Prince to have major road named after him

Virgin Radio

5 May 2023, 13:38

Late, great artist Prince is to be honoured by having a stretch of highway named after him.

In his home state of Minnesota, senators have voted to rename a seven-mile section of road after the iconic musician. 

The Minnesota State Highway 5 will have its name changed to Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway. Prince Rogers Nelson was the iconic singer’s full name. The singer-songwriter, known for hits such as When Doves Cry, U Got the Look and Raspberry Beret, died in 2016 after an accidental fentanyl overdose. He was 57. 

It is an appropriate section of road to name after the Purple Rain singer, as it goes past his 65,000 square feet Paisley Park estate, where he lived and recorded his music. The property is now a museum, event space and recording studio run by Prince’s estate. Fans from all over the world visit Paisley Park as a pilgrimage. 

The highway runs through the Minneapolis suburbs of Chanhassen and Eden Prairie, and the plan is for the new signs displaying the road's name to be purple.

Senator Julia Coleman, the bill's lead sponsor, said: “Prince was a true genius, a visionary artist who pushed the boundaries of music and cultures in ways that will never be forgotten. His influence can be heard in the work of countless musicians who came after him, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of artists to this day.”

The Senator said that the star’s friends and family are footing the costs.

In related news, unreleased Prince music will be featured in Paisley Park’s annual Celebration event in June, according to NME. 

The event, from 8th - 11th June will feature several musical appearances, legendary artists to rising talent, as well as music from Prince’s Vault, which contains unreleased material.