The news of Prince‘s unexpected death hit hard, and as the world continues to mourn, those closest to him have spoken out about how the very private singer touched their lives. Sheila E. and Mariah Carey both chatted with Entertainment Tonight, offering a better glimpse into the pop icon as they knew him.
Speaking about his memorial service, Sheila E. – a longtime collaborator who has become a legend in her own right – said his music played softly, as everyone sat in disbelief. “I don’t know that he really knew how he touched almost everyone in this world,” she added. Sheila also confirmed that his Paisley Park studio will become a museum and that she hopes to put together a tribute performance for Prince.
Mariah Carey, who is part Venezuelan, also spoke to ET, mostly focusing on her personal connection to him.”He helped me through so many moments where I needed somebody to guide me through,” she said. “[He was] just a true genius…There will never be anybody else like him.” During a concert in Paris for her Sweet Sweet Fantasy tour, she dedicated “One Sweet Day” to Prince. Though she felt she stumbled through it and didn’t have enough time to prepare for it, she knew he’d appreciate that she didn’t cover any of his songs. Turns out, Prince wasn’t a fan of covers.
Check out the rest of Mariah’s interview below, and then listen to Sheila talk about Prince’s memorabilia collection above: