Trigger warning: article mentions death
Mariah Carey is heartbroken by the deaths of her mother Patricia and sister Alison, who died on the same day. In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, the Grammy-winning singer opens up about the tragic events that happened over the weekend. “I am heartbroken that I lost my mother this past weekend. Sadly, in an even more tragic turn of events, my sister also lost her life on the same day,” the statement reads.
However, she did not give any details about the reason and only expressed gratitude for being with her mother in her last moments. “I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time,” the statement said.
Patricia was a Juilliard-trained opera singer and vocal coach before marrying Alfred Roy Carey and welcoming daughters Alison, Mariah and son Morgan. The couple split when the It’s a Wrap singer was 3, who has admitted her relationship with her mother has always been complicated.
In her 2020 autobiography The Meaning of Mariah Carey, the singer wrote about her relationship with her mother, from whom she inherited her singing talent. “Like many aspects of my life, my journey with my mother has been full of contradictions and competing realities. It has never been simply black and white — it has been a whole rainbow of emotions,” she wrote.
Elaborating on their relationship, he revealed that they shared all kinds of emotions, including negative ones, but their complicated love kept his and Patricia’s hearts tied. Despite the ups and downs, the We Belong Together singer maintained their relationship until her mother’s death.
In 2010, the mother-daughter duo reunited for ABC’s Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You special and performed a duet of O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus. Mariah also dedicated her memoir to Patricia and penned a heartfelt message. “And Pat, my mom, who, despite it all, I believe truly did her best. I will always love you as much as I can,” she wrote.
