It has been reported that Sinéad O’Connor gave her children specific instructions for what to do should she die suddenly.
Speaking to PEOPLE magazine back in 2021, O’Connor explained the realities of being an entertainer.
"See, when the artists are dead, they're much more valuable than when they're alive," she told the outlet. "Tupac has released way more albums since he died than he ever did alive, so it's kind of gross what record companies do."
She continued: "I’ve always instructed my children since they were very small, 'If your mother drops dead tomorrow before you called 911, call my accountant and make sure the record companies don’t start releasing my records and not telling you where the money is.'"
When recalling a time when she witnessed this with her long-time friend Prince following his death in 2016, she said that she was not impressed with the way record labels had profited off of his music.
"One of the things that's a great bugbear with me, I get very angry when I think of it, is the fact that they're raping his vault," she said. "All musicians, we have songs that we really are embarrassed about that are crap. We don't want anyone hearing them. Now this is a man who released every song he ever recorded, so if he went to the trouble of building a vault, which is a pretty strong thing to do, that means he really did not want these songs released.
"And I can't stand that people are, as I put it, raping the vault," the 'All Apologies' singer added at the time.
The news comes shortly after the 56-year-old was found dead in her home in London on Wednesday (July 26).
As per a heartbreaking statement released by Irish broadcaster RTE on behalf of the star's family, they said they were "devastated" upon finding out the news.
"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," it read.
After the news became public, the authorities issued a statement on Thursday (July 27), which gave further details on the matter.
"Police were called at 11:18 hrs on Wednesday, 26 July to reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential address in the SE24 area," they said. "Officers attended. A 56-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin have been notified. The death is not being treated as suspicious. A file will be prepared for the Coroner."
No medical cause has been given in the death of O'Connor and an autopsy will be carried out, London Inner South Coroner’s Court has said, as reported by The Mirror.
O'Connor is survived by her three children Jake, Roisin, and Yeshua.
Her other son, Shane passed away aged 17 away after tragically taking his own life.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.