By Mark Gray
6:00pm PDT, Aug 8, 2023
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Sinead O'Connor — the Irish singer who was catapulted to fame in 1990 with the hit song "Nothing Compares 2 U" and its stunning music video that MTV aired in heavy rotation — is dead at 56. The Irish Times broke the news on July 26, and the BBC and RTE shared a statement from the talented and troubled singer-songwriter's family confirming their heartbreak. "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinead," they wrote, adding, "Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time." Police later confirmed in a statement that Sinead, who'd reportedly moved to London in early July, was found unresponsive in a home in the capital and "was pronounced dead at the scene" and that "the death is not being treated as suspicious."
Sinead was laid to rest in Bray, Ireland — where she lived for 15 years — in a private burial attended by her family as well as U2's Bono, The Edge and Adam Clayton, Boomtown Rats singer Bob Geldof, Ireland's President Michael D. Higgins and Ireland's Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar. Before the service, the public paid their final respects as a hearse carrying her remains passed the town's seafront.
Hollywood stars and fans publicly mourned the music star, who lost son Shane — the third of her four children — just 18 months before her own death.
Keep reading to see what stars, famous athletes and more had to say about her passing…
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"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. 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. She looked in my eyes, and uttered with disarming softness, 'Oh, it's you Russell.' She came with us back to the table and sat in the cold and ordered a hot tea. In a conversation without fences we roamed through the recent Dublin heatwave, local politics, American politics, the ongoing fight for indigenous recognition in many places, but particularly in Australia, her warm memory of New Zealand, faith, music, movies and her brother the writer. I had the opportunity to tell her she was a hero of mine. When her second cup was taking on the night air, she rose, embraced us all and strode away into the fog-dimmed streetlights. We sat there the four of us and variously expressed the same thing. What an amazing woman.
Peace be with your courageous heart Sinéad." –Russell Crowe
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"This is such a tragedy. What a loss. She was haunted all her life. What a talent. I remember my first Grammy show meeting this small shy Irish girl." —Melissa Etheridge
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Pink honored Sinead O'Connor during a Cincinnati concert on July 26 by singing "Nothing Compares 2 U" with Brandi Carlile. "When I was a little girl, my mom grew up in Atlantic City and I used to go down to the Ocean City Boardwalk with my ten dollars and I would make a demo tape… I would make a little cassette tape and imagine it was my demo for the record company," Pink said. "And it would always be either 'Greatest Love of All' by Whitney Houston or 'Nothing Compares 2 U' by Sinead O'Connor. So in honor of Sinead, and in honor of my very, very talented friend Brandi Carlile, I asked her if she would come out here and sing this song with me."
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"I once heard Sìnead sing acappella in an empty chapel in Ireland. It was under construction at the private home of our host. It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard in my life. We then went together to see Eminem at a festival. 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. She was a warrior. She was a rebel. 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. This is so sad. Watch the NOTHING COMPARES documentary. Brilliant. Heartbreaking. Rest well. Rest in power. Rest in peace." –Jamie Lee Curtis
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"I hope you are at peace … and with your baby boy. Thank you for sharing your soul with us and soothing us with your incredible voice beautiful Sinéad. RIP" –Irish actress and "Outlander" and "Belfast" star Caitriona Balfe
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"She had only so much 'self' to give. She was dropped by her label after selling 7 million albums for them. She became crazed, yes, but uninteresting, never. She had done nothing wrong. She had proud vulnerability … and there is a certain music industry hatred for singers who don't 'fit in' (this I know only too well), and they are never praised until death – when, finally, they can't answer back. The cruel playpen of fame gushes with praise for Sinead today … with the usual moronic labels of 'icon' and 'legend.' You praise her now ONLY because it is too late. You hadn't the guts to support her when she was alive and she was looking for you. The press will label artists as pests because of what they withhold … and they would call Sinead sad, fat, shocking, insane … oh but not today! Music CEOs who had put on their most charming smile as they refused her for their roster are queuing-up to call her a 'feminist icon,' and 15 minute celebrities and goblins from hell and record labels of artificially aroused diversity are squeezing onto Twitter to twitter their jibber-jabber … when it was YOU who talked Sinead into giving up … because she refused to be labelled, and she was degraded, as those few who move the world are always degraded. Why is ANYBODY surprised that Sinead O'Connor is dead? Who cared enough to save Judy Garland, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, Marilyn Monroe, Billie Holiday? Where do you go when death can be the best outcome? Was this music madness worth Sinead's life? No, it wasn't. She was a challenge, and she couldn't be boxed-up, and she had the courage to speak when everyone else stayed safely silent. She was harassed simply for being herself. Her eyes finally closed in search of a soul she could call her own. As always, the lamestreamers miss the ringing point, and with locked jaws they return to the insultingly stupid 'icon' and 'legend' when last week words far more cruel and dismissive would have done. Tomorrow the fawning f*** flip back to their online s***posts and their cosy Cancer Culture and their moral superiority and their obituaries of parroted vomit … all of which will catch you lying on days like today … when Sinead doesn't need your sterile slop." —Morrissey
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"Sad to hear about Sińead O'Connor passing. Her story… if you don't know it? Take a minute. May she rest in peace." –Jeffrey Dean Morgan
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"Thank you for your talent and your voice. Rest well" —Viola Davis
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"Sinéad was an extraordinary talent. She could move us with a candour and a passion with which so many people connected. The path she chose was always difficult and uncompromising but at every turn she would show her spirit and her courage. I feel lucky to have had the chance to work with her." —Peter Gabriel
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"Such sad s***** news. Sing in Power forever Sinead." —Diane Warren
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"The world has lost an artist with the voice of an Angel. Ireland has lost an iconic voice and one of our absolute finest, by a long shot. And 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" –Conor McGregor
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"Respect to Sinead….. She stood for something… Unlike most people…. Rest Easy.." –Ice T
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"just heartbroken 💔- rip u brave warrior woman – soar with ur son – #sineadoconner" –Rosie O'Donnell
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"The world really did a number on Sinead O'Oconnor. RIP Angel." —Lily Allen
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"Devastated to hear about Sinead. 'I love you Sinead but I question The Pope sometimes' You were the real deal. Up the Irish!" –Boy George
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"I hope there's peace for Sinéad at last" —Jason Isbell
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"So heartbreaking" –Jane Lynch
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"Burned her career and life to the ground with one of the most Christian, punk, AND moral actions all in the same, blazing moment. Nothing compares. #RIPSinead" –Patton Oswalt
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"I adored this woman from afar as a teenager. I will always admire her. I was lucky enough to hang out with her a few times in my twenties. On one occasion we all sang in the hills of Wicklow in Eire. I sang a Jane Siberry song and Sinead then asked/encouraged me to sing one of my own. Can you imagine the terror? The intimidation? The thrill?! She was so talented, so generous, humble, resilient, courageous and true. What a voice. What a force. My heart breaks. Rest in real peace Sinead." –Toni Collette
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"for all us street kids, for all us wildlings, when sinead got huge, it felt like one of us made it. It was incredible. im not trying to compare myself or anyone else to sinead, she is one of a kind, but thats what it felt like to me. like she was one of us. she was like billie holiday to me. All her pain, all her beauty, those incredible songs. she deserves sainthood." —Flea
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"Fiercely honest and sweet and funny, she was talented in ways I'm not sure she completely understood. But Sinead stands alone as a figure from our generation who was always true to the piercing voice within and without. And for that I will always admire and respect her. And never forget that she was once cancelled for an act of simple resistance. Her crime? Tearing up a photo." —Billy Corgan
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"Sinead was a force of nature. A brilliant songwriter and performer whose talent we will not see the like of again. Such passion, such intense presence and a beautiful soul, who battled her own personal demons courageously. Be at peace dear Sinead, you will forever be in our hearts." –Tori Amos
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"Sinead …
You bared your soul…
Shared your brilliance
Through exquisite artistry
Your incredible voice..
Fierce and fragile
Lioness and lamb
Sweet singing bird
Keenly tuned
Trembling..
Tip-toeing along the high wire
Or stamping the ground
Raw
Wounded
Fearless …" —Annie Lennox
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"The passing of Sinead O'Conner breaks my heart. She was very supportive of Public Enemy… and she was a legend that's gone too soon. My condolences to her son and family." –Flavor Flav
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"Sad to hear of the passing of sister Shuhada Sadaqat, also known as Sinéad O'Connor. She was a tender soul, may God, Most Merciful, grant her everlasting peace. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon – Verily we belong to God, and verily to Him do we return. 2:156" —Cat Stevens
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"I loved working with you making photos, doing gigs in Ireland together and chats, all my love to your family." —Bryan Adams
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"Every time I step into a recording booth, Sinead is in my heart. The amount of times I thought to myself 'how can I conjure up a performance like Nothing Compares to you' or 'how can I write a song like that.' I can't tell you how many times I've referenced her in the studio. She wore her heart on her sleeve, powerful, yet vulnerable, striking yet so relatable. Her voice pierced through my heart and she stood in her truth. As artists we are influenced by those who came before us and we carry one another in our art, we become a part of each other. I'm heartbroken for the family & send loving prayers x" —Leona Lewis
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"Heartbreaking man. One of the nicest humans. Damn man. This is devastating. #SineadOconnor" —Questlove
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"I saw Sinéad live many times. First time when I was 12. With my sister, with my mom. My wife and I listened to her all the time. My son Henry listened to her & I think about him when I listen to her now. I was so sad when her son died. I love her she is my hero in art & honesty." –Rob Delaney
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"This is just unbelievably sad. What more can be said? She was an amazing talent. Her music will live on. RIP Sinead." —Paul Feig
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"I interviewed Sinéad O'Connor more than 20 years ago and the conversation was illuminating and i will always remember it and her. May her memory be a blessing" —Jake Tapper
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"A chill ran through my body reading that Sinead O'Conner has passed away. She dealt with a lot. I don't know why but I always felt a strong connection to her. Very, very sad." –WWE champion Sami Zayn
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"Heartbreaking news" –Matt Pinfield
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"Touch these eyes with a broken smile, Touch my mouth with your furrowed brow, Lift my heart, heal my shame , Lead me into rest again .. Heroine.. Rest In Peace Sinéad." —U2
