Sinead O'Connor—the Irish singer and activist who scored a global smash with a cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U" in 1990 and who was banned from Saturday Night Live for tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II during her performance two years later—has died at 56, Deadline reported.

"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad," a statement from her family read. "Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."

O'Connor was hospitalized in January 2022 after posting tweets in the wake of the suicide of her teenage son, Shane, that month. On July 17, 2023, she tweeted, "#lostmy17yrOldSonToSuicidein2022. Been living as undead night creature since. He was the love of my life, the lamp of my soul. We were one soul in two halves. He was the only person who ever loved me unconditionally. I am lost in the bardo without him."

O'Connor is the subject of Nothing Compares, a feature documentary that had its world premiere at Sundance in 2022 and later aired on Showtime. Dey Street Books published O'Connor's autobiography, Rememberings, in 2021.

In 2014, PinkNews noted that O'Connor revealed that she was now looking to date women—because it "ain't really working out" with men. She came out in 2000, saying "I actually am a dyke" before commenting a year later, "It was overcompensating of me to declare myself a lesbian." O'Connor had four children, and was married and divorced four times.

Also see Sinead O'Connor takes us to 'Church' at Website Link Here .

—Andrew Davis