor, the chart-topping singer who courted controversy

The star is best known for her 1990 smash hit, ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’

Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar has shared a tribute to O’Connor

Wednesday 26 July 2023 23:00 , Inga Parkel

“Her music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare,” wrote the Irish leader.

Wednesday 26 July 2023 22:30 , Inga Parkel

In July 1990, Sinead O’Connor joined Roger Waters and other fellow artists to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Watch a snippet of their historic performance below.

Singer’s death comes a year after the death of her teenage son

Wednesday 26 July 2023 22:00 , Inga Parkel

Sinead O’Connor’s untimely death comes a year after the death of her 17-year-old son Shane. His death by suicide was announced by the singer in January 2022.

A month after his death, O’Connor deeply mourned the loss, saying she would never perform again.

“There will never be anything to sing about again,” she tweeted at the time.

The “Nothing Compares 2 U” artist is survived by her three children Jake Reynolds, 36, Roisin Waters, 27, and Yeshua Bonadi, 16.

Sinead O’Connor, the Irish artist who put her pain, and the pain of others, into song

Wednesday 26 July 2023 21:30 , Inga Parkel

Read Helen Brown’s beautiful tribute to the “complicated and brilliant” Sinead O’Connor for The Independent.

Sinead O’Connor, the Irish artist who put her pain, and the pain of others, into song

O’Connor shot to fame in 1990 with her cover of Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’, confronting the nation with all her trauma and vulnerability. Helen Brown pays tribute to a complicated, brilliant artist

WATCH: Sinead O’Connor’s stand-out moments

Wednesday 26 July 2023 21:10 , Inga Parkel

The world pays tribute

Wednesday 26 July 2023 20:48 , Tom Murray

Tributes from around the world have poured in for the late artist after being led by Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

“Really sorry to hear of the passing of Sinéad O’Connor. Her music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare,” the Irish politician tweeted.

Among those sending condolences are Irish mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor, American rapper Ice-T and Irish comedian Dara Ó Briain.

Find a round-up of all the tributes here:

‘Her talent was unmatched’: The world pays tribute to Sinead O’Connor

Watch: Sinead O’Connor’s stand-out moments

Wednesday 26 July 2023 20:37 , Tom Murray

Wednesday 26 July 2023 20:30 , Louis Chilton

Here’s a roundup of some of the voices to have already shared tributes to the late Irish artist.

Figures including Irish writer Marian Keyes and comedian Dara O’Briain have expressed their sorrow over O’Connor’s untimely death.

Read more:

Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar leads tributes to Sinead O’Connor

Wednesday 26 July 2023 20:27 , Louis Chilton

“A voice that cracked stone.”

Musician Alison Moyet wrote: “Heavy hearted at the loss of Sinead O’Connor. Wanted to reach out to her often but didn’t.

“I remember her launch. Astounding presence. Voice that cracked stone with force & by increment. As beautiful as any girl around & never traded on that card. I Loved that about her. Iconoclast.”

Wednesday 26 July 2023 20:08 , Louis Chilton

Tim Burgess, the leader of alt-rock band The Charlatans, wrote that O’Connor was “the true embodiment of a punk spirit”.

“She did not compromise and that made her life more of a struggle. Hoping that she has found peace.”

Wednesday 26 July 2023 20:05 , Louis Chilton

O’Connor’s music transcended genre and continents. American rapper Ice-T is among the musicians to have shared a tribute.

“Respect to Sinead..... She stood for something... Unlike most people.... Rest Easy,” he wrote.

Wednesday 26 July 2023 20:02 , Louis Chilton

“One of the most incredible and unique voices in music.”

Here’s a remarkable clip of O’Connor performing alongside Roger Waters and the Band live in 1990.

Wednesday 26 July 2023 19:55 , Louis Chilton

Irish sibling musicians Jedward have shared their own tribute to O’Connor on social media.

“True Irish Icon of our Generation!” they wrote. “We only just met her this year and she was in good spirits, a very welcoming person with a big heart.”

Wednesday 26 July 2023 19:44 , Louis Chilton

Folk musician and protest singer Grace Petrie is among the artists paying tribute.

“Desperately sad news about Sinead O’Connor,” she wrote. “An amazing musician and an incredible voice for justice who deserved far better than the many ways music and media treated her.

“Not sure I have seen an artist take a risk or a stand comparable to the one she took in 1992 on the biggest platform she had ever had. Utterly uncompromising. Rest in power.”

Wednesday 26 July 2023 19:39 , Louis Chilton

This is an in depth look at one of O’Connor’s most famous moments, when she tore up a photograph of the Pope on live TV to take a stance against paedophilia in the church.

A brave, singular force in the world of music.

The day Sinéad O’Connor tore up a photo of the Pope on Saturday Night Live

Wednesday 26 July 2023 19:35 , Louis Chilton

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has shared a tribute to O’Connor.

“Her music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare,” wrote the Irish leader.

Wednesday 26 July 2023 19:31 , Louis Chilton

“A trailblazer... Fearless, uncompromising & a superlative talent. Proved to be ahead of her time, again and again.

“Her passing at 56 is a devastating loss.”

Wednesday 26 July 2023 19:27 , Louis Chilton

Some deeply moving tributes are already being shared on social media – it’s clear her activism resonated with people just as much as her music.

Wednesday 26 July 2023 19:21 , Louis Chilton

The music world has been rocked this evening by the news that Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor has died.

Her family announced in a statement: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad.

“Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”

Read more:

Sinead O’Connor dies aged 56