Prince Dead at 57

Musical genius Prince has died at age 57. A Minnesota sheriff officer has confirmed that the death occurred at Prince’s Paisley Park studio. The musician’s publicist also verified that the legendary singer and songwriter had died.

“It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died at his Paisley Park residence this morning at the age of 57,” Prince’s representative wrote in a statement.

From Justin Timberlake to Barack Obama, it didn’t take long for dignitaries, celebrities and fellow musicians to share their reactions to the news:

And just like that…the world lost a lot of magic ✨ Rest in peace Prince! Thanks for giving us so much…

— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) April 21, 2016

Prince was brilliant and larger than life. What a sad day.

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) April 21, 2016

I'm Crushed!! UK news reporting Prince Is Dead?! For Real?! Massive Loss for us all! What a Genius! Speechless.

— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) April 21, 2016

It was Raspberry Beret. I was 4 years old. Yes, 4. I remember that I instantly loved it. "Mommy, who is that singing?" Seems weird but it's true. More than a "once in a lifetime" artist… Just a ONCE IN FOREVER ARTIST. I'm still in shock as I write this and I feel this overwhelming grief. But, we should all turn away from that and HONOR this musician that changed all of our lives, our perspectives, our feeling, our whole being. From another planet? Probably. Royalty, for sure. Us worthy..? Laughable. They say don't meet your idols… That they let you down. But, some of my greatest, funniest (yes, he was hilarious), and most prolific encounters and conversations about music came from the moments that I spent with him. It would be silly to say that he has inspired our music… It's beyond that. He's somewhere within every song I've ever written. I am sad, but I will smile when I think of every second that I had the fortune of being in his company. We have lost our greatest living musician. But his music will never die. Prince, NOTHING COMPARES… #RIPPrince

A photo posted by Justin Timberlake (@justintimberlake) on Apr 21, 2016 at 11:04am PDT

I Miss My Brother. Prince Was A Funny Cat. Great Sense Of Humor.

A photo posted by Spike Lee (@officialspikelee) on Apr 21, 2016 at 10:18am PDT

Last Friday, Prince was briefly hospitalized. Prince’s team say he had been recovering from the flu, which caused him to cancel two shows earlier in April.

Just before 10 a.m. this morning, authorities responded to a medical emergency at Prince’s Minnesota home and studio. Medical professionals were not able to resuscitate the unconscious pop star.

The cause of Prince’s death is currently unknown. The Minnesota law enforcement officials are currently exploring a death investigation at Prince’s Paisley Park (picture below).

Prince is a major and iconic influence on modern music. His amazing career from the late ’70s through the ’90s, including albums such as Purple Rain, 1999, Dirty Mind, Sign O’ the Times, Controversy, Lovesexy, and Diamonds and Pearls, was nearly unparalleled.

The legendary singer and songwriter, a 2004 inductee into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, will be greatly missed.