Mariah Carey is grieving following the death of her mother Patricia Carey and her sister Alison on the same day.
On Monday the 55-year-old shared the heartbreaking news with her fans, noting that she felt ‘blessed’ that she was able to spend the last week with her mom before she passed away.
Mariah had previously revealed her dynamic with her mother was complex.
She described their relationship as a ‘prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration, and disappointment’ in her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey.
Even with their rocky relationship, Mariah and her mom maintained their bond.
The Emotions hitmaker dedicated part of her memoir to Patricia, saying her mom did the best she could and that she’d always love her.
Mariah Carey’s relationship with her mom, Patricia Carey, was complicated; pictured in February
Even with their rocky relationship, Mariah and her mom maintained their bond; pictured in 2015
Patricia, who is also mom to Mariah and Alison’s brother Carey, was an opera singer.
In 2009, the pop star told CBS Sunday Morning that her mom was the first person to inspire her.
‘My mother was definitely the first person who inspired me. She was an opera singer. She still sings,’ she noted at the time.
When asked by journalist Troy Roberts how she became aware of her musical talent, she answered: ‘Well, my mother tells a story. She said that she was doing Rigoletto, and she kept rehearsing one part over and over and over.
‘And then, she messed up. And I said, “No, it goes like this,” and sang it to her.’
Following her family members’ deaths, the record-breaking music artist said in a 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. I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed.’
The statement ended, ‘I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time.’
In her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, the 55-year-old singer described her connection with her mom as a ‘prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration, and disappointment’
Patricia was an opera singer who sometimes performed with her world-famous daughter; pictured in 2010
Four years ago Mariah Carey reflected on being raised by Patricia, writing in her book that their tethering ‘has caused me so much pain and confusion.’
She explained, ‘For my sanity and peace of mind, my therapist encouraged me to literally rename and reframe my family.
‘My mother became Pat to me, Morgan my ex-brother and Alison my ex-sister. I had to stop expecting them to one day miraculously become the mommy, big brother and big sister I fantasized about.’
Mariah was born in Huntington, New York to a white mom and an Afro-Venezuelan father, Alfred, who was an aeronautical engineer.
Her parents’ interracial marriage upset her mother’s side of the family and they later divorced.
They were married from 1960-1973.
Mariah pictured with her mother and daughter Monroe
Following her family member’s death, the record-breaking music artist said in a statement: ‘My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend’
Mariah, now a mother-of-two herself, recalled her mother’s jealousy toward her when she was a teenager.
‘Having people you love be jealous of you professionally comes with the territory of success, but when the person is your mother and the jealousy is revealed at such a tender age, it’s particularly painful,’ she described.
She had previously recounted an anecdote from age 14 in which Patricia seethingly said, ‘You should only hope that one day you become half the singer I am.’
The Butterfly artist wrote in her book’s dedication: ‘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.’