With the Super Bowl in Minneapolis, there was a good chance fans would see a nod to Prince during Sunday's game. An NFL source confirmed to the Star Tribune Saturday that Prince indeed was planned as a big part of Justin Timberlake's halftime show — appearing as a hologram.
That notion proved instantly controversial with Prince fans and associates, with many saying their outcry stemmed from Prince's own opposition to the technology.
It appeared late Saturday, however, that the plan was being dropped after Sheila E., Prince's longtime friend and drummer, raised objections.
She tweeted she had talked with Timberlake, and he "shared heartfelt words of respect for Prince & the Purple fans," adding, "There is no hologram."
In an interview Sunday with the Associated Press, she said, "Justin's people reached out to my manager and wanted to talk to me about it and we had a great conversation." She said she was assured there will be no hologram of the late superstar at Sunday's Super Bowl, according to AP.
Timberlake, who considers Prince a big influence, called Prince "the greatest all-around musician I can think of" during a news conference Thursday, and said he would cherish the memories of the times they spent talking music.
While declining to give specifics of the show, Timberlake teased, "We're doing a few things with this halftime show they've never quite done before."
A Friday rehearsal included a hologram as part of the show, the NFL source said.
