Prince Rogers Nelson, better known as Prince, has died. He was 57. He was found at his Paisley Park compound in Minnesota.
Last week, after an emergency plane landing, Prince was hospitalized for what his representatives described as the flu. He had canceled two shows but had decided to go forward with a show in Atlanta. It wasn’t possible, though, and on his return home, his plane landed in Illinois so that he could seek medical help. He was later released from the hospital, apparently healthy.
This morning, less than a week later, a death had been reported at the singer’s Minnesota studio. The name of the deceased was not reported for some time, but as of 1pm, only TMZ has confirmed that it is in fact Prince who died. (UPDATE 4/21 12:10 p.m.: Prince’s publicist has confirmed his death.) The cause of death has not been confirmed.
In March, Prince announced plans to release a memoir.
Prince was born in Minneapolis, and released 39 albums, most recently 2015’s HITnRUN: Phase One and Two. He also released two albums in 2014.
UPDATE 4/21 3:45 p.m.: According to a press release from the Carver County Sheriff’s Office, Prince was found unresponsive in an elevator at Paisley Park Studios. He was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m.
Here’s the full statement:
Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson reports that on April 21, 2016, at about 9:43 am, sheriff’s deputies responded to a medical call at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen. When deputies and medical personnel arrived, they found an unresponsive adult male in the elevator. First responders attempted to provide lifesaving CPR, but were unable to revive the victim. He was pronounced deceased at 10:07 am. He has been identified as Prince Rogers Nelson (57) of Chanhassen. The Carver County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office, are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
UPDATE 4/21 4:20 p.m. : Plenty of writers, musicians, artists, and otherwise have paid tribute to Prince on Twitter and other social media. Here’s what President Obama shared on Facebook just a few minutes ago, calling Prince a “virtuoso instrumentalist, a brilliant bandleader, and an electrifying performer.” Read the statement below.