The legendary Tina Turner died on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
The world has lost one of its most iconic performers, Tina Turner, known as the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll". The powerhouse singer died peacefully at her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland, near Zurich, after a long illness, according to a statement from her family. Turner was 83.
Born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, in Nutbush, Tennessee, Tina Turner would grow up to become an eight-time Grammy winner with a powerful, textured voice that could convey raw emotion. She was renowned for electrifying performances and a stage presence that was both frenzied and sensual, influencing performers from Mick Jagger to Beyoncé. Her influence also extended to the film industry, where she notably played a post-apocalyptic villain in "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome."
Turner's career was marked by two distinct chapters, before and after her first husband, Ike Turner. Initially a part of Ike's music revue at just 17, she later became the star singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Despite the duo's electric live performances and occasional hit records, the relationship behind the scenes was marked by Ike's physical and emotional abuse.
After leaving Ike in 1976, Turner's journey towards financial stability and solo success was a struggle, but her perseverance paid off in the 1980s. Her 1984 album "Private Dancer" was a global success and marked a triumphant liberation from her ex-husband's shadow. Her ex-husband's domineering behavior and bursts of violence were later depicted in the 1993 biopic "What’s Love Got to Do With It," starring Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne, which further entrenched her legacy as a survivor.
Angela Bassett, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Tina Turner in the biopic, paid tribute to Turner saying, “How do we say farewell to a woman who owned her pain and trauma and used it as a means to help change the world... Tina Turner showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion, and freedom should look like..."
Tributes have been pouring in from around the world, with various celebrities expressing their admiration and gratitude for the iconic singer. Gloria Gaynor, Ciara, and Mick Jagger were among those who offered tributes?. NBA legend Magic Johnson referred to her as "one of my favorite artists of all time," and Grammy-winning singer Ciara thanked Turner "for the inspiration you gave us all".
Turner's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame will be adorned with flowers in honor of her remarkable contribution to the world of music and her indomitable spirit.
In her later years, Turner faced health issues, including a stroke and renal disease that necessitated a kidney transplant in 2017. Despite these challenges, she continued to work with theater producers to tell another version of her life story. The resulting Broadway musical, "Tina: The Tina Turner Musical," ran for three years and earned 12 Tony Award nominations and a win for lead actress Adrienne Warren.
