What It Was Like to Watch Prince Overdose
Prince protégée Judith Hill opens up about witnessing the terrifying health scare that preceded his death.


Six days before the overdose that killed him, music legend Prince overdosed on his plane, prompting an emergency landing that made headlines around the world. And now his protégée, singer Judith Hill, is opening up about what happened that night.
Singer Judith Hill
Hill was having dinner with Prince on their flight from Atlanta to his Paisley Park estate when he passed out, "his eyes fixed," she told the New York Times. Had she looked away for even a second, she might have thought he just was asleep, but she could tell something was wrong.
She yelled his name and shook him, but he didn't wake up. Fearful for his life, she and his aide, Kirk Johnson, told the pilot to make an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois. Paramedics then gave him a "save shot" of Narcan, a drug used to counteract opioid overdoses, and took him to the hospital. By the time he was there, he was awake, "which was a relief to me, because I thought he was gone," Hill said.
She said he told her, "I had to fight for my life. I remember hearing your voices from afar and saying to myself, 'Follow the voices, follow the voices, get back in your body, you gotta to do this,'" she told the Times. "He said it was the hardest thing he'd ever done, to get back into his body like that."
"Now he's gone, and I realize I was leaning on him a lot," she said. "And that's what's scary. I'm on my own."
Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

Megan Friedman is the former managing editor of the Newsroom at Hearst. She's worked at NBC and Time, and is a graduate of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism.
-
Olivia Rodrigo Turns Gucci's Horsebit 1955 Bag Into a Dress
An award-winning look for an award-winning night.
By Kelsey Stiegman
-
Blake Lively Pays Tribute to Her Own Met Gala Look
The first Monday in May came early this year.
By Kelsey Stiegman
-
Hailey Bieber Dives Into a Rare-for-Her Color Trend
The Rhode founder ditched her trusty neutrals while accepting a major award.
By Lauren Tappan
-
In 'Sinners,' Music From the Past Liberates Us From the Present
In its musical moments, Ryan Coogler's vampire blockbuster makes a powerful statement about Black culture, ancestry, and art.
By Quinci LeGardye
-
After 25 Years, 'The Virgin Suicides' Is Still Influencing Artists Like Me
To coincide with the film's anniversary, Mia Berrin from Pom Pom Squad reflects on what it's meant to her artistic journey.
By Sadie Bell
-
Rico Nasty Shares What Music Shaped Her—and What's on Her Playlist Now
With her new album 'LETHAL' coming soon, the rapper opens up about her musical preferences for the 'Marie Claire' series "Listen Up."
By Sadie Bell
-
In 'Opus,' Cult Leaders and Pop Stars Are One in the Same
The A24 film's costume and production designers open up about crafting fictional pop icon Moretti’s style and mysterious estate.
By Sadie Bell
-
The Melancholic Sound of Success
The artist known as Japanese Breakfast opens up about finding her sound on a new album after experiencing whirlwind success.
By Sadie Bell
-
LISA, Doja Cat, and Raye Perform a Glamorous 'James Bond' Tribute at the 2025 Oscars
The Academy Awards are for the pop girls, actually.
By Quinci LeGardye
-
Aly & AJ Share What Music Shaped Them—And What's on Their Playlist Now
With their new album 'Silver Deliverer' coming soon, the sister act opens up about their musical preferences for the 'Marie Claire' series "Listen Up."
By Sadie Bell
-
Beyoncé Wins Album of the Year for the First Time Ever at the 2025 Grammys
The superstar—who has the most wins in the award show's history—took home the biggest prize of the night for 'Cowboy Carter.'
By Sadie Bell