Current:Home > Contact-usSinéad O'Connor died of natural causes, coroner says-InfoLens
Sinéad O'Connor died of natural causes, coroner says
View Date:2024-12-23 10:20:32
Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor's cause of death has been revealed.
O'Connor died of "natural causes" in July at 56, a London coroner's office confirmed Tuesday to USA TODAY, adding that it "therefore ceased their involvement in her death."
Her family shared a statement about her death at the time to BBC.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad," O'Connor's family said in the statement. "Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."
The music icon is best-known for her 1990 cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U," which catapulted her to short-lived stardom. Controversy arrived in 1992 after the "Rememberings" author openly criticized Pope John Paul II during a "Saturday Night Live appearance" while singing Bob Marley's "War," in protest of child sex abuse within the Catholic Church.
Throughout her career, O'Connor garnered eight Grammy nominations and a sole win. In 1987, she released a debut album "The Lion and the Cobra" before capturing worldwide fame and attention for her sophomore album, "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" which included lead single "Nothing Compares."
Her stirring performance of the power ballad spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was nominated for three Grammy Awards. The song itself was accompanied by the legendary music video of O'Connor singing in a black turtleneck directly into the camera.
More:Sinéad O'Connor, acclaimed and controversial Irish musician, dies at 56
After the "SNL" controversy, religious groups destroyed her albums and radio stations pulled her songs. Despite the backlash and blackballing, O'Connor expressed no regrets about the infamous moment, which she later called the "proudest" of her career.
"They all thought I should be made a mockery of for throwing my career down the drain," O'Connor said in a 2022 documentary "Nothing Compares" about her life. "I didn't say I wanted to be a pop star. It didn't suit me to be a pop star. So I didn't throw away any career that I wanted."
Her provocative peaks and pitfalls in the music industry were exacerbated by private struggles. The 2022 documentary compiled moments of her life and chronicled alleged abuse by O'Connor's late mother Marie, who later died in a car accident when the singer was just 19.
O'Connor was married four times and divorced her last husband, therapist Barry Herridge, after just two weeks in 2011. Throughout her life and career, O'Connor spoke openly with fans and the public about her mental health. The singer was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, complex post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder, and she spent six years in and out of mental health facilities.
O'Connor's death occurred over a year after her 17-year-old son Shane died by suicide in January 2022. In the weeks that followed his death, the mom of four wrote a series of concerning messages on X, formerly known as Twitter. She wrote, "I've decided to follow my son. There's no point living without him."
Contributing: Patrick Ryan
veryGood! (18)
Related
- Glen Powell responds to rumor that he could replace Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible'
- 'Maroon,' 3 acoustic songs added to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour film coming to Disney+
- Mining company can’t tap water needed for Okefenokee wildlife refuge, US says
- A ship earlier hit by Yemen's Houthi rebels sinks in the Red Sea, the first vessel lost in conflict
- Vegas Sphere reports revenue decline despite hosting UFC 306, Eagles residency
- Pregnant Lala Kent Reveals How She Picked Her Sperm Donor For Baby No. 2
- Chris Mortensen, NFL reporter for ESPN, dies at age 72
- A man is found guilty of killing, dismembering a woman after taking out life insurance in her name
- Mike Tyson is expected to honor late daughter during Jake Paul fight. Here's how.
- Quick! Swimsuits for All Is Having a Sale for Today Only, Score Up to 50% off Newly Stocked Bestsellers
Ranking
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Mixed Use
- Former Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg pleads guilty to perjury in ex-president’s civil fraud trial
- Haiti orders a curfew after gangs overrun its two largest prisons. Thousands have escaped
- Just How Much Money Do CO2 Pipeline Companies Stand to Make From the Inflation Reduction Act?
- Trump hammered Democrats on transgender issues. Now the party is at odds on a response
- How does Selection Sunday work? What to know about how March Madness fields are selected
- Masked gunmen kill 4, wound 3 at outdoor party in central California, police say
- Kitchen Must-Haves for 2024: Kitchen Gadgets, Smart Appliances, and More You Need Now
Recommendation
-
'Yellowstone's powerful opening: What happened to Kevin Costner's John Dutton?
-
Blizzard aftermath in California's Sierra Nevada to bring more unstable weather
-
Rescue of truck driver dangling from bridge was a team effort, firefighter says
-
New Hampshire man who triggered Amber Alert held without bail in death of his children’s mother
-
Fantasy football waiver wire: 10 players to add for NFL Week 11
-
TLC’s Chilli Is a Grandma After Son Tron Welcomes Baby With His Wife Jeong
-
New Mexico governor signs bill that bans some guns at polls and extends waiting period to 7 days
-
2024 NFL mock draft: Six QBs land in top 16 picks of post-combine shake-up