Sinéad O'Connor
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Shuhada' Sadaqat (born Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor; shin-AYD, Irish Gaelic: [ˈʃɪnʲed̪ˠ]; 8 December 1966 – 26 July 2023) was an Irish singer-songwriter, record producer and activist. During her musical career, which encompassed several hit records and artist collaborations, O'Connor drew attention to issues such as child abuse, human rights, racism, and women's rights. She was also known for her outspoken public image, openly discussing her spiritual journey, activism, socio-political viewpoints, and her experiences with trauma and struggles with mental health. O'Connor's debut studio album, The Lion and the Cobra, was released in 1987 and achieved international chart success. Her 1990 album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, was her biggest commercial success, selling over seven million copies worldwide. Its lead single, "Nothing Compares 2 U", became her signature song and was named the top world single of the year at the Billboard Music Awards. During a Saturday Night Live performance in 1992, nearly a decade before the world became fully aware of the prolific sexual abuse of children in the Catholic Church, O'Connor tore up a photograph of Pope John Paul II to protest against the abuse, sparking controversy. O'Connor's next albums Am I Not Your Girl? (1992) and Universal Mother (1994) were both certified gold in the UK,while Faith and Courage (2000) was certified gold in Australia, and Throw Down Your Arms (2005) was certified gold in Ireland. Having converted to Islam in 2018, she adopted the name Shuhada' Sadaqat while continuing to perform and record under her birth name. Her memoir, Rememberings, was released in 2021 and became a bestseller. In 2024, O'Connor was posthumously nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.