EXCLUSIVE: Sheila E. Opens Up About Prince's 'Somber' Memorial, Plans to Turn Paisley Park Into a Museum

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Many of Prince's friends, family, and fans are still reeling from his untimely death on Thursday, including the music legend's longtime collaborator, Sheila E., who attended the artist's memorial service at his Paisley Park estate on Saturday.

Sheila E. sat down exclusively with ET’s Nischelle Turner on Sunday where she opened up about the emotional service, and possible plans to turn Paisley Park into a permanent memorial to the Purple Rain star.

"It was very somber," she shared. "It was sad."


WATCH: Inside Prince's Private Memorial: It Was a 'Beautiful Ceremony to Say a Loving Goodbye'

At the gathering for about 20 of his closest friends and family, a number of Prince's beloved classics were played in honor of his life and legacy, but listening to his music proved to be very difficult.

"What was challenging yesterday was listening to his music at a very low soft volume and the room very low in lights and everyone just taking a moment, just sitting there, kind of going, 'Wow,' [in] disbelief."


WATCH: 8 Famous Women Who Were Once Prince's Muses

The outpouring of support and love for Prince has been nearly universal with both celebrities and fans across the world sharing their thoughts, prayers and memories of the late icon. However, according to Sheila E., Prince's true impact on the world of music may have been unknown to him.

"When you're in a place of musically creating and writing, you just do your thing, and you don't realize how many people you touch," she explained. "I don't know that he really knew how he touched almost everyone in this world."


WATCH: Carmen Electra, Katy Perry, Madonna and Others Share Touching Tributes to Prince

Sheila E. also provided a spark of hope for those looking to celebrate the singer's life. There are apparently plans to turn Prince's Paisley Park recording complex into a museum dedicated to the artist's storied career.

"We're hoping to make Paisley what [Prince wanted] it to be. [He] was working on it being a museum," she shared. "He's been gathering memorabilia and stuff from all the tours, like my drums and his motorcycle."

"There's a hallway of his awards and things, which he really didn't care about too much, but he displayed it for the fans because he knows that they would want to see it," Sheila E. detailed. "There's pictures of him all down the halls, some you've seen before and some never [seen]… There's a mural on the wall with his hands out and on one side is all the people he was influenced by and the other side is all of us who have played with him... It's beautiful."


WATCH: Inside Prince's Paisley Park: Friends and Fans Remember the Late Singer's Enigmatic Estate

On top of the plans for a Paisley Park museum, fans might also get a chance to honor Prince at a tribute performance, which is currently in the works.

"I'm supposed to be the one musical director to put his tribute together with all of the original people and we hope that that happens," Sheila E. said. "We're working on it, we'll see what happens… the plan is to have something here in Minneapolis."

For more from Sheila E. on Prince's impact on music and the world, tune into Entertainment Tonight on Monday. Check here for local listings.

For more on the life and legacy of Prince, one of music's most influential figures, watch the video below.

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