The legendary Tina Turner passes away at 83
Tina Turner, the renowned Rock’n’Roll icon who achieved immense popularity as a pop sensation in the 1980s, has passed away at the age of 83 after a prolonged illness.
Turner’s publicist, Bernard Doherty, confirmed the news, stating that the legendary singer peacefully died on Wednesday, May 24 at her residence near Zurich, Switzerland.
In an official statement, it was announced, "Today, Tina Turner, widely known as the 'Queen of Rock’n’Roll,' peacefully passed away at the age of 83 in her residence in Küsnacht, Switzerland. The world mourns the loss of a musical legend and an inspirational figure. A private funeral ceremony will be held with the presence of close friends and family. We kindly request that her family's privacy be respected during this challenging time."
Tina Turner battled various health issues in recent years, including a diagnosis of intestinal cancer in 2016 and a kidney transplant in 2017.
Born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, in Nutbush, TN, Turner rose to fame in the late 1960s as the lead singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Following her separation from her husband, Ike Turner, in 1976 after enduring years of physical and emotional abuse, she staged an extraordinary comeback, solidifying her place in pop music history. During the 1980s, she achieved remarkable success with hits such as What's Love Got To Do With It?, Private Dancer, and The Best, amassing an estimated 180 million album sales worldwide. Turner was honored with 12 Grammy Awards and embarked on sold-out stadium tours across the globe.
Turner's electrifying performances, extravagant stage attire, and seemingly boundless energy while fronting the Ike & Tina Turner Revue made her and her then-husband one of the most captivating acts of the 1960s. They enthralled audiences with high-octane renditions of Proud Mary, Come Together, and I Want to Take You Higher.
However, it was her impactful 1986 memoir, I, Tina, where she revealed the harrowing 16-year period of abuse by her ex-husband Ike Turner, her subsequent escape, and the journey to rebuild her life that solidified her role as an unintentional activist. This redemption tale shed light on a largely concealed crisis, inspiring a feature film, “What's Love Got to Do With It" (1993), starring Angela Bassett, as well as the critically acclaimed 2018-19 Broadway and West End production, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.
In 2008, Turner announced that her Tina! 50th Anniversary Tour would be her final endeavor in the music industry. From that point on, she predominantly focused on her personal life, particularly her relationship with German actor and music producer Erwin Bach. After many years together, the couple married in 2013.
Tina’s immense talent, energy, and passion for music are what catapulted her into becoming a staple and pioneer in the music industry. When asked by Oprah Winfrey in 2013 about her anticipated legacy, Turner responded, "Endurance."
"My legacy is rooted in my unwavering commitment from the beginning until the end," she added. "I believed in an inner drive that urged me to make things better. My legacy is that of a person who strived for improvement—and succeeded."
