Mariah Carey recently announced that her mother Patricia and sister Alison both died on the same day. “I am grateful for everyone’s love, support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time,” Carey said of her loyal and supportive fans.

In an exclusive statement to PEOPLEThe Grammy-winning singer said:

“I am heartbroken to have lost my mother this past weekend. Unfortunately, in a tragic turn of events, my sister also passed away on the same day.” She continued, “I feel blessed to have been able to spend the last week with my mother before she passed away.”

Further details, including the causes of Patricia and Alison’s deaths, are currently unknown. Although Carey’s relationship with her mother has been strained over time due to her turbulent childhood and upbringing, she credits her with giving her vocal talents and decided to dedicate part of her 2020 memoir to her. The meaning of Mariah Careyto her.

“And to Pat, my mother, who despite everything I think did the best she could,” she wrote. “I will always love you as much as I can.”

“Like many aspects of my life, my journey with my mother has been full of contradictions and competing realities. It was never just black and white – it was a whole rainbow of emotions. Our relationship is a barbed rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration and disappointment,” Carey continued in the book. “A complicated love connects my heart to my mother’s.”

The star also had a complicated relationship with her older sister Alison and brother Morgan, but unfortunately things couldn’t be patched up before her sister’s death. We’re praying for Carey and her family during this difficult time.