Hilary Duff has led the tributes for Aaron Carter, who sadly passed away on Saturday (November 5), at the age of 34.
Yesterday, PEOPLE and TMZ reported that the singer-turned-rapper Carter had been found dead at his home in Lancaster, California.
Law enforcement officials informed TMZ that Carter's body was found "in the bathtub" by the singer's housesitter, who later alerted the authorities.
The news was later confirmed by Carter's on-and-off fiancée, Melanie Martin, who shared the following statement to TMZ: "My fiancé Aaron Carter has passed away. I love Aaron with all my heart and it’s going to be a journey to raise a son without a father."
The couple shared a one-year-old son, Prince.
Carter - the younger brother of Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter - shot to fame in the 1990s following the release of his first self-titled debut pop album in 1997. He was just nine years old during the album's launch, and his single 'Crush on You' went on to reach the Top 10 in countries like the UK and Australia.
Three years later, he would release his second album, Aaron's Party (Come Get It), which would go on to sell three million copies in the United States alone.
In 2000, his second album, Aaron's Party (Come Get It), sold three million copies in the United States alone and reached number four in the US album charts - further propelling the young star into stardom and cementing himself as one of the biggest teen stars of the generation.
During the early years of his music career, he would join his older brother Nick on Backstreet Boys tours.
His fame during this time would also see him land several acting roles, in pre-teen shows such as Lizzie McGuire and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.
In fact, in the early 2000s, Carter also had an on-and-off again relationship with Lizzie McGuire star, Hilary Duff, who has since taken to social media to pay tribute to her ex-boyfriend.
Taking to Instagram, Duff wrote: "For Aaron- I'm deeply sorry that life was so hard for you and that you had to struggle in-front of the whole world."
Over the last decade or so, Carter's struggles with addiction, mental health, and legal troubles were well-publicized and something he was often open about with his fans.
Duff continued: "You had a charm that was absolutely effervescent... boy did my teenage self love you deeply. Sending love to your family at this time. Rest Easy."
Other stars to pay tribute to Carter include boyband NSYNC, who tweeted out: "We are saddened by the news of the sudden passing of Aaron Carter today. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and fans during this difficult time. Rest In Peace Aaron."
And boyband New Kids on the Block also tweeted: "We are shocked and saddened about the sudden passing of Aaron Carter. Sending prayers to the Carter family. Rest in peace, Aaron."
And singer-songwriter Diane Warren tweeted: "Fame at a young age is often more a curse than a blessing and Surviving it is not easy. RIP Aaron Carter."
Our thoughts continue to go out to Carter's family, friends, and fans at this time.