Mariah Carey’s Mother and Sister Pass Away on the Same Day

Mariah Carey is mourning the loss of her mother, Patricia, and her sister, Alison, who both passed away on the same day over the weekend. The news was confirmed by PEOPLE, with Mariah sharing her thoughts in an exclusive statement.

“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,” the singer shared. Mariah also expressed her gratitude for being able to spend time with her mom before her passing. “I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time.”

At this time, no further details have been released regarding the causes of Patricia and Alison’s deaths.

Patricia Carey, a Juilliard-trained opera singer and vocal coach, was a major influence in Mariah’s life. Patricia was previously married to Alfred Roy Carey, and together they had three children: Alison, Mariah, and their brother, Morgan. The couple divorced when Mariah was three years old. Over the years, Mariah has spoken about the complicated relationship she had with her mother, which she detailed in her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey.

“Like many aspects of my life, my journey with my mother has been full of contradictions and competing realities. It’s never been only black-and-white — it’s been a whole rainbow of emotions,” Mariah wrote, highlighting the challenges they faced together. Despite these complexities, Mariah and her mother remained connected, even performing a duet of “O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus” on Mariah’s 2010 ABC special Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You. In her memoir, Mariah acknowledged her mother’s efforts, saying, “And to Pat, my mother, who, through it all, I do believe actually did the best she could. I will love you the best I can, always.”

Mariah’s relationship with her sister Alison was also marked by difficulties. In her memoir, Mariah noted that it was once “emotionally and physically safer for me not to have any contact” with Alison or their brother Morgan.