Singer and stage actress Pixie Lott said: “Grew up listening to the beautiful and talented George Michael — my mama’s favourite! was a pleasure to meet him so sad to hear the news.”

“George Michael was a kind and gentle soul,” noted Ryan Reynolds.

LeAnn Rimes addressed the so-called ‘2016 curse’ in her own message, which read: “No No No No No! We have lost too many beautiful souls this year.”

Fellow pop star La Roux said: “Another one gone.... What a voice, what a songwriter.”

And Duran Duran, who rose to fame at the same time as Michael in the 1980s, wrote: “2016 — loss of another talented soul. All our love and sympathy to George Michael’s family.”

Pop giant George Michael dies aged 53