Sinéad O’Connor has died at the age of 56, prompting grief and tributes for a singer who enchanted and at times shocked the world. O’Connor’s family issued a brief statement on Wednesday evening announcing the death of an artist and activist who remained in the spotlight – often against her wishes – after topping the charts in 1990 with the single Nothing Compares 2 U. She later became just as well known for her outspoken views. The Irish singer abjured conventional stardom for most of her career, and some never forgave her for ripping up a picture of the pope on American TV, but the Dubliner enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years

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