How long was Sinead O’Connor married to John Reynolds? Late singer named ex-husband as executor of her will

Sinéad O’Connor, an iconic Irish singer-songwriter, gained global fame for her emotionally charged and deeply personal music. Best known for her rendition of Nothing Compares 2 U, a song written by Prince, O’Connor became a symbol of raw vulnerability and defiance in the music world. Throughout her career, O’Connor was known not only for her musical talents but also for her outspoken activism.

Sinéad O'Connor's reportedly sold over seven million copies worldwide. In 2018, she converted to Islam and changed her name to Shuhada’ Sadaqat. Despite her turbulent personal life, O’Connor's legacy remains rooted in her unapologetic authenticity and the indelible impact of her music on the global stage.

Sinéad O'Connor has been making headlines for her recent revelation of her will. The renowned Irish singer passed away in July 2023 at the age of 56. According to her will, she allotted $1.7 million of her estate to her kids, as reported by The Sun. After settling debts, covering funeral expenses, and paying legal fees, the amount was reduced to $1.4 million.

O’Connor mentioned the details of her will in a 2013 signed document, as per The Sun. She named her ex-husband John Reynolds as the executor of the will. She tied the knot with John Reynolds. Their marriage lasted from 1987 to 1991, approximately two years. The Nothing Compares 2 U singer was married four times and had four children from different relationships.

Another part of O’Connor’s will direct her children to ‘milk’ her music for its worth.

“I direct that after my death, and at the discretion of any of my children who are then over 18, my albums are to be released so as to ‘milk it for what it’s worth’.” She added, “My children can dispense my ashes as they see fit.”

Let us explore the family history of the famous Irish singer which played a crucial role in shaping her identity and artistic expression.

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How was Sinéad O’Connor’s personal life and how it impacted her career?

Sinéad O'Connor's personal life was marked by tumultuous relationships and significant challenges, which deeply influenced her career and public persona.

A report in People magazine stated that O’Connor married John Reynolds in 1987. He was a drummer and a music producer and worked on several of her albums. It included The Lion and the Cobra, which marked her debut album. I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990), Universal Mother (1994), and the Gospel Oak EP (1997) were among others.

They welcomed together a son named Jake Reynolds. He was born on June 16, 1987, in Ireland, according to another report.

However, O’Connor and Reynolds ended their marriage in 1991. But they continued to remain friends despite their split. In her last interview with Sunday Brunch, O’Connor spoke about her bond with Reynolds and said, “We’ve just always loved each other since I was about 19. We always got on like brother and sister, which is why we didn’t stay married.”

She married Nick Sommerlad in 2001. He was a journalist and worked for the Press Association in Dublin. Speaking about their first meeting, he told the Irish Sun, "A journalist friend of mine and hers introduced us. We have been going out since February."

Unfortunately, they remained a couple only for 11 months before their split. According to a report in the Irish Independent, O’Connor vowed she'd "never get married again." A close friend of them shared that they both were “heartbroken” after their split, according to O’Connor’s official website.

“They fell madly in love when they first met. Despite the huge love there is between them, they found that having married so early in the relationship was a pressure that neither could cope with. This was on top of the usual pressure of a rock star married to a media figure,” he said.

The singer shared several high-profile relationships such as with journalist John Waters and social columnist Dermott Hayes, as per her official website. She shared a daughter named Roisin Waters with John Waters.

In 2004, O’Connor had her third child Shane with musician Donal Lunny. Shane reportedly died by suicide in January 2022. She mourned his tragic death in a social media post and called him, the love of her life, the lamp of her soul.

Sinéad O'Connor married Steve Cooney in July 2010. He was an Australian-Irish musician. Among her musical groups, he was hired to play guitar in her band. However, they divorced in less than a year in 2011.

While speaking to the Irish Examiner, she said:

"Steve is lovely so it’s not his fault but mine," she said at the time of their split, per the outlet. "It was an extremely happy marriage," she added. "I’m heartbroken about it breaking up."

In December 2011, she tied the knot with Barry Herridge, a psychotherapist from Ireland. The couple met through an online dating site, according to a report in Geeks For Geeks. Their wedding in Las Vegas was widely covered by the media.

But, immediately after their wedding their relationship turned sour and O’Connor announced their separation 16 days later.

Her official cause of death was revealed a year later after her death in July 2023, in a report by the Irish Independent. She died as a result of "exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma together with low grade lower respiratory tract infection,” the outlet reported.