Mariah Carey shared devastating news with the world, revealing today, Aug. 26, that her mother and sister passed away on the same day over the weekend. No exact day or further details have been confirmed or released.
“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,” she reportedly said in a press statement to PEOPLE.
She continued: “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.”
Currently, there are no further details of when both occurrences took place or the causes of either death. Carey’s mother, Patricia, was married to the late Alfred Roy Carey. They had three children: Alison, Mariah, and Morgan.
Per People, Carey has described her relationship with her mother as a “prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration, and disappointment,” a description echoed in her 2020 memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey. Carey’s relationship with Alison was also complicated, as she sued the singer back in 2021 for “emotional distress.”
After the news broke earlier today (Aug. 26), fans have been giving their condolences to their idol via her latest Instagram post’s comments. A social media user, sephyrpatriq, wrote: “Mariah coming by to send big hugs your way during this tragic time. You are in my heart .” Another fan, fitnessandinhealth_, wrote: “Mariah I’m heartbroken for your loss. As someone who lost her mom recently, I use your music to help cope. Still, I miss her everyday. Praying and sending so much love your way.”
The tragic news comes after the “Shake It Off” singer revealed her most extensive holiday tour yet. Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time Tour is still scheduled to kick off at the Yaamava Theater in Highland, CA, on Nov. 6.