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Sinead O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor through the years
USA TODAY
July 26, 2023, 2:10 p.m. ET
Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O'Connor, seen here at the 215 Budapest Spring Festival, announced Oct. 19, 2018, that she has converted to Islam. Click forward for a look back at her life and career.
Balazs Mohai, AP
Sinead O'Connor performs live for fans at Sydney Opera House on March 19, 2015 in Sydney, Australia.
Don Arnold, WireImage
Sinead O'Connor performs during the 49th Montreux Jazz Festival, in Montreux, Switzerland, July 4, 2015.
Jean-Christophe Bott, EPASinead O'Connor performs at the Highline Ballroom on Feb. 23, 2012, in New York.
Jason Kempin, Getty ImagesSinead O'Connor performs at 'Here But I'm Gone: A 70th Birthday Tribute to Curtis Mayfield' concert at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on July 20, 2012, in New York.
Mike Coppola, Getty ImagesSinead O'Connor tears up a photo of Pope John Paul II on Oct. 5,1992, during a live appearance in New York on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," in this frame grab. The incident took place after a song about racism, class differences, child abuse and other topics.
NBC Via APSingers Sinead O'Connor, left, and Deborah Harry attend amfAR's Inspiration Gala on Oct. 27, 2011 in Los Angeles.
Frazer Harrison, Getty ImagesSean Penn, left, Sinead O'Connor and guest attend the amfAR Inspiration Gala.
John Sciulli, Getty Images For Reca GroupSinead O'Connor and Glenn Close attend the after party for the screening of 'Albert Nobbs' at the Armani Ristorante on Dec. 13, 2011 in New York.
Stephen Lovekin, Getty ImagesSinead O'Connor's looks change often. She sings during a dress rehearsal for 'Seven Songs to Leave Behind' the Melbourne Festival finale concert at Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Oct. 22, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.
Graham Denholm, Getty ImagesOn March 15, 2008 Sinead O'Connor performs during the West Coast Blues n Roots Festival in Esplanade Park in Perth, Australia.
Paul Kane, Getty ImagesSinead O'Connor performs during the 5th Jammy Awards, April 26, 2005 in New York. The awards honor improvisational musicians.
Daniel Pierce Wright, Getty Images
Sinead O'Connor performs at City Winery on October 27, 2014 in New York, New York.
Al Pereira, WireImage
Irish singer Sinead O'Connor performs on August 11, 2013 in Lorient, western of France during the Inter-Celtic Festival of Lorient.
Fred Tanneauy, AFP/Getty Images
Singer Sinead O'Connor and amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost arrive at The 2011 amfAR Inspiration Gala Los Angeles held at the Chateau Marmont on October 27, 2011.
Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images For AmfARIrish singer Sinead O'Connor performs during the Leverkusen Jazz-days, 09 November 2007 in the western town of Leverkusen.
AFP, AFP/Getty Images
Sinead O'Connor, recording artist.
Donal Moloney
Sinead O'Connor is releasing her first new album in six years --- DATE TAKEN: 6/2/2000 By Peter Freed USAT New York NY UNL - Unlimited reuse ORG XMIT: PX23690
PETER FREED![Sinead O'Connor, recording artist. HANDOUT Photo by Donal Moloney [Via MerlinFTP Drop]](/gcdn/-mm-/454a3dda63c717007b9ececdc04a358b8f8ffd39/c=0-565-3825-5665/local/-/media/2016/05/16/USATODAY/USATODAY/635989997723918404-XXX-6.-Donal-Moloney6766.jpg?width=496&height=660&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Sinead O'Connor, recording artist. HANDOUT Photo by Donal Moloney [Via MerlinFTP Drop]
Donal Moloney
Sinead O'Connor is shown in this April 10, 1999, file photo. The singer was ordained as the first woman priest in the Latin Tridentine Church, a Roman Catholic splinter group, by Bishop Michael Cox, who pioneered a phone-in confession service in Ireland. O'Connor said she had already celebrated Mass four times but will study with Cox for six weeks before starting her priestly career as Mother Bernadette Mary, a name she also plans to use in her music career.
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