Irish singer and songwriter Sinéad O’Connor has a nun to thank for her music career. She was arrested for shoplifting and sent to a Magdalene Asylum. Although she described it as a “prison,” it was while she was there that a nun gave her a guitar and music lessons. That was the beginning of a long and successful career.

O’Conner may be best known for her song “Nothing Compares 2 U” which was written by Prince. It made her famous around the world, but fame was not her goal. The songs she wrote expressed her feelings about bigger issues in the world, which were more important to her than what anyone thought of her.

Now, O’Conner’s family is announcing the sad news that the great Irish singer has died at the age of 56. They did not share a cause of death, but they described themselves as “devastated” by her death.

Irish President Michael D Higgins shared, “What Ireland has lost at such a relatively young age is one of our greatest and most gifted composers, songwriters and performers of recent decades, one who had a unique talent and extraordinary connection with her audience, all of whom held such love and warmth for her.”

Besides her music, O’Conner was also known for ripping up a picture of the Pope on “Saturday Night Live.” Her action got her banned from NBC and caused former fans to destroy her albums in New York’s Times Square. Even still, O’Conner told The New York Times in 2021, “I’m not sorry I did it. It was brilliant.” She ripped up the picture in protest of the child abuse in the Catholic Church.

O’Conner had four children but is only survived by three of her children, Jake, Roisin and Yeshua. Her son Shane committed suicide in 2022. He was only 17 years old.

Learn more about O’Conner’s life and unexpected death in the video below.

Rest in peace.