Superstar Prince dead at 57!

Seven-time Grammy winner Prince, who was known for megahits like “When Doves Cry” and “Purple Rain,” has died at the age of 57.Prince was the soundtrack of our lives, the inspiration for a generation of musicians. He was one of us. He was all of us.

Hailed worldwide as a versatile musical genius, Prince Rogers Nelson died Thursday morning at his Paisley Park recording studio complex in Chanhassen. He was 57.After a frantic 911 call from an unidentified man who said Prince appeared to be dead and that the people at the scene were “distraught,” emergency responders found the musician, unresponsive, in an elevator, the Carver County Sheriff’s Office reported. He was pronounced dead at 10:07 a.m. They performed CPR but were unable to revive him.

The cause of death was not known. An autopsy will be conducted Friday by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office in Anoka County.

The news stunned fans from the Twin Cities to the nation’s capital, spreading around the globe within minutes. Mourners from President Obama to Mick Jagger paid respects and shared their sentiments, many awash in purple.

According to a press release, "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." An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.

Prince had been rushed to an Illinois hospital this past Friday and was released several hours later. His rep told TMZ he had been battling the flu for several weeks.

As news of Prince's death spread Thursday afternoon, approximately 200 people gathered outside the Paisley Park compound to leave bouquets, balloons and signs in tribute to the singer. Shortly before 6 p.m., Prince's sister, Tyka Nelson, emerged to tell the crowd that her brother "loved all of you. Thank you for loving him back."