Prince has died aged 57

[Guest Kurt]

BREAKING NEWS: Prince, 57, dies at Minnesota estate just days after he was rushed to hospital from private plane with 'severe flu'

PUBLISHED: 16:38 GMT, 21 April 2016

 

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• Prince has died aged 57 at his Paisley Park estate in Minnesota, six days after falling ill with 'severe flu' 
• Paramedics and police were called to his suburban home at 9.43am EST and his publicist has confirmed he has died
• Music icon appeared at a gig on Saturday and told fans: 'Wait a few days before you waste any prayers'
• Legendary singer and songwriter sold more than 100million records in his sparkling 40-year music career 
• Prince was known for his sexually charged lyrics and was romantically linked to a number of stars 

Prince has died aged 57 at his estate in Minnesota, just days after he was rushed to hospital from his private plane with severe flu. 

Paramedics were called out to the music icon's Paisley Park estate at 9.43am and Carver County Sheriff's Department confirmed that there had been a fatality.

A forensics team and a medical examiner are at the scene.

Prince - full name Prince Rogers Nelson - was rushed to hospital six days ago with flu symptoms after his private plane made an emergency landing.

The singer, who was known for his sexually charged lyrics and electric performances, made a final public appearance at a show on Sunday, where he did not sing, but said: 'Wait a few days before you waste any prayers' 

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Prince has died aged 57 at his estate in Minnesota, just days after he was rushed to hospital from his private plane with severe flu 

 

 

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Paramedics were called to his Paisley Park studio (pictured) at 9.43 this morning and police confirmed that someone had died

 

 

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Prince made a surprise appearance at a dance party in Minnesota on Saturday, in what is believed to have been his final public appearance

 

 

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The superstar musician combined rock, R&B, soul and hip-hop to create a unique sound that led to him selling more than 100million records during his 40-year career

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Riding on: Prince was seen riding a bicycle outside his estate in this picture posed on Instagram on Sunday

He was aboard his private flight when he fell ill, forcing it to make an unscheduled landing in Illinois on Friday morning.

TMZ reported that the seven-time Grammy award winning singer's plane diverted to Quad City International Airport in Moline, Illinois, to make the emergency landing. 

 

He had had been suffering from flu for a number of weeks and was believed to be recovering, but took a turn for the worse in the early hours of Friday.

Prince, who was a Jehovah's Witness, was treated for three hours before being released.

Initial reports on his condition painted a much graver pictures, with one source claiming at the time he was 'not doing well'.

The Purple Rain hitmaker had performed at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta on last Thursday night - the second of two back to back sold out shows - and had seemed fine during the concert. 

Prince made what is believed to have been his final public appearance on Saturday at a dance party in Minnesota.

He was keen for people to have 'living proof' that he is still alive, and he arrived at the bash to show off his new guitar and piano. 

He didn't sing, but he did tell the crowd: 'Wait a few days before you waste any prayers.' 

A picture posted by a fan on Instagram appeared to show Prince riding a bicycle outside his estate on Sunday.

Prince was known for his sexually charged lyrics and was romantically linked to a number of stars, including Madonna, Sinead O'Connor, Kim Basinger and Carmen Electra, among a number of other people. 

 

Prince married backup dance Mayte Garcia on Valentine's Day in 1996. He dedicated the song he Most Beautiful Girl in the World to her two years earlier.

They split in 2000 and he went on to marry Manuela Testolini a year later. They divorced in 2006 

The superstar musician combined rock, R&B, soul and hip-hop to create a unique sound that led to him selling more than 100million records during his 40-year career.

 

 

 

Tributes started pouring in almost immediately, with dozens of stars expressing their grief following the death of the music icon.

Boy George tweeted: 'Today is the worst day ever. Prince R.I.P I am crying!' 

 

Joan Collins said: 'Shocked that @prince has died at only 57. Such a talent to have died so young.'

'Omg..... RIP Prince,' Demi Lovato tweeted.

'And just like that....the world lost a lot of magic,' tweeted Katy Perry.

Director Spike Lee said: 'I Miss My Brother. Prince Was A Funny Cat. Great Sense Of Humor.' 

Retired basketball star Shaquille O'Neal wrote: 'R.I.P PRINCE, another icon gone too soon.'

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