The Most Heartwarming Prince Tributes That Still Make Us Shed a Tear

Warning: Justin Timberlake’s touching Prince tribute *will* make you cry.

This day last year, the hashtag #RIPPrince dominated social media. And even though he’s gone, Prince’s legend lives on through his many, many hits and the music of every artist he’s ever influenced. To celebrate The Purple One, we’re taking a look back at the heartfelt tributes inspired by his sudden, sad passing.

Bruno Mars’s GRAMMYs tribute 

Looking like the spitting image of “Purple Rain”-era Prince, Bruno Mars hit the 2017 GRAMMYs stage in a fitted purple suit with a ruffled collar, white guitar and a little eyeliner to perform “Let’s Go Crazy.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJjDvZUd3hM

Madonna’s Billboard Music Awards tribute

They were friends and enemies, competitors and collaborators, and together they ruled the ’80s music scene, so it only made sense for Madonna to perform a tribute to the star at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards. She opened with “Nothing Compares 2 U” (clad in a Prince-inspired purple suit, of course) and finished it off with “Purple Rain,” which she sang with surprise guest, Stevie Wonder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZrx_Gg5myg

Mariah Carey’s concert tribute

On the day of his death, Mariah Carey dedicated her song “One Sweet Day” to Prince during a concert in Paris, telling her audience, “He talked me through some times when I really, really needed somebody.”

Justin Timberlake’s beautifully-worded Instagram post

We’ll let J.T’s sob-worthy Insta caption do the talking for this one (because we’ll be in literal tears if we have to read it one more time).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEeMG89SdoM/

Frank Ocean’s lengthy Tumblr note

Possibly one of the most touching tributes to Prince on social media in the days following his death was Frank Ocean’s Tumblr post, where he thanked the music legend for helping him come to terms with his sexuality. Read it in full below:

Obama’s Facebook post

Even Barack Obama shared some kind words in a Facebook post, calling Prince “the most gifted and prolific musician of our time.”

RIP, our magical friend.