Kate Bush has said that “it’s like a light has gone out” in response to the tragic death of Sinéad O’Connor.
Sinéad was found unresponsive at her London home by police and pronounced dead at the scene.
Her family released a statement confirming the Irish singer-songwriter’s death, which sparked a flurry of tributes from celebrities and fans.
Sharing the tribute on her website, Kate, 64, wrote: “It’s like a light has gone out, hasn’t it? A beacon on a high mountain,
“Sinéad didn’t just move us with her incredibly emotive voice, she stood up with it. I salute her. We were lucky to have such a magical presence move among us.”
Kate, who is experiencing a resurgence in her music thanks to Netflix’s Stranger Things using her track Running Up That Hill, isn’t the only celebrity to pay tribute.
Author Caitlin Moran said Sinéad was “the greatest voice of her generation” before going on to say: “She was decades before her time, and fearless, Rest in power, queen.”
Bryan Adams also took to Twitter to pay tribute by saying: “RIP Sinéad O’Connor, I loved working with you making photos, doing gigs in Ireland together and chats, all my love to your family.”
Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also shared his condolences adding: “Her music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare.”
Before signing off with “Ar dheis De go Raibh a hAnam” which is the Irish phrase for Rest In Peace.
And former Love Island host Laura Whitmore also paid her respects writing: “Sinéad was the biggest star I ever met. And I was so starstruck I barely spoke. In many ways a star that shone so bright it was probably hard to cope having that much talent.
“The most beautiful voice, face and aura. As an Irish woman growing up in the 90s she was everything, showing girls were cool, Irish women could be recognised globally and shaved heads not just for guys – though not a look I could carry off. My mam told everyone who visited Sinéad lived on our road – she was our royalty. Rest in peace Queen.”
Sinéad leaves behind three children Jake, 34, Roisin, 27, and Yeshua Bonadio, 16.
Her second son Shane, died last year aged just 17.
No medical cause has been given for Sinéad’s death, but an autopsy will be conducted and it is expected to take up to several weeks for the results.