The shocking and untimely death of Prince has inspired more programmers to schedule tributes or specials related to the Purple Rain artist.
READ MORE: Cable Networks, Fans, Celebs React to the Death of Prince | MTV Acknowledges Prince's Passing During Upfront
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will re-air one of the music legend's most notable television interviews, from The Oprah Winfrey Show (pictured) in 1996, on Saturday, April 23, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on OWN. In what was the first interview following his iconic name change, Oprah Winfrey chats with the artist about his musical genius, lifestyle, soul mate and future in music (video preview). She visits Prince’s personal recording studio at Paisley Park in Minneapolis, where Prince played a few bars of "Purple Rain" for her on his purple piano.
TV One tonight (April 21) from 8-10 p.m. ET has secheduled a Roland Martin-hosted live program, A News One Now Special: Prince Remembered. “Prince is such an iconic figure in our community. There is no way we could not do a primetime special on this legendary musician,” Martin said in a statement. “I met, admired, and absolutely love his music. There is no better way to pay tribute to his life and legacy than with a News One Now special on TV One.” Scheduled guests include another legendary singer, Aretha Franklin (Chaka Khan had been previously announced but is no longer participating); Cedric The Entertainer; Londell McMillan, publisher (The Source) and attorney for Prince; Russ Parr, radio DJ, film director, writer, actor and television personality; Peter Himmelman, a singer-songwriter that came up with Prince in Minnesota; Cori Murray, entertainment director at Essence magazine; Full Force, the R&B group. TV One also will encore an episode of Unsung featuring Sheila E., Prince’s former protégé, collaborator and ex-fiancée, throughout the weekend.
VH1 -- sister network to MTV, which Thursday night paid tribute to the iconic performer at its upfront in New York -- kicked off on-air remembrances by airing Prince's iconic movie "Purple Rain" at 5:30 p.m. ET, the first of what will be several airings over the weekend. VH1 also planned a Prince music video block starting at 8 p.m.
READ MORE: MTV Acknowledges Prince's Passing During Upfront.
AXS TV said it would celebrate the life and legacy of the genre-defying Prince with a tribute block on Saturday, April 23, featuring the Prince episode of AXS TV’s Rock Legends at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, and the television premiere of the acclaimed documentary Slave Trade: How Prince Re-Made The Music Business at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. The network noted that, with his inimitable style and fearless blending of rock, R&B, soul, funk, hip-hop, disco, pop and more, Prince cemented his position as one of music’s most innovative figures. Rock Legends: Prince will re-air Monday, April 25, at 7 p.m. ET and Tuesday, April 26 at 8 p.m. ET. Slave Trade will will be broadcast again on Monday, April 25, at 11 p.m. ET and Tuesday, April 26, at 9 p.m. ET.
Fuse will honor Prince during tonight’s special Dearly Beloved, premiering at 7 p.m. ET/PT and repeating at 11 p.m. ET/PT. This one-hour Prince music-video tribute takes viewers through music history with The Purple One who will never be forgotten, the network said. Dearly Beloved will air throughout Friday, April 22, as well.
