Mariah Carey suffers tragic double loss as both mother and sister die on the same day

Mariah Carey is mourning the sudden and tragic loss of her mother and sister, who both died on the same day over the weekend.

The songstress and iconic voice behind 'All I Want for Christmas Is You', confirmed the terrible news on Monday, sharing that her mother Patricia and her sister Alison passed away on the same day over the weekend. A visibly distraught Mariah Carey, 55, shared with People magazine: "My heart is broken that I've lost my mother this past weekend." She added: "Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day."

Looking back at the days before the tragedy struck, Mariah said: "I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mum before she passed."

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Mariah expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support and called for respect for her family's privacy, stating: "I appreciate everyone's love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time."

While the Carey family respects their need for privacy, details regarding the cause of death for Patricia and Alison have not been made public. Patricia, known for her impressive skills as an opera singer and vocal coach, together with Alfred Roy Carey, raised Alison, Mariah, and Morgan in the limelight of music and celebrity.

After her split from Alfred Roy Carey in 1973, Patricia Hickey resumed her music career before deciding to have children. Meanwhile, her daughter Alison has endured numerous hardships, including periods of homelessness, and has remained distant from her sister Mariah, an international superstar, for many years.

Mariah Carey has candidly discussed her complicated relationship with her mother in various interviews and attributed her extraordinary voice to her mum's influence. In her tell-all memoir 'The Meaning of Mariah Carey', the singer delves deep into their dynamic, revealing: "Like many aspects of my life, my journey with my mother has been full of contradictions and competing realities."

She further delves into this relationship within the pages of the book, writing: "It's never been only black-and-white - it's been a whole rainbow of emotions. Our relationship is a prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration and disappointment," uncovering layers of complex emotions. A complicated love tethers my heart to my mother's."

In spite of the emotional torrents with her mum, Mariah has kept the familial ties intact. A heartfelt instance on ABCs Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You, special back in 2010 showed them coming together as they performed 'O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus'.

Mariah dedicated touching words to her mom in her autobiography writing: "And to Pat, my mother, who, through it all, I do believe actually did the best she could." She added: "I will love you the best I can, always."

Mariah has opened up about the challenging relationship with her sister Alison, admitting in her memoir that she had to cut ties for her own well-being. She explained it was "emotionally and physically safer for me not to have any contact".

The globally celebrated singer, known for her iconic Christmas hit and as a mother to twins Morocco and Monroe with former partner Nick Cannon, has previously discussed the "dysfunction" of her family Christmases growing up. The undisputed queen of festive tunes reflected on her complex feelings towards the holiday season in 2021.

Despite the phenomenal three-decade success of 'All I Want For Christmas Is You', Mariah Carey's memories of past Christmases are tinged with sadness. In an intimate discussion, the 55 year old star delved into her personal history and the struggles she encountered in her early years.

Recalling a moment from 2021, she said: "I always wanted Christmas to be perfect and I always looked forward to the holidays, but I had this incredibly dysfunctional family that would ruin it every year." She recounted sombre recollections of receiving nothing but fruit wrapped as gifts and made a vow to herself: "I was like, 'When I grow up, I am never going to let that happen. I am going to make Christmas perfect every year'."