Alison Carey was the mother of four children: Michael and Shawn, along with two others whose names have not been publicly disclosed.
Alison Carey, born Alison Ann Carey Hickey, is the estranged elder sister of singer-songwriter and record producer Mariah Carey.
A series of challenging events and significant milestones marked her life. She was 8 years old when her sister Mariah was born and just 11 when her parents, Patricia and Alfred, divorced.
Alison Carey Children
Alison married Richard in 1976 when she was 15 years old and soon became pregnant, giving birth to her son Shawn on May 23, 1977.
Later, Alison married Dale in 1985 when she was around 23 or 24.
By age 25 or 26, she gave birth to her second child, Michael, in 1987.
In 1988, Alison received the devastating news that she had tested positive for HIV at the age of 27.
Her relationship with her family deteriorated over the years, leading to her estrangement.
According to the New York Post, Alison had two more children by 2002, a daughter and a son.
A Sour Relationship Between Sisters
In a rare 1998 interview on 20/20, Mariah Carey opened up about her sister Alison’s struggles with substance addiction.
“It was a very difficult thing to see,” Mariah said.
“But it gave me an inner strength and showed me what I didn’t want to become. That’s why I’ve never been promiscuous, never done drugs, and never been so out of it that I didn’t know what I was getting into. Seeing those things growing up pushed me in the opposite direction.”
Mariah Carey
According to Mariah’s representatives, the singer supported her sister for decades, including covering Alison’s numerous rehab stints.
Alison confirmed this in 1994, saying, “Yes, she did [pay for rehab], but she has never let me forget a single cent she’s spent on me.”
Mariah Carey Confirms Alison Carey’s Passing
Mariah Carey confirmed that her sister, Alison Carey, passed away at the age of 62 on the same day their mother, Patricia, died at 87.
In a statement to People on August 26, 2024, Mariah said,
“My heart is broken over the loss of my mother this past weekend. Tragically, my sister also passed away on the same day. I feel blessed to have spent the last week with my mom before she left us. I am grateful for everyone’s love and support and kindly ask for privacy during this incredibly difficult time.”
Mariah Carey
The causes of death for both Alison and Patricia have not been disclosed.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Alison inherited $1 million after her father died in 2002. This means she was once worth a million bucks, but she ran out of it quickly.
- According to one family friend, she would spend a week and a half living at the St. Regis, racking up $15,000 tabs.
