Sinead O’Connor, evocative and outspoken singer, is dead at 56

Sinéad O’Connor, the outspoken and fiery Irish singer of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” has died at the age of 56.

The news comes sadly after an announcement on Facebook earlier this month that she was finishing an album to be released next year. She also shared plans to tour in Australia and New Zealand in 2024, and in the United States and Europe in 2025.

The Dublin artist’s career began with the 1987 release of her debut album The Lion and the Cobra. O’Connor’s career rocketed when the release of her version of the Prince song “Nothing Compares 2 U” became a Number One hit. Her Celtic-tinged vocals, which were at once gritty and ethereal, became an enduring sound of the ’90s.

O’Connor went on to release 10 studio albums. Throughout her career, O’Connor has gained notoriety for her outspoken nature, political activism, transparency regarding her mental health, and involvement in several controversies. Most famous of them, O’Connor’s “Saturday Night Live” performance where she ripped a picture of the Pope into pieces while singing Bob Marley’s “War” as a protest against sexual abuse within the church.

O’Connor’s provocative use of the limelight as well as her unconventional image challenged the culture of pop music and the expectations it places on its artists. Her vocals — haunting and evocative — will forever embody the turbulent life of the talented artist.

O’Connor is survived by her three children. Her son, Shane, died by suicide last year at age 17.

The Irish legendary singer was converted to Islam in the last years of her life.