A sea of tributes have flown in this morning as news of music legend Prince‘s untimely passing ricocheted across the globe.
Prince was found unresponsive in an elevator at his Paisley Park home studio complex in Minnesota, and was shortly after pronounced dead at just 57 years of age.
Reactions to the news has been a mixture of profound sadness and utter disbelief, as the music community and the world at large come to terms with loosing an enduring and boundlessly influential creative icon.
Everyone from Questlove to Lorde, Justin Timberlake, Frank Ocean and CHVRCHES, to NASA and President Obama have emotionally shared their thoughts on the High Priest of Pop and the impact he made on their music, lives and history.
Writes President Obama: “‘A strong spirit transcends rules’, Prince once said — and nobody’s spirit was stronger, bolder, or more creative.”
“My friend is gone…This is what it sounds like, when doves cry. He was my dove,” writes an emotional Stevie Nicks.
“It would be silly to say that he has inspired our music,” adds Justin Timberlake. “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.”
“A vanguard and genius by every metric I know of who affected many in a way that will outrun oblivion for a long while,” writes Frank Ocean. “I’m proud to be a Prince fan(stan) for life.”
Read even more tributes below, alongside a video shared by Krist Novoselić of Prince performing his 1986 track, the aptly titled Sometimes it Snows in April.
R.I.P. Prince – Sometimes it Snows in April – Live in Norway 2010
Long Live The King.
— ?st (@questlove) April 21, 2016
My friend is gone…This is what it sounds like, when doves cry. He was my
dove…Stevie Nicks— Stevie Nicks (@StevieNicks) April 21, 2016
I am so saddened to hear of Prince's passing. Prince was a revolutionary artist, a wonderful musician and composer. 1/3
— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) April 21, 2016
Prince was an original lyricist and a startling guitar player. His talent was limitless. 2/3
— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) April 21, 2016
Prince was one of the most unique and exciting artists of the last 30 years. 3/3
— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) April 21, 2016
#RIP our dearly beloved #Prince. Tears and love on our tour bus. @CHICorg @nilerodgers I'll never forget my brother. We've had #good times
— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) April 21, 2016
Numb. Stunned. This can't be real.
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) April 21, 2016
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEeMG89SdoM/
https://twitter.com/CHVRCHES/status/723197098536013824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/lorde/status/723205484044533760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Prince the doves really are crying now. Listening to your music. Remembering you. #RIPPrince
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) April 21, 2016
I can’t believe it, I’m in total shock. So many wonderful memories,
I will miss him. #Prince— Lionel Richie (@LionelRichie) April 21, 2016
Listen to tangerine by Prince or his cover of A case of you
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) April 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/therealelp/status/723194630301339653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Prince was the Bowie of my generation, and they were the best of all generations. Sigh..
— Neko Case (@NekoCase) April 21, 2016
Genius, legend, inspiration, friend.
The world will miss you.
I'll never get over it. pic.twitter.com/RXIZdfGNPw— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) April 21, 2016
R.I. P. #Prince. An exceptional talent! He made an enormous contribution to music.
— Carole King (@Carole_King) April 21, 2016
What do we do now? PRINCE. No. I hope you weren't in much pain…your music saved me time and again.
— Duff McKagan (@DuffMcKagan) April 21, 2016
One of the greatest, most gifted and unique musicians, performers and producers ever. #RIPPrince pic.twitter.com/IhEFyq42Lr
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) April 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/KristNovoselic/status/723226017549062144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I'm shocked to hear that Prince passed at such a young age. Musically, he could do it all: sing, play, arrange and produce. Love & Mercy
— Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) April 21, 2016
The world lost another treasure. A huge inspiration for us musicians trying to express our truths. RIP, brother. pic.twitter.com/Q0aDFTvsbY
— Alabama Shakes (@Alabama_Shakes) April 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/SarahKSilverman/status/723197487121596417/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
In my lifetime, there's never been an artist like Prince: so fearless, so uncompromising, so devoted to his music. This loss is incaculable
— The Mountain Goats (@mountain_goats) April 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/KristNovoselic/status/723226738893963264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
A purple nebula, in honor of Prince, who passed away today. https://t.co/7buFWWExMw pic.twitter.com/ONQDwSQwVa
— NASA (@NASA) April 21, 2016
