Renowned pop singer, Mariah Carey, recognized for her five-octave vocal range, has suffered a significant loss over the weekend of August 24, 2024. Both Patricia Carey, Carey’s mother, and Alison Carey, her sister, passed away on the same day, as confirmed in a statement to “People.”
In her statement, Carey, 55, said, “My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend. Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day. I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed. I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time.”
Patricia Carey, 87, was a trained opera singer and vocal coach at Juilliard, and her influence on Mariah Carey’s musical abilities is well-known. Alison Carey, 63, led a troubled life with substance abuse issues and a complex relationship with her famous sister.
Mariah Carey openly discussed her complex relationship with her mother in her 2020 memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey,” describing their relationship as “a prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration, and disappointment.” Despite the challenges, Carey dedicated a portion of her memoir to her mother, affirming that she did her best under the circumstances.
Relations between Mariah and Alison Carey were more fraught. Alison filed a $1.25 million lawsuit against Mariah in 2020, alleging defamation in the memoir, which further strained their relationship. The litigation was based on claims that Alison subjected Mariah to distressing experiences during their childhood. Alison struggled with health issues and personal trials in her later years.
Patricia Carey’s life was marked by differing phases. She was married to Alfred Roy Carey, and they had three children: Alison, Mariah, and Morgan. The couple divorced when Mariah was three years old. Patricia’s career as an opera singer was put on hold as she prioritized raising her children, but her influence on Mariah’s musical career is indisputable. The two even performed a festive mother-daughter duet during ABC’s “Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You” special in 2010.
Alison Carey’s life was fraught with challenges, including a brain injury from a home invasion in 2015, leading to short-term memory loss, homelessness, and continuous battles with substance use disorder. Prior to her death, Alison had been in hospice care in New York, visited by her children for the final time. “Despite everything, she was still my sister, and I wish things could have been different,” Mariah Carey said in an earlier interview about their relationship.
Mariah Carey’s sorrow is further magnified by the public visibility of her life, with her actions often under the scrutiny of fans and media. However, she is now seeking respect and privacy as she mourns the loss of two significant people in her life.