Acclaimed Irish singer Sinead O’Connor has died, her family announced Wednesday. She was 56.
In a statement obtained by Ireland’s national television and radio broadcaster, RTE, and The Irish Times, O’Connor’s family confirmed her death.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad,” the statement read. “Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
The Irish Examiner reported that her cause of death was not immediately known.
Over the course of a decadeslong career, O’Connor released 10 studio albums, including her latest album, 2014′s “I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss,” according to the newspaper. She rose to international fame in 1990 with her song “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which was written by Prince, Reuters reported.
She was known for being outspoken about her views and famously ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II during a “Saturday Night Live” appearance in 1992.
Last year, O’Connor was admitted to a hospital following the death of her 17-year-old son, Shane O’Connor. She is survived by three other children, The Guardian reported.
NETHERLANDS – JANUARY 01: Photo of Sinead O’CONNOR (Photo by Michel Linssen/Redferns)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 07: Sinead O’Connor performs at August Hall on February 07, 2020 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – JANUARY 06: Actress Glenn Close (L) and recording artist Sinead O’Connor attend the "Albert Nobbs" soundtrack release party at Palihouse on January 6, 2012 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – DECEMBER 10: Sinead O’Connor performs her Christmas Show on stage at the Royal Festival Hall on December 10, 2013 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/Redferns via Getty Images)
STRADBALLY, IRELAND – AUGUST 31: Sinead O’Connor performs on stage at Electric Picnic at Stradbally Estate on August 31, 2014 in Stradbally, Ireland. (Photo by Carrie Davenport/Redferns via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 27: Sinead O’Connor and Debbie Harry attends the amfAR Inspiration Gala at Chateau Marmont on October 27, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – JULY 29: Sinead O’Connor seen arriving at the BBC Radio 1 Studios on July 29, 2014 in London, England. Photo by Alex Huckle/GC Images)
Sinead O’Connor and Craig Ferguson (Photo by Jesse Grant/WireImage)
UNIVERSAL CITY,CA – SEPTEMBER 6: Musician Sinead O’Connor attends the Seventh Annual MTV Video Music Awards on September 6, 1990 at Universal Amphitheater in Universal City, California. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
View of broadcaster Gay Byrne and musician Sinead O’Connor on the final episode of the Late Late Show, May 21, 1999. (Part of the Independent Newspapers Ireland/NLI Collection) (Photo by David Conachy/Independent News and Media/Getty Images)
UNITED KINGDOM – JULY 06: T IN THE PARK Photo of Sinead O’CONNOR, posed, backstage (Photo by Ross Gilmore/Redferns)
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 13: Sinead O’Connor performs on stage at Barbican Centre on April 13, 2015 in London, United Kingdom (Photo by Rob Ball/Redferns via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 11: Singer Sinead O’Connor performs during the UFC 189 event inside MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 11, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 19: Sinéad O’Connor performs at Hiroshima Mon Amour on January 19, 2020 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Roberto Finizio/Getty Images)
NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT – SEPTEMBER 06: Sinéad O’Connor performs at Day 2 of Bestival at Robin Hill Country Park on September 6, 2013 in Newport, Isle of Wight (Photo by Caitlin Mogridge/Getty Images)
Glastonbury Festival, Britain – 1995, Sinead O’Connor (Photo by Brian Rasic/Getty Images)
Irish Pop and Rock musician Sinead O’Connor (left) and American Blues musician Buddy Guy perform onstage together at Buddy Guy’s Legends nightclub, Chicago, Illinois, January 22, 2016. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
Sinead O’Connor performs live at Campus Industry Music in Parma, Italy, on January 18 2020. (Photo by Mairo Cinquetti/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – FEBRUARY 01: Singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor performs on stage at Vogue Theatre on February 01, 2020 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 27: Sinead O’Connor performs at City Winery on October 27, 2014 in New York, New York. (Photo by Al Pereira/WireImage)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JULY 01: Sinead O’Connor performs at Manchester International Festival at Pavilion Theatre on July 1, 2011 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage)
Irish singer Sinead O’Connor at Lourdes in France where she was ordained as a Priest in the Latin Tridentine Church and adopted the name Mother Bernadette Mary O’Connor. (Photo by Michael Crabtree – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)
Sinead O’Connor au Montreux Jazz Festival le 4 juillet 2015, Montreux, Suisse. (Photo by Lionel FLUSIN/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Sinead O’Connor during Sinead O’Connor Sighting in Dublin Ireland – November 8, 2006 at Sugar Club in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Phillip Massey/FilmMagic)
