Grammy award winning singer and actress Mariah Carey took to social media to release a devastating announcement. She informed fans that her mother Patricia 87, and sister Alison 63, both passed away on Saturday, August 24.
Carey’s mother moved into an assisted living care facility in Florida several years ago. Though Carey reportedly made claims in her memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey,” that her mother neglected her as a child, she still maintained communications with her mother. In an interview with NPR in 2006, Carey stated, “I think that my tolerance level for dysfunction is so high, because I grew up in a very dysfunctional environment.” In 2010, throughout their differences, Carey and her mother, who is a retired opera singer and Julliard School of Music grad, united to record a Christmas medley together, O Come All Ye Faithful.
Mariah Carey’s sister Alison resided in New York. Their are reports that Carey and her older sister were estranged and had not spoken for decades. Alison’s troubled past of drug addition is said to be part of the reason for the sibling divide according to Carey. A close friend of Alison’s, David Baker, told the US Sun that Carey knew her sister was dying but made no attempts to reach out to her sibling and make amends. Baker also stated, “The callous rejection added more hurt to Alison’s pain.”
No further details were available about the cause of death regarding Carey’s mother, Patricia. Alison was in hospice care and passed away at her home, per her request.
Mariah released a followup statement about the loss, “I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed,” Carey said. “I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time.”
