Stars mourn the death of Tom Petty

Taryn Ryder
·Writer, Yahoo Entertainment
Tom Petty performs on September 17, 2017 in Del Mar, California. (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)
Tom Petty performs on September 17, 2017 in Del Mar, California. (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)

The news of the death of Tom Petty has saddened many, particularly in Hollywood. Although conflicting reports of the singer’s condition emerged early Monday, Petty’s family later confirmed that he has passed away.

“On behalf of the Tom Petty family we are devastated to announce the untimely death of of our father, husband, brother, leader and friend Tom Petty,” longtime manager Tony Dimitriades said in a statement. “He suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu in the early hours of this morning and was taken to UCLA Medical Center but could not be revived. He died peacefully at 8:40 p.m. PT surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends.”

Musicians, actors, and celebrities far and wide have taken to social media to express grief and offer their condolences.

Stars also posted tributes on Instagram:

Tom Petty's music and songs are timeless. They sound as relevant now as ever. He was a wonderful writer, musician and singer. Irreplaceable and unique. This is such a sad, sad day. Sending all my love to his loved ones. #TomPetty #RIP @tompettyofficial

A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn) on Oct 2, 2017 at 11:52pm PDT

Down here on E Street, we’re devastated and heartbroken over the death of Tom Petty. Our hearts go out to his family and bandmates. I’ve always felt a deep kinship with his music. A great songwriter and performer, whenever we saw each other, it was like running into a long lost brother. Our world will be a sadder place without him. – Bruce Springsteen

A post shared by Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) on Oct 3, 2017 at 8:33am PDT

I am so saddened by the news of Tom Petty's death. Beside being a genius musician and songwriter, he was the sweetest of human beings. In 1989, when Let Love Rule was released, he was the first person to believe in me, and took me on my first tour as his opening act. His belief in me is a gift that I will always cherish. He also taught me about collecting vintage guitars, which became a passion of mine. In each town we toured, we would go to music shops where I would watch him buy the most beautiful pieces. He was always fun, light hearted, and humble. Rest on brother. You did your thing to the maximum.

A post shared by Lenny Kravitz (@lennykravitz) on Oct 3, 2017 at 6:51am PDT

Tom Petty. One of the high priests of the Sonic Church of California. He wasn’t born there, but he planted so many songs there, it’s where his music takes place in my mind. Musically speaking, California is a repository for dreams. Every great song and artist associated with it adds a patch to that sun-faded tapestry. The songs spark these visions, some of them memories, and some of them just seen for the first time in the music and revisited throughout the years. Petty was a major architect of the spirit that makes musicians want to flock to California and write their songs and live the life that both authors them and is authored by them. Growing up a kid in suburban Connecticut in the late ‘80s, Tom Petty’s music was the only thing like it, both on the radio and on MTV. He made me believe in two things: that songwriting was everything, and that California must have felt like his music sounded. It did. And it always will. Musicians leave behind much more than records. They leave with us a shared dream space. A place we can continue to visit, even if after its creator is gone. Tom Petty’s California is my favorite California. It’s the one he painted both photo-real and abstract. It’s the one, like his music always portrayed, that straddles the dichotomy between proletariat and paradise; somewhere between the power lines and the palm trees, between Reseda and Malibu, between restlessness and ecstatic love. A legend reaches the other side. Rest In Peace

A post shared by johnmayer (@johnmayer) on Oct 2, 2017 at 11:29pm PDT

I never met you but you participated in raising me through your music ❤️ rest easy

A post shared by Riley Keough (@rileykeough) on Oct 3, 2017 at 3:32am PDT

"I wanna glide down over Mulholland I wanna write her name in the sky I'm gonna free fall out into nothing Gonna leave this world for a while Now I'm free – free falling Yeah I'm free – free falling". -Tom Petty #tompetty #rip Thanks for leaving us the music

A post shared by Christie Brinkley (@christiebrinkley) on Oct 3, 2017 at 4:52am PDT

Today is heartbreaking. The largest mass shooting with an automatic weapon in American history, senseless and shocking and impossible to ignore. And yet we are all desensitized by so much gun violence, day in and day out. What will it take to rise up? Will everyone have to know a victim personally to feel the depth of this? Hearing about Tom Petty, our beautiful bard of American experience, feels oddly connected- his gift is that he depicts the America we all dreamed of, one where we could seek experience and pursue our passions without judgment or fear. Seeing Tom Petty live was one of the most unifying experiences of my life. Every kind of American was linked, singing and dancing at Jones beach. So let’s remember his words today: Hey baby, there’s something in your eyes Tryin’ to say to me That I’m gonna be alright if I believe in you It’s all I want to do Pray for him. Pray for us. Go to everytown.org to learn how you can help.

A post shared by Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) on Oct 2, 2017 at 2:42pm PDT

I didn’t grow up with Tom Petty being played in my house. But as one of the classic rockers who embraced the MTV generation, Tom Petty became hugely influential to me and, along with the Heartbreakers, kept me connecting with rock n roll as I was becoming a musician in my salad days. I always wanted to meet him, saddened that I did not get a chance to. RIP Tom Petty. Im still running down those dreams.

A post shared by Talib Kweli (@talibkweli) on Oct 2, 2017 at 1:45pm PDT

“Time to move on. Time to get goin’ what lies ahead I have no way of knowin” – Tom Petty

A post shared by Krysten Ritter (@therealkrystenritter) on Oct 2, 2017 at 1:38pm PDT

Really glad I got to see Tom petty on his last tour. His music truly meant a lot to me and still does.

A post shared by Hank Azaria (@hankazaria) on Oct 3, 2017 at 9:05am PDT

R.I.P. beautiful Tom Petty

A post shared by MELANIE (@melanie_griffith57) on Oct 3, 2017 at 7:40am PDT

Tom Petty R.I.P. Some people are just born cool. Such a legend. I was lucky to cross paths a few times.

A post shared by Sean Ono Lennon (@sean_ono_lennon) on Oct 3, 2017 at 7:04am PDT

Listening to this always soothed me when I first left home and felt lonely or scared at the journey ahead of me. I will still need it now Tom. Thank you.

A post shared by January Jones (@januaryjones) on Oct 2, 2017 at 9:28pm PDT

RIP #tompetty

A post shared by Selma Blair (@therealselmablair) on Oct 3, 2017 at 12:54am PDT

Read more from Yahoo: