Mariah Carey: Mother and sister die on the same day

It's hard to imagine what's going on with global superstar Mariah Carey (55) right now. The musician has now confirmed that she suffered an incredible loss over the weekend: her mother Patricia Hickey Carey (†87) and sister Allison Carey (†63) died on the same day.

Mariah Carey lost her mother and sister on the same day.

“My heart is broken over the loss of my mother last weekend. Unfortunately, in a tragic twist of fate, my sister also lost her life that same day,” the singer said in a statement to People.com. “I feel blessed to have spent time with my mother last week before her passing.” She appreciates the love and support she is currently receiving and is asking for privacy “during this impossible time.” The cause of Patricia and Allison’s deaths is currently unknown.

Mariah Carey had a complicated relationship with her mother and sister.

Throughout her life, she had a somewhat complicated relationship with her mother, a respected opera singer. Patricia was married to Alfred Roy Carey, the father of Maria, Allison and her brother Morgan, from 1960 to 1973, but divorced him when her famous daughter was just three years old. Her relationship with her mother was “full of opposites and conflicting truths,” Maria once wrote in her memoir, which she partly dedicated to Patricia. “It was never black and white, but a rainbow of emotions.” She went on to describe the connection as “a thorny cord of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration and disappointment. A complicated love that bound my heart to my mother’s.” Still, the women never lost touch, and were occasionally seen together.

Communicating with Sister Allison wasn't easy either. The musician cut off contact temporarily because it was “emotionally and physically safer” for her.