For several hours earlier today, music lovers believed Tom Petty was dead.
Courtney Love, Talib Kweli, Kid Rock, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Stanley, Sheryl Crowe and Lin-Manuel Miranda were among scores of fans posting remembrances on Twitter, where Petty was the top worldwide trending topic.
A memorial was scheduled for his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
![Tom Petty on stage on September 17. Photo/AP](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/2EB2VPGUDIERSO3YE44FS622EA.jpg?auth=c6a14f9817085924d12897851f68c33aab23d66470c8769c527436c8909875c6&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
But the 66-year-old entertainer is still alive, and news outlets that announced his death later retracted their stories. The Walk of Fame tribute was cancelled.