Mariah Carey breaks silence after double family tragedy

Music star Mariah Carey has posted a heartbreaking message after the shock deaths of her mother and sister on the same day.

Mariah Carey has broken her silence after the tragic deaths of her mother and sister, thanking fans for their support after the double family tragedy.

The music superstar shared a video on Instagram stating that she was “back at work” ahead of her shows in China and Brazil after losing her mother, Patricia Carey, and her estranged sister, Alison, on the same day last month.

“It’s been a couple of rough weeks, but I appreciate everyone’s love and support so much,” Mariah captioned the video.

“I can’t wait to see my fans in China & Brazil. Love you!”

Mariah Carey addressed the tragic deaths of her mother and sister in an Instagram post. Picture: Instagram/@mariahcarey

The star posted a video of herself rehearsing for her upcoming shows. Picture: Instagram/@mariahcarey

In the clip, Mariah, 55, performed a stripped-down rendition of her 2005 track It’s Like That, accompanied by her pianist, before telling fans, “We’ll see you soon.”

Patricia, 87, and her daughter, Alison, 63, tragically died within hours of each other on August 27.

Mariah previously confirmed their tragic deaths in a heartbreaking statement to People, calling it an “impossible time”.

Mariah Carey with her daughter and mother Patricia. Picture: mariahcarey/Instagram

“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 Grammy-winning singer wrote in her statement.

“I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed. I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time.”

The singer will soon perform in China and Brazil. Picture: Instagram/@mariahcarey

Mariah Carey has suffered unimaginable tragedy. Picture: Instagram/@mariahcarey

Mariah was estranged from her sister, who long struggled with drug abuse, and her mother for many years, but appears to have reconciled with Patricia before her death.

In her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, she wrote about her difficult relationship with the Juilliard-trained opera singer and vocal coach.

“Like many aspects of my life, my journey with my mother has been full of contradictions and competing realities,” she wrote in her book.

“It’s never been only black-and-white – it’s been a whole rainbow of emotions.”

Alison later sued her famous sister over abuse claims made in the explosive memoir.

Patricia was married to Mariah’s father, the late Alfred Roy Carey, an Afro-Venezuelan aeronautical engineer, before they divorced when the singer aged just three.

MARIAH ‘CUT OFF CONTACT WITH SISTER’

While Mariah said she was “heartbroken” by the news, Alison’s longtime friend and carer David Baker has alleged she never made any effort to reach out to her sister, even in her dying days.

Mariah Carey has written about her family issues. Picture: AFP

He said Alison spoke often in her last days about being abandoned by Mariah – even asking whether she’d attend her funeral.

“Alison was unhappy that her ‘baby sister’ had cut off contact with her,” Baker told The Sun.

“She talked about it frequently. She wondered if Mariah or any of her relatives would come to her funeral.

“I am told that a memorial service is planned for a future date, but nothing now.”

“Mariah has never tried to contact Alison, even after she was told a month ago that Alison was dying,” Baker said.

“A phone call or, better still, a video call would have meant so much to Alison. But it never came.

Mariah with mother Patricia Hickey. Picture: Buckner/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images

Mariah’s estranged sister Alison.

“And now Mariah is ‘heartbroken’ by the loss of her mother and her ‘ex’ sister.

“That callous rejection added more hurt to Alison’s pain.”

Baker said he was one of Alison’s only friends over the past nine years and tried to support her as she dealt with drug addiction, homelessness, and health issues, including being HIV positive.

Baker also revealed that Alison went into hospice care three weeks before she died, a close friend has disclosed.

“Alison was on home hospice care for the last three weeks of her life,” he told the US Sun.

Mariah said she had spent time with her mother before her death but it appears she had never reconciled with her sister, who was a recovering drug addict. Alison was also diagnosed with HIV in 1990.

The cause of the deaths was not made public.

Mariah Carey was estranged from her sister. Picture: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for Mariah Carey

Baker said she had a problem with her internal organs and was struggling with her health in recent weeks.

“Beneath a tough exterior, Alison was a highly intelligent, warm, and sensitive person,” Baker said in a touching tribute.

“I have known her for nine years, and as her friend, and in recent months her care, I will miss her greatly.”

In a separate interview with The Times Union, he said: “We knew it was coming. There were signs that she couldn’t go any further.”

Originally published as Mariah Carey breaks silence after double family tragedy