Getty ImagesWhile the world mourns the surprising death of Prince, one star is reflecting on his earliest memories of the legendary musician.
Justin Timberlake took to social media Thursday to pay tribute to his childhood icon with a lengthy heartfelt message about a man he regards as a "once in a lifetime artist."
"It was Raspberry Beret. I was 4 years old. Yes, 4. I remember that I instantly loved it. 'Mommy, who is that singing?' Seems weird but it's true," the Grammy winner began.
"More than a 'once in a lifetime' artist... Just a ONCE IN FOREVER ARTIST. I'm still in shock as I write this and I feel this overwhelming grief. But, we should all turn away from that and HONOR this musician that changed all of our lives, our perspectives, our feeling, our whole being. From another planet? Probably. Royalty, for sure. Us worthy..? Laughable."
Not only was the 57-year-old icon a significant part of Timberlake's upbringing, but he also lives on in all of the crooner's music.
"They say don't meet your idols... That they let you down. But, some of my greatest, funniest (yes, he was hilarious), and most prolific encounters and conversations about music came from the moments that I spent with him. It would be silly to say that he has inspired our music... It's beyond that. He's somewhere within every song I've ever written."
While it's an emotional loss for all, Timberlake has fond memories of Prince that he will cherish beyond these difficult days.
"I am sad, but I will smile when I think of every second that I had the fortune of being in his company. We have lost our greatest living musician. But his music will never die. Prince, NOTHING COMPARES...#RIPPrince"