Irish singer Sinead O’Connor has died aged 56, her family has confirmed.

The singer was best known for her 1990 song Nothing Compares 2 U – the track made her a global star, partly due to its iconic video.

A family statement said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinead.

“Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”

No cause of death was given.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar tweeted: “Her music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare.”

The singer was known for her outspoken views on subjects such as religion, war and feminism.

She infamously tore up a photo of the Pope on US show Saturday Night Live to protest against abuse in the Catholic Church.

O’Connor converted to Islam in 2018 and changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat, but still performed under her old name.

She cancelled gigs in 2021 after announcing she was entering a one-year programme for trauma and addiction.

In a series of tweets, she said she’d been through a “traumatic six years” but now “recovery starts”.

Her 17-year-old son Shane died after going missing in 2022, with O’Connor saying he had “decided to end his earthly struggle and is now with God”.

The singer recorded 10 studio albums but never topped the huge success of Nothing Compares 2 U.

The intense close-up of the shaven-headed singer – and her tear during the video – is instantly recognisable to a generation of music fans.

“Everyone wants a pop star, see?” she wrote in her 2021 memoir. “But I am a protest singer. I just had stuff to get off my chest. I had no desire for fame.”

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