The video will start in 8 Cancel

Prince was found dead at his Paisley Park estate this morning.

Police confirmed the 57-year-old music icon's lifeless body was found at his home and recording studios in Minnesota just before 10am.

Detectives are investigating the circumstances behind the sudden death that has devastated millions of fans across the globe.

Carver County chief deputy Jason Kamerud said police responded to a medical call at 9.43am and the crime lab and medical examiner are on scene.

Follow all updates and reaction in our live blog

(Image: Twitter/GaryDetmanNews) (Image: Getty)

A harrowing 911 has been released where an operator can be heard saying that there is a "male down, not breathing" at the singer's address.

The local sheriff was called into work on his day off, Radar Online reports.

A police officer later tweeted: "Prince Rogers Nelson (57) found dead at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, MN. We are investigating the circumstances of his death."

Hear the harrowing 911 call below:

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

It was later confirmed the pop icon died this morning at his Paisley Park mansion in Minnesota.

Dozens of devastated fans gathered outside of his home to pay tribute to the music icon.

Celebrities and fans have flooded social media with tributes, with Katy Perry tweeting: "And just like that...the world lost a lot of magic. Rest in peace Prince! Thanks for giving us so much..."

The news comes days after the singer was released from hospital after a bout of flu.

After his sold-out performance in Atlanta on Thursday, April 14 his private jet made an emergency landing at Quad City International Airport in Illinois.

From there the Purple Rain star was taken to hospital.

(Image: Getty)

(Image: WENN)

According to TMZ, he was released three hours later, returned to his plane and was taken home.

Just days later he held a party for fans at Paisley Park.

News broke this afternoon that a body had been found at the star's home but officials were unable to confirm that it was Prince who had died as his next of kin had not yet been informed.

Later the global icon's publicist confirmed the tragic news.

A reporter from local TV station KSTP, Farrah Fazal, tweeted this afternoon: "BREAKING: Deputies say they are now doing "death investigation" at Prince's PaisleyPark recording studios near Minneapolis. @ KSTP."

Read more:

Just four days earlier Prince showed off his new guitar and piano and told crowd's at a dance party: "Wait a few days before you waste any prayers."

The man who was born Prince Rogers Nelson stood just 5ft 2in and seemed to summon the most original and compelling sounds at will, whether playing guitar in a flamboyant style that openly drew upon Jimi Hendrix, switching his vocals from a nasally scream to an erotic falsetto or turning out album after album of stunningly original material.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Among his other notable releases were Sign O' The Times, Graffiti Bridge and The Black Album.

He was also fiercely protective of his independence, battling his record company over control of his material and even his name.

Prince once wrote "slave" on his face in protest at not owning his work and famously battled and then departed his label, Warner Bros, before returning a few years ago.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

In 2004, Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame, which hailed him as a musical and social trailblazer.

"He rewrote the rulebook, forging a synthesis of black funk and white rock that served as a blueprint for cutting-edge music in the Eighties," reads the Hall's dedication.

"Prince made dance music that rocked and rock music that had a bristling, funky backbone. From the beginning, Prince and his music were androgynous, sly, sexy and provocative."