Earlier today, the world lost one of its best, most legendary artists in Prince. The High Priest of Pop was found unresponsive at his Paisley Park Estate in Chanhassen, Minnesosta, and shortly after, was pronounced dead at just 57 years of age.
Musicians and celebrities worldwide, across genres and generations, immediately reacted to his passing with tributes conveying deep sadness and genuine shock, as well as sincere gratitude for all the ways in which Prince impacted their lives.
Among those musicians who’ve tearfully bid their farewell: Questlove, Lorde, Justin Timberlake, Frank Ocean, Chance the Rapper, Jack White, Nile Rodgers, CHVRCHES, Atmosphere, Missy Elliott, The Mountain Goats, Brian Wilson, and Florence Welch. Within the film/TV world, Don Cheadle, Michael Keaton, Spike Lee, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Samuel L. Jackson, among others, offered up words of their own. President Barack Obama also posted a message on Facebook in Prince’s honor, calling him a “creative icon.”
Check out all the tributes below.
President Barack Obama:
Questlove:
Long Live The King.
— ?st (@questlove) April 21, 2016
This is the worst literal meaning of Snowing In April. The Worst.
— ?st (@questlove) April 21, 2016
Justin Timberlake:
Numb. Stunned. This can't be real.
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) April 21, 2016
Chance the Rapper:
None of prince's albums are available in digital format. You Have to find a physical copy. I appreciate that, bout to go an adventure
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) April 21, 2016
Listen to tangerine by Prince or his cover of A case of you
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) April 21, 2016
Jack White / Third Man Records:
Frank Ocean:
Killer Mike:
El-P:s
Lorde:
Nile Rodgers:
#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
Flying Lotus:
Drake:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEeX8_9DQBi/
Wu-Tang Clan:
RIP Prince. https://t.co/Xyvk18sl0w
— Wu Tang Clan (@WuTangClan) April 21, 2016
Donnie Trumpet:
The Prince of the universe. Thank you for blessing and inspiring us all. We love you.
— nico (@nicosegal) April 21, 2016
CHVRCHES:
Katy Perry:
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
Wavves:
P.O.S:
PRINCE! Rest in peace to the greatest of the greats.
— P.O.S from DOOMTREE (@YEAHRIGHTPOS) April 21, 2016
Atmosphere:
Owen Pallett:
The greatest https://t.co/E1Usrhpxix
— fromidable! (@owenpallett) April 21, 2016
Delta Spirit:
Man, 2016 is losing some of the greatest of all time. RIP
— Delta Spirit (@deltaspirit) April 21, 2016
Neko Case:
What?! NO!!!!! Not Prince!!!!
— Neko Case (@NekoCase) April 21, 2016
Prince, if you can still hear, thank you for your musical genius, love and hiring KILLER lady musicians when no one else would. We owe you.😓
— Neko Case (@NekoCase) April 21, 2016
Saying that I "love" Prince just doesn't cover it.
— Neko Case (@NekoCase) April 21, 2016
Prince was the Bowie of my generation, and they were the best of all generations. Sigh..
— Neko Case (@NekoCase) April 21, 2016
It makes me shiver when I think of all the people who might not have found the bravery to make art if it weren't for Prince and Bowie. 😓
— Neko Case (@NekoCase) April 21, 2016
Carole King:
R.I. P. #Prince. An exceptional talent! He made an enormous contribution to music.
— Carole King (@Carole_King) April 21, 2016
Death from Above 1979:
Angel Haze:
Talib Kweli:
Araabmuzik:
#RIPPrince a revolutionary artist and true inspiration. Thanks for your contribution to music. pic.twitter.com/OpxTUlGDGn
— araabMUZIK (@araabMUZIK) April 21, 2016
Duff McKagan:
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
The-Dream:
The Mountain Goats:
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
Ronnie Wood:
I will miss a good friend who was so talented. He was such a great performer / guitar player. Sleep well Prince 🙏 pic.twitter.com/4EZLFyGw9X
— Ronnie Wood (@ronniewood) April 21, 2016
Wyclef Jean:
R. I. P to the King Prince thank u for inspiring me to be a Musician First and using this tool to heal people
— Wyclef Jean (@wyclef) April 21, 2016
Justin Vernon:
Hurts to breathe
— blobtower (@blobtower) April 21, 2016
Russell Simmons:
Rest in power, Prince.
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) April 21, 2016
The National’s Aaron Dessner:
Unbelievably sad to hear Prince has passed away. Will never forget getting to play before him and then watch his genius in Portugal
— Aaron Dessner (@aaron_dessner) April 21, 2016
“Weird Al” Yankovic:
Shocked and saddened to hear the news about Prince. The music world will miss his prolific genius.
— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) April 21, 2016
Tom Morello:
One of the greatest, most gifted and unique musicians, performers and producers ever. #RIPPrince pic.twitter.com/IhEFyq42Lr
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) April 21, 2016
Zola Jesus:
Krist Novoselic:
Brian Wilson:
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
Missy Elliott:
This is so heartbreaking💔 I had this Prince pic drawn on my wall years ago because his music inspired so many R.I.P😥 pic.twitter.com/60msa6hm3I
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) April 21, 2016
Alabama Shakes:
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
Kings of Leon:
I still remember being star struck playing 1st ave in Minneapolis because @prince had been on the same stage.#RIP #sosad
— nathan followill (@doctorfollowill) April 21, 2016
Florence Welch:
— florence welch (@florencemachine) April 21, 2016
Moby:
Stevie Van Zandt:
Oh no. Not Prince. What a magnificent lifeforce. Our world is forever diminished. Not that it matters, but the fucking flu?!? Impossible.
— 🕉🇺🇦🟦Stevie Van Zandt☮️💙 (@StevieVanZandt) April 21, 2016
Billy Idol:
Oh my god I can’t believe that Prince has died…he was a great great talent…RIP
— Billy Idol (@BillyIdol) April 21, 2016
Stevie Nicks:
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
Black Thought:
This is a sad moment. A really dark day in music history. Too much loss. Just too much.
— Black Thought (@blackthought) April 21, 2016
Disclosure:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEeT_crsHJ7/
Andrew W.K.:
Zooey Deschanel:
Prince was a true gentleman, a king among men. He was as sharp and as talented as they come. I'm so glad I was lucky enough to work with him
— zooey deschanel (@ZooeyDeschanel) April 21, 2016
Lin-Manuel Miranda:
"Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
2 get through this thing called Life…"
-Prince— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 21, 2016
Jay Pharoah:
So Prince and Chyna die in the same day NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! My heart is hurting š R.I.P
— Pharoah (@JayPharoah) April 21, 2016
Marc Maron:
Damn. Some real genius gone now. RIP PRINCE
— marc maron (@marcmaron) April 21, 2016
Samuel L. Jackson:
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
Spike Lee:
Neil DeGrasse Tyson:
Only now do we know what it sounds like When Doves Cry — the absence of music from loss of The Artist. RIP Prince (1958-2016)
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) April 21, 2016
Elijah Wood:
Can’t even process this. There will never be another. Thank you for everything, Prince Rogers Nelson.
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) April 21, 2016
Sarah Silverman:
RIP pic.twitter.com/IVScqsJcbs
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) April 21, 2016
Patricia Arquette:
Zane Lowe:
I can't believe he has gone. Thank you for everything Prince. You will always be The Greatest #RIPPrince
— Zane Lowe (@zanelowe) April 21, 2016
Chelsea Clinton:
Thank you Prince. All my thoughts & prayers are with all your loved ones. https://t.co/JT52sKlJBJ
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) April 21, 2016
Dane Cook:
Alyssa Milano:
We've lost the greatest artist of my generation. I danced on stage with him when milo was in my belly. Prince, I will forever love you. #RIP
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 21, 2016
Olivia Munn:
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson:
Unbelievable just heard about PRINCE. Strength and light to his family/loved ones. One of my favs and a true pioneering artist. RIP brotha.
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) April 21, 2016
Patton Oswalt:
Grim Reaper: I'm so sorry…
Prince: It's all right.
Grim Reaper (singing): I never meant to cause you any trouble…
Prince: (laughs) 💜— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) April 21, 2016
Chris Rock:
Say it isn't so. pic.twitter.com/xdY0bYDtSO
— Chris Rock (@chrisrock) April 21, 2016
Michael Keaton:
no one, no one, no one like Prince. Incomparable.
— Michael Keaton (@MichaelKeaton) April 21, 2016
Don Cheadle:
Kevin Smith:
We lost one of the greatest Artists who ever lived. Prince's music was the soundtrack to my life. RIP, Royal genius. Nothing compared 2 U…
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) April 21, 2016