Singer Sinéad O'Connor, known for her fierce and expressive voice, has died aged 56

Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor, known for the worldwide hit song Nothing Compares 2 U written by Prince, has passed away aged 56

Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor, known for hits like 'Nothing Compares 2 U' and her outspoken dedication to various social issues, has died. She was 56. The gifted singer became a superstar in her mid-20s but was known as much for her private struggles and provocative actions as for her fierce and expressive music.

 "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad," her family confirmed in a statement to the BBC and RTE. "Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."

The singer's death was first reported by The Irish Times.

The singer is survived by three children. Her son Shane passed away last year at the age of 17. In her final social media post, Sinead tweeted a picture of her late son and wrote, "Been living as undead night creature since. He was the love of my life, the lamp of my soul."

Recognizable by her shaved head and elfin features, O’Connor began her career singing on the streets of Dublin and soon rose to international fame. She was a star from her 1987 debut album 'The Lion and the Cobra'.

O'Connor broke through in 1990 with her No. 1 hit 'Nothing Compares 2 U', a song written and composed by Prince. She became a sensation with her cover of Prince’s ballad, a seething, shattering performance that topped charts from Europe to Australia and was heightened by a promotional video featuring the gray-eyed O’Connor in intense close-up.

She was a lifelong non-conformist. She said that she shaved her head in response to record executives pressuring her to be conventionally glamorous.

Though 'Nothing Compares 2 U' was nominated for four Grammy Awards in 1991, she boycotted that year's ceremony, writing in an open letter that the Academy "acknowledge[s] mostly the commercial side of art."

O’Connor made headlines in October 1992 when she tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II while appearing live on NBC's Saturday Night Live and denounced the church as the enemy. The following week, Joe Pesci hosted Saturday Night Live, held up a repaired photo of the Pope and said that if he had been on the show with O’Connor "he would have gave her such a smack." 

Prior to her death, she'd released 10 albums, most recently 2014's I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss.

O’Connor announced in 2018 that she had converted to Islam and would be adopting the name Shuhada’ Davitt - although she continued to use Sinéad O’Connor professionally.

(With inputs from agencies)

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