- Mariah Carey recently faced a heartbreaking loss, as both her mother and sister passed away on the same day.
- The singer had a complex relationship with her mother, Patricia, and sister, Alison, which was marked by deep emotional scars.
- While Mariah hadn’t talked to Alison in the years leading to her demise, the days leading up to her mother’s death brought a bittersweet closure to her and Patricia’s turbulent bond.
For much of her life, Mariah Carey’s relationship with her sister, Alison Carey, was complicated. The sisters had been estranged for years, with their bond fractured by past traumas and misunderstandings that neither could fully overcome.
In the days leading up to Alison’s passing, Mariah had not seen her sister for a long time. Yet, despite the physical distance, the emotional impact of her sister’s death was profound, leaving Mariah to grapple with the unresolved issues that had haunted their relationship.
Alison Carey, from a clip dated February 9, 2023 | Source: TikTok/@didyoucatchthis
Mariah and Alison: A Bond Broken by Trauma
The relationship between Mariah and her sister, Alison, was marked by deep wounds and unresolved pain. In her memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey,” Mariah spoke openly about the turbulent and often toxic dynamics that characterized their bond.
She referred to Alison as her “ex-sister,” a term that underscored the profound estrangement between them. This distance was not just physical but emotional, born out of a series of traumatic incidents that left Mariah scarred.
Alison, eight years older than Mariah, had lived a troubled life and made many poor choices. Mariah recounted in her memoir how Alison had repeatedly hurt her, both emotionally and physically, during their childhood and beyond.
One of the most harrowing memories Mariah shared was of a time when Alison was just 20 years old and Mariah was 12. She narrates how Alison left her in the company of a boyfriend who made inappropriate advances toward Mariah, who was just a child at the time.
This was just one of many incidents that led Mariah to create a permanent distance between herself and her sister. According to Mariah, she has made attempts to help her sister, including financing treatments and paying for stays in premium rehabs. Yet, their relationship remained strained.
Mariah Carey poses during a studio photo session | Source: Getty Images
The singer also recalls how Alison exposed her to drugs while she was just a child. Her sister even inflicted physical harm that left her with third-degree burns.
Mariah described how Alison “burned” her both literally and figuratively. “Alison has burned me in many ways and more times than I can count,” Mariah wrote, recounting repeated betrayals that shattered any hopes of reconciliation.
Mariah Carey in 1990 | Source: Getty Images
These experiences left Mariah with deep emotional wounds and a lasting sense of betrayal, leading her to distance herself from Alison to protect her own well-being.
The Lawsuit and Further Estrangement
The rift between the sisters deepened further in 2021 when Alison filed a lawsuit against her sister over the contents of “The Meaning of Mariah Carey.”
Alison Carey, from a video dated October 17, 2016 | Source: YouTube/@HVNNcom
In the memoir, Mariah recounts many traumatic events she experienced as a child, including the incidents involving Alison. Alison, in turn, accused Mariah of inflicting emotional distress and humiliation by publicly sharing these details.
Alison Carey, from a clip dated February 9, 2023 | Source: TikTok/@didyoucatchthis
The lawsuit was a clear indication of how fractured their relationship had become. Alison’s legal action sought $1.25 million in damages. Alison alleged that her younger sister’s decision to publicly share these personal details was “heartless” and “vindictive.”
Alison Carey as seen in a video dated March 31, 2016 | Source: YouTube/@InsideEdition
She argued that Mariah, fully aware of her vulnerabilities, had chosen to expose her cruelly and unnecessarily. In the lawsuit, she stated that the memoir humiliated her, particularly given the wide media coverage it received. Despite the legal battle, Mariah expressed some sympathy for her sister in her memoir.
She describes Alison as “deeply wounded” and “the most brilliant and broken person I have ever known.” However, these words of understanding did little to bridge the gap between them. The lawsuit seemed to cement the estrangement, leaving the sisters more distant than ever before.
Alison’s Final Days
As Alison’s health declined, it became clear that their estrangement would not be mended in time. Alison, who had struggled with various health issues over the years, spent her final days in hospice care.
Alison Carey as seen in a video dated March 31, 2016 | Source: YouTube/@InsideEdition
According to her friend and advocate, David Baker, Alison’s passing was anticipated due to the severe complications with her organ function. “We knew it was coming,” Baker shared.
Before her death, Alison, who reportedly hadn’t seen some her children in years, were able to spend time with them. “She was thrilled to see them,” Baker added.
Alison Carey, from a clip dated February 9, 2023 | Source: TikTok/@didyoucatchthis
Alison died at 63, surrounded by the complications of a life filled with hardship. While Mariah had not been physically present in her final days, the impact of her sister’s death was undeniable.
Alison Carey as seen in a video dated March 31, 2016 | Source: YouTube/@InsideEdition
In a statement to People magazine, Mariah expressed her sorrow over losing both her mother and sister on the same day. “My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend. In a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day,” she said.
Alison Carey, from a video dated August 27, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@enews
These words conveyed the depth of her grief, not just for the immediate loss, but for the years of unresolved pain that now would never be fully reconciled.
Mariah’s relationship with her mother was marked by many of the same challenges that plagued her connection with Alison. Fortunately, she had one final chance to spend time with Patricia before her death.
Mariah Carey’s mother, Patricia, from a video dated August 27, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@enews
The Bittersweet Closure
The deaths of Patricia and Alison on the same day were a significant moment in Mariah Carey’s life. For years, she had dealt with complicated relationships with her mother and sister, often from afar.
In her memoir, the singer opens up about the deep contradictions that characterized the bond between her and Patricia. She describes their relationship as a “rainbow of emotions,” an illustration of the mix of love, pain, and confusion that defined their interactions.
Mariah Carey’s mother, Patricia, from a video dated August 27, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@enews
While Patricia was the source of Mariah’s vocal talents, she was also at the center of many emotional wounds that Mariah carried throughout her life. She described their relationship as a “prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration, and disappointment.”
Mariah Carey’s mother, Patricia, from a video dated August 27, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@enews
One of the most challenging aspects of their relationship was Mariah’s struggle to establish boundaries. “Creating boundaries with the woman who gave birth to me is not easy; it is a work in progress,” she confessed in her memoir.
These boundaries were necessary for Mariah’s emotional well-being. However, they were difficult to enforce, given the deep connection and history between mother and daughter.
Mariah Carey sings a duet with her mother, Patricia, from a video dated August 27, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@enews
But amid this double tragedy, Mariah found a bittersweet closure, especially in the days leading up to her mother’s passing. Mariah had the chance to spend the last week of Patricia’s life by her side.
Mariah Carey with her daughter and mother Patricia Hickey, dated August 5, 2015 | Source: Getty Images
Mariah spoke of this final week with her mother as a blessing, despite the underlying pain. “I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed,” she revealed, highlighting the importance of those final moments.
In the aftermath of these losses, Mariah Carey is left to reflect on the complex family dynamics that have shaped her life. As she processes her grief, the memories of her mother and sister will undoubtedly continue to influence her, reminding her of both the love they shared and the pain that time couldn’t fully heal.
