RM “She Was a Warrior” — Pink and Brandi Carlile Honor Sinéad O’Connor With an Emotional Tribute Hours After Her Death

On July 26, 2023, news of Sinéad O’Connor’s passing sent shockwaves through the music world. Her legacy was never defined solely by her voice, but by her fearless honesty and refusal to conform. That very evening, in Cincinnati, Pink transformed a massive stadium show into something deeply intimate.

Standing before more than 40,000 people, Pink set aside the spectacle of her Trustfall Tour and created space for grief. Joined by Brandi Carlile, she delivered a haunting, vulnerable performance of “Nothing Compares 2 U”—only hours after O’Connor’s death was announced. The moment wasn’t rehearsed for impact or designed for headlines. It unfolded as an instinctive, emotional response to loss.

A Song That Shaped a Life

Before the music began, Pink spoke candidly to the audience about what Sinéad O’Connor meant to her. She recalled being a child in Ocean City, spending her allowance to record cassette tapes—always choosing between Whitney Houston and Sinéad O’Connor. For Pink, “Nothing Compares 2 U” was never just a famous song; it was a deeply personal emotional touchstone.

She described O’Connor as a “warrior”—a woman who spoke boldly, accepted misunderstanding, and stood firm in her truth. It was a description that mirrored Pink’s own artistic path, making the tribute feel both personal and inevitable.

When a Stadium Fell Silent

The performance itself was stripped of excess and heavy with feeling. Although Prince wrote the song and many artists have covered it, Sinéad O’Connor’s 1990 version remains unmatched. Pink and Carlile didn’t attempt to reinterpret it—they protected it.

Pink’s voice wavered almost immediately, emotion breaking through the first lines. When Brandi Carlile joined her, her harmonies didn’t dominate the moment; they steadied it. Both women visibly struggled to hold back tears. By the final chorus, the stadium—so often filled with noise—was completely still. Phones lowered. Applause paused. Grief took center stage.

As the last note faded, Pink and Carlile embraced, overcome. The audience responded not with cheers, but with a long, respectful applause—an acknowledgment of something shared rather than a performance celebrated.

Why the Moment Endured

This tribute unfolded during one of the year’s biggest tours, yet its power came from its simplicity. In that moment, scale no longer mattered—legacy did.

Sinéad O’Connor changed music by refusing to dilute herself, particularly in an industry that often punishes women for speaking out. Her courage made space for artists like Pink, who have also chosen honesty over comfort. On this night, that connection was unmistakable.

In the day following O’Connor’s death, her music saw a massive surge in streams worldwide. Still, no number captured her influence as clearly as this scene: two artists openly breaking down in front of tens of thousands, united by the impact of one woman’s truth.

As Pink reminded the crowd that evening, “You never know what people are going through.”

For one song, one night, and one shared silence, everyone there understood.