Dolores O’Riordan, lead singer of The Cranberries dead at age 46

Dolores O’Riordan, the Irish soprano who led The Cranberries to worldwide fame as one of the most popular bands of the 1990s, has died, her publicist said Monday.

O’Riordan, 46, was in London “for a short recording session” when she died “suddenly.”

“No further details are available at this time,” the publicist said. “Family members are devastated to hear the breaking news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”

Image: Singer Dolores ORiordan Image: Singer Dolores ORiordan

Singer Dolores ORiordan of the Irish band The Cranberries performs at the Admiralspalast on May 2, 2017 in Berlin. Frank Hoensch / Redferns via Getty Images

The youngest of seven children, O’Riordan hailed from the city of Limerick and launched her musical career in 1990 when she successfully auditioned to be the singer of a band then called “The Cranberry Saw It.”

With a Celtic-inspired singing style that sometimes included yodeling and a thick Limerick accent she made no attempt to hide, O’Riordan powered the band’s best-known hits such as “Zombie” and “Linger.”

As word of her death spread, tributes began pouring in.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates.