Earlier this morning, Minnesota ABC affiliate KSTP revealed on Twitter that the Carver County sheriff’s office confirmed a death investigation at Prince‘s recording studio. The brief report did not specify who the subject of the investigation was, or the cause of death.
Carver County sheriff’s office has confirmed a death investigation at Paisley Park Chanhassen. It is Prince’s recording studio.
— KSTP (@KSTP) April 21, 2016
Shortly after that news hit social media, TMZ published a report alleging that Prince himself, 57, has in fact passed away, citing multiple sources. The Associated Press then reported that his publicist has confirmed the devastating news.
BREAKING: Publicist: Pop music superstar Prince has died at his home in suburban Minneapolis.
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 21, 2016
The legendary singer and performer, born Prince Rogers Nelson, made an emergency visit to the hospital this past Friday after his plane made an unscheduled landing in Illinois. TMZ reports that Prince’s team told them his battles with the flu prompted the hospital visit, but the singer was released in short order, and even resumed his normal Twitter activity less than 24 hours later.
Prince, one of the great music and pop culture icons of his time, rose to prominence in 1978 with his self-composed debut, For You, and ballooned into a formidable star with the following year’s opus, the self-titled Prince, which sported the Billboard top 20 hit “I Wanna Be Your Lover.” From there, the Minneapolis native would go on to release thirteen platinum and multi-platinum albums over the next 25 years of his immensely successful career, selling over 100 million albums and racking up 7 GRAMMY awards.
The owner/publisher of The Source, L. Londell McMillan, was his longtime attorney and friend and he declined to comment at this time.
Rest in peace to one of the greatest musicians, singers, composers, performers and songwriters to ever live.