London’s Southwark Coroners Court announced on Tuesday (Jan. 9) that beloved “Nothing Compares 2 U” singer Sinéad O’Connor died of natural causes. The Hollywood Reporter reported that the coroner’s office revealed in a statement, “This is to confirm that Ms. O’Connor died of natural causes. The coroner has therefore ceased their involvement in her death. No further comments will be made.”
O’Connor, 56, died in her London home on July 26, where authorities said she was found “unresponsive.” The next day the police announced that they were not treating the singer’s passing as suspicious and had handed the investigation over to the coroner’s office to determine the cause of death.
O’Connor’s family released a statement at the time, which read: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
O’Connor released her debut album, the bracing, Grammy-nominated, The Lion and the Cobra, in 1987, featuring the alt radio hits “Mandinka” and “I Want Your (Hands On Me),” followed by her breakthrough 1990 masterpiece, the Grammy-winning I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got. The sophomore effort featured her global breakthrough hit, the No. 1 Prince-written smash “Nothing Compares 2 U,” as well as such enduring favorites as “The Emperor’s New Clothes” and the hypnotic “I Am Stretched on Your Grave.”
An all-star group of artists will pay tribute to O’Connor (and fellow late Irish punk bard Pogues singer Shane MacGowan) at a March 20 show at Carnegie Hall in New York. The show will feature sets from Cat Power, Glen Hansard, Dropkick Murphys, The Mountain Goats, Amanda Palmer and David Gray, among others.
