In 1990, Sinéad O’Connor became an international sensation with her rendition of the Prince-penned ballad “Nothing Compares 2 U.” While her personal controversies sometimes overshadowed her considerable talent, O’Connor remained a powerful force until her death on July 26, 2023, at age 56. Even now, two years since her passing, her music still lives on.

Remembering Sinead O’Connor

Two years ago today, police found Sinead O’Connor unresponsive in her south London home. She was 56 years old.

Throughout her career, and particularly in the last few years of her life, O’Connor had spoken candidly about her own struggles with mental health. Her 17-year-old son, Shane, died by suicide 18 months before his mother’s passing, causing many to speculate that the Irish songstress’ mental health played a role in her death/

However, the Irish Independent reported last year that the “Mandinka” singer died from COPD — chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — exacerbated by bronchial asthma. Additionally, the GRAMMY winner had been suffering from a low-grade lower respiratory tract infection, which heightened her pre-existing conditions.

Earlier this week, Irish singer Imelda May paid tribute to her friend on Ireland AM. “Sinead was absolutely brilliant; she spoke the truth and she was brave as anyone I ever knew. She was one of the bravest women,” May said. “She took the grief that she got all the time and she was just full of love all the time and I really miss her, I’ll miss her forever.”

[RELATED: How Sinéad O’Connor and Willie Nelson Ended Up Duetting on the Peter Gabriel Classic “Don’t Give Up”]

She Had No Regrets

Certainly, Sinead O’Connor received her fair share of grief throughout her career. One notable controversy came in 1992, when she appeared as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live. After performing Bob Marley’s 1976 song “War,” O’Connor held a photograph of Pope John Paul II up to the camera and tore it into pieces.

“Fight the real enemy,” she said, tossing the pieces to the floor.

Nine years later, the same Pope would acknowledge ongoing child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. At the time, however, the gesture ignited a firestorm of backlash that culminated in O’Connor being met with a torrent of boos at Bob Dylan’s 30th anniversary tribute concert two weeks later.

Decades later, the “Drink Before the War” singer remained unapologetic. “A lot of people say or think that tearing up the pope’s photo derailed my career. That’s not how I feel about it,” O’Connor wrote in her 2021 memoir Rememberings. “I feel that having a number-one record derailed my career and my tearing the photo put me back on the right track.”

Featured image by Andrew Chin/Getty Images