On the musician's 56th birthday, L'OFFICIEL looks back at some of her early career photos.

All you need to hear is one note from the voice of Irish <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/music/who-is-singer-songwriter-gracie-abrams-jj-abrams-daughter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">singer</a> Sin&eacute;ad O'Connor, and you will understand why she is such an acclaimed <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/art/paris-plus-par-art-basel-artists-to-watch-highlights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">artist</a> in the music world. Her rise to fame began early on in her life after she dropped her first album, The Lion and the Cobra, at 21 years old. Her powerful voice caught the attention of critics and fans alike, and she would go on to become a star.&nbsp;
The <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/sadie-sink-the-whale-brendan-fraser-taylor-swift-all-too-well-video" target="_blank" rel="noopener">'90s</a> proved to be a shining decade for the singer as she released some of her most well-known hits including "Thank You For Hearing Me," "My Special Child," "The Emporer's New Clothes," "Nothing Compares 2 U," and "Fire On Babylon." In 1991, O'Connor won an award for Best Alternative Album at the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/music/grammy-awards-2023-details-nominations-host-performers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Grammys</a>&mdash;though she boycotted the ceremony in protest of the disingenuous materialistic values she felt the award show upheld.&nbsp;
In 2003, the artist announced she would be retiring from the industry, though she continued to produce music a few years later. O'Connor announced her plans for retirement once again in 2021 and unveiled she would like to focus on her career as a <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/across-the-sea-jiani-liu-debut-novel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writer</a>. In celebration of the artist's 56th birthday, L'OFFICIEL looks back at photos from her early career days.

Sinead O'Connor at the 1989 Grammy Awards.

Sinead O'Connor attending a 'Saturday Night Live' cast and crew party, 1990.

Sinead O'Connor at the 1990 Billboard Music Awards.

Sinead O'Connor at the 1990 MTV VMAs.

Sinead O'Connor performing at Riverfest in St.Paul, MN, 1990.

Sinead O'Connor at the 1993 MTV VMAs.

Sinead O'Connor at the WOMAD festival in San Francisco, CA, 1993.

Sinead O'Connor at performing at the Lilith Fair Concert, 1998.

Sinead O'Connor performing at San Jose University, 1998.

Sinead O'Connor at the Old Vic Theatre Fund Raising Gala Party, 2003.

Sinead O'Connor in 2003.

All photos via Getty Images.

Young Photos of Sinéad O'Connor

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Young Photos of Sinéad O'Connor

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