BREAKING: Prince Dead at 57

Seven-time Grammy Award winning artist, Prince, has passed away at age 57.

Born as Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7, 1958, he was best known  by his mononym Prince. He was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and actor and has been a major figure in popular music for over three decades.

He had been briefly hospitalized in Illinois after his plane made an emergency landing due to a medical emergency on Friday,  and his reps had stated he had been battling the flu. Authorities were called to his Minnesota home just after 9:30 AM on Thursday.

Initial Obituary

Pop music superstar Prince has been found dead at his home in suburban Minneapolis.

His publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, told The Associated Press the music icon was found dead at his home Thursday in Chanhassen.

The singer, songwriter, arranger and instrumentalist was widely acclaimed as one of the most inventive musicians of his era, drawing upon influences ranging from James Brown to the Beatles to Jimi Hendrix. His hits included "Little Red Corvette," ''Let's Go Crazy" and "When Doves Cry."

The Minneapolis native broke through in the late 1970s with the hits "Wanna Be Your Lover" and soared over the following decade with such albums as "1999" and "Purple Rain."

His final tweet

https://t.co/KM1aONgz6D pic.twitter.com/EweYseXDex

— Prince (@prince) April 18, 2016

Fan reaction

Flabbergasted. This genius doesn't die. #prince #rip https://t.co/M4TJPaUlCu pic.twitter.com/ywC1cTQp85

— Dominic Monaghan. (@DomsWildThings) April 21, 2016

'Cause in this life
Things are much harder than in the after world
In this life
You're on your own' #Prince pic.twitter.com/WZn43srZ1k

— Stivi De Tivi (@StiviDeTivi) April 21, 2016

Absolutely stunned and heartbroken! #PRINCE

— Michelle Williams (@RealMichelleW) April 21, 2016

Please tell me it's not true? D #Prince

— antanddec (@antanddec) April 21, 2016

I am beyond sad to hear this. #prince https://t.co/MovUpGOT3X

— Sasha Alexander (@sashaalexander) April 21, 2016

OMG... Heaven help us! Can it be true? Is #PRINCE really dead?

— LeVar Burton (@levarburton) April 21, 2016