Madonna to Honor Prince at 2016 Billboard Music Awards
The Queen of Pop herself, Madonna, will honor the late Prince at this year's 2016 Billboard Music Awards, airing live on May 22 from Las Vegas.
"The legendary pop singer will pay tribute to her good friend and fellow artist, who unexpectedly passed away April 21 at the age of 57. Details on her tribute to the late music great remain a closely-guarded secret," Billboard reveals in an otherwise tight-lipped report.
Madonna and Prince have a long history together over the decades as two major pioneers of the music industry.
The two collaborated on her legendary 1989 record Like A Prayer including their duet "Love Song" and, as recently as last year, Prince serenaded Madonna and her Rebel Heart Tour dancers in an intimate performance at Paisley Park.
Back in 2005, Madonna selected "When Doves Cry" as her all-time life changing track on Radio 1 during an interview with Jo Whiley.
Madonna's manager, Guy Oseary, revealed in his mourning of the iconic artist that Madonna and Prince were in talks to do a joint Royalty Tour together, but Prince felt the world wasn't prepared for the spectacle.
“The world isn’t ready for this, it’s too big,” Prince reportedly told Oseary.
"He Changed The World!! A True Visionary. What a loss. I'm Devastated. This is Not A Love Song," she wrote on Instagram upon his passing in April.
The 2016 Billboard Music Awards will air live on May 22, and will include performances from the likes of Celine Dion, Britney Spears and Justin Bieber.
Prince's Albums, Ranked