Sinéad O'Connor Biography

Fast Facts

• Was named the Artist of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine in 1991
• Won the MTV Award for Video of the Year for "Nothing Compares 2 U" in 1991
• Spent her early career in Dublin, singing and playing guitar on the street and working for a singing telegram service
• Her rise to notoriety began when the owners of Ensign Records saw her perform with the band Ton Ton Macoute and invited her to record her debut album, "The Lion and the Cobra," in 1987
• Was discovered by the drummer of the band In Tua Nua while attending a reform school and co-wrote their song "Take My Hand․"
• Released her Billboard chart-topping second album "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" in 1990, which featured the hit song "Nothing Compares 2 U․"
• Best known as a singer and songwriter who became famous for her version of the Prince song "Nothing Compares 2 U․"
• Later in her career she became inspired by Rastafarian culture, releasing the reggae albums "Throw Down Your Arms" and Theology" in 2005 and 2007
• Released an album called "Collaborations," on which she recorded songs with artists like Massive Attack, U2, and Peter Gabriel, in 2005
• Often caused controversy due to her public outbursts, including her refusal to accept her Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album in 1991 as a form of protest against the institution's commercialism