Current:Home > News"Rest in Power": Celebrities react to the death of Sinéad O'Connor-InfoLens
"Rest in Power": Celebrities react to the death of Sinéad O'Connor
View Date:2025-01-11 01:07:35
As news broke Wednesday about the death of Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor at the age of 56, many around the world took to social media to share tributes to the artist arguably best known for her cover of the Prince song "Nothing Compares 2 U."
O'Connor overcame a difficult childhood, achieving her first major musical success in the late 1980s for her debut album "The Lion and the Cobra." But it was her second album, "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got," which made her a household name. She earned one Grammy win and eight nominations, and was named Rolling Stone artist of the year in 1991.
Along with her music, O'Connor was known for her outspoken stance on political and social issues, and was open about her struggles with mental health. Stars across the world Wednesday remembered and celebrated the singer for her fiery spirit.
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis dedicated a post on Instagram to O'Connor, recognizing the artist's "beautiful" voice and "brilliant" personality.
"I loved her. Her music. Her life. She was a victim of child abuse and a huge change agent for unfair and unjust draconian laws that she helped change in Ireland," Curtis wrote alongside a black and white photo of O'Connor.
"She was a warrior. She was a rebel," Curtis continued. "She ripped up a photograph that was on her mother's wall because of the hypocrisy of the abusive life she was raised in under the banner of the church."
Singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge called O'Connor's death "a tragedy."
"She was haunted all her life. What a talent," Etheridge wrote on social media. "I remember my first Grammy show meeting this small shy Irish girl."
Rapper Ice T gave his "respect to Sinead."
"She stood for something… Unlike most people," he said.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar wrote that O'Connor's "music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare."
Irish President Michael D. Higgins applauded O'Connor's "extraordinary" singing voice, as well as her voice for social change.
"To those of us who had the privilege of knowing her, one couldn't but always be struck by the depth of her fearless commitment to the important issues which she brought to public attention, no matter how uncomfortable those truths may have been," Higgins said in a statement.
Irish actress Caitríona Balfe thanked O'Connor for her music and talent.
"I hope you are at peace … and with your baby boy," Balfe said, referencing O'Connor's teen son Shane, who died by suicide in 2022. "Thank you for sharing your soul with us and soothing us with your incredible voice beautiful Sinéad."
Canadian musician Bryan Adams remembered O'Connor and the times they shared together.
"I loved working with you making photos, doing gigs in Ireland together and chats," Adams wrote. "All my love to your family."
Singer Alison Moyet said she was "heavy hearted" over the loss of O'Connor, calling her an "iconoclast."
"Wanted to reach out to her often but didn't," Moyet wrote. "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."
- In:
- Grammys
- Music
- Jamie Lee Curtis
- Sinead O'Connor
- Ireland
Simrin Singh is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News.
veryGood! (4)
Related
- U.S.-Mexico water agreement might bring relief to parched South Texas
- Measles can be deadly and is highly contagious — here's what to know about this preventable disease
- Crew aboard International Space Station safe despite confirmed air leak
- Sanders among latest to call for resignation of Arkansas Board of Corrections member
- Kevin Costner says he hasn't watched John Dutton's fate on 'Yellowstone': 'Swear to God'
- Prince William condemns antisemitism at London synagogue: 'We can't let that keep going'
- Judge holds veteran journalist Catherine Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to divulge source
- Musk’s X asks judge to penalize nonprofit researchers tracking rise of hate speech on platform
- Prominent conservative lawyer Ted Olson, who argued Bush recount and same-sex marriage cases, dies
- Fan-Fave Travel Brand CALPAK Just Launched Its First-Ever Baby Collection, & We're Obsessed
Ranking
- Advance Auto Parts is closing hundreds of stores in an effort to turn its business around
- LGBTQ+ advocacy group sues Texas AG, says it won’t identify transgender families
- Who killed Buttercup? After mini horse found shot 'between her eyes', investigation launched
- Alexey Navalny's team announces Moscow funeral arrangements, tells supporters to come early
- Oprah Winfrey Addresses Claim She Was Paid $1 Million by Kamala Harris' Campaign
- Avalanche kills American man in backcountry of Japanese mountains, police say
- Pat McAfee says comments calling out ESPN executive were a 'warning shot'
- How many points does LeBron James have? NBA legend closing in on 40,000
Recommendation
-
See Leonardo DiCaprio's Transformation From '90s Heartthrob to Esteemed Oscar Winner
-
Oprah Winfrey to depart WeightWatchers board after revealing weight loss medication use
-
Free housing for educators being offered to help curb high rent prices
-
Oprah Winfrey says she's stepping down from WeightWatchers. Its shares are cratering.
-
Sean Diddy Combs' Lawyers File New Motion for Bail, Claiming Evidence Depicts a Consensual Relationship
-
Former career US diplomat admits secretly spying for Cuban intelligence for decades
-
Man already serving life sentence convicted in murder of Tucson girl who vanished from parents’ home
-
Travis Kelce Fills Blank Space in His Calendar With Star-Studded Malibu Outing