Paulina Rubio struggling with Rivera's death

Singer Paulina Rubio is still struggling to come to terms with the death of fellow Latina Jenni Rivera - she was waiting to perform a duet with her when she heard the star had been killed in a plane crash.

Rivera and six other passengers were aboard a private Learjet 25 when it went down in Nuevo Leon, Mexico on Sunday (09Dec12), and all were presumed dead after wreckage of the aircraft was found scattered near the city of Monterrey.

News of the plane's disappearance spread quickly and Rubio was on set preparing for a duet with Rivera on talent show The Voice Mexico when she heard the terrible news.

She tells Entertainment Weekly, "We started hearing rumors about her plane being missing, and then we heard the tragic news - it was just overwhelmingly devastating... It is still hard for me to comprehend and accept what has happened."

And paying tribute to her friend, Rubio adds, "Jenni was a powerful artist, a wonderful human being, a dedicated mother and grandmother, a symbol of strength, a warrior and a dear friend who truly helped all of us around her."

Remains found at the plane crash site were identified as those of the Latin superstar on Thursday (13Dec12).