Prince Has Passed Away at 57

The Associated Press has confirmed that Prince passed away at his home in suburban Minneapolis. Prince was so many things: prolific musical genius, destroyer of gender boundaries and racial stereotypes, guitar virtuoso, sex symbol. He seemed to build and occupy his own creative universe. The news is especially shocking due to Prince’s age (he was only 57) and the proximity of his death to the loss of other cultural icons including David Bowie and Lemmy.

Prince’s publicist Yvette Noel-Schure, said in a statement, “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.”

Musicians around the world expressed shock, heartbreak, and devastation:

I can't fucking breathe right now

— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) April 21, 2016

I'm sorry I can not accept that prince has died. I will give the world time to correct its mistake. fuck that.

— el-p (@therealelp) April 21, 2016

RIP to @prince…a true artist in every sense of the word. Gone way too soon.

— Quincy Jones (@QuincyDJones) April 21, 2016

Numb. Stunned. This can't be real.

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) April 21, 2016