

Sinéad O'Connor, Irish musician, has died at 56.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad," the singer's family said in a statement reported Wednesday by the BBC and RTE. "Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."
O'Connor gained fame in the 90's following the release of her hit song, "Nothing Compares 2 U." The song was named the number one world single in 1990 by the Billboard Music Awards, according to the Irish Times.
Shortly after, the singer-songwriter tore up a photo of the Pope on "Saturday Night Live."

Sinéad O'Connor has died at the age of 56. (Getty Images)
However, O'Connor saw the move as putting her career "on the right track."
"I feel that having a No. 1 record derailed my career," O'Connor wrote in her memoir, according to the New York Times, "and my tearing the photo put me back on the right track."
She wrote about her rise to fame, saying, "The media was making me out to be crazy because I wasn’t acting like a pop star was supposed to act," O'Connor told the outlet.
"It seems to me that being a pop star is almost like being in a type of prison. You have to be a good girl."

Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor photographed on July 18, 1990. (Getty Images)

Sinéad O'Connor was most known for her song "Nothing Compares 2 U." (Getty Images)
O'Connor is survived by three of her children. Her fourth child, Shane, was found dead in Ireland in January 2022 after the Irish singer-songwriter notified authorities that he had gone missing. Police said the missing person case was closed after a body was found in the eastern coastal town of Bray, about 12 miles south of Dublin.
"The very light of my life, decided to end his earthly struggle today and is now with God," O'Connor wrote on Twitter at the time. "May he rest in peace and may no one follow his example. My baby, I love you so much. Please be at peace."

Sinéad O'Connor also faced controversy after tearing up a photo of the Pope while appearing on an episode of "Saturday Night Live." (Getty Images)
The Associated Press contributed to this report.