JANUARY 01: Photo of Sinead O'CONNOR (Photo by Mick Hutson/Redferns)
The sudden passing of legendary Irish songstress Sinéad O’Connor last July shocked the music world. Although few at the time suspected the timing or cause of her death, a death certificate has now given some closure and context around the sad event.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its close cousin, severe asthma, were officially ruled as the lead players responsible for drawing the final curtain on O’Connor’s revolutionary career. With an accompanying respiratory infection lending a helping hand in expediting her decline, it was declared a natural death. That means their investigation was complete, verifying these natural causes at London’s Southwark Coroners Court.
On the heels of the raw, soulful 1990 cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” O’Connor simply stormed the world, moving on to different realms of fame and awards. In racking up Grammy nominations, she’s never been much for shying away from controversy, certainly standing by some fearless performances. Her unforgettable 1992 SNL stunt, ripping up an image of the Pope to protest the Catholic church’s inaction, was bold and got her permanently ousted from the long-running show. At the time, very polarizing, it’s something for which she gets credit, way ahead of her time, for speaking truth in the face of backlash.
In recent years, O’Connor had returned to her musical roots in London as she was working on one final album slated for 2024. Chronic illness had other plans and sadly snuffed out her light before the fanbase were given the chance to hear her final creative offerings. Upon news of her too-soon passing, celebrity tributes came from all corners of the globe in salute to her legacy of boundary-pushing and the indelible mark she had left on pop culture.
