The perfect send-off. Prince’s performance at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on Thursday, April 14, was an epic one — and unbeknownst to the music legend or his fans, it would also be his last.
The multihyphenate performer, who was found dead at his Paisley Park abode in Chanhassen, Minnesota, on Thursday, April 21, gave it his all in his final performance, closing out the night with an emotional rendition of his 1984 hit “Purple Rain.”
In footage obtained by Us Weekly, the musician sits alone at a piano, the stage lights glowing purple and pink to illuminate his presence. At different moments throughout the song, he can be seen swaying back and forth on the bench, caught up in the moment.
The crowd sings along to the familiar tune as well: “Purple rain, purple rain / I only wanted to see you / Underneath the purple rain.”
Prior to his final show, the “When Doves Cry” singer, 57, canceled two shows in early April on account of the flu; he apologized to fans during the concert for rescheduling the dates, but added, “We’re here now.”
One concertgoer told Us that the icon “sang well and was emotive and just incredible, of course. He didn’t seem unwell.”
“He sounded amazing and he looked great,” another fan told Us. “But I know he had to reschedule due to the flu and then he had some complications after the concert.”
However, TMZ reported that hours after the show, early in the morning on Friday, Prince’s plane had to make an emergency landing on its way back to Minnesota to get him medical help. His rep later released a statement saying that the musician was suffering from flulike symptoms and that he was released from the hospital three hours later.
Later that day, ever-private Prince simply tweeted: “I am #transformed.”
Watch the clip above to see moments from his last performance.
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