Tina Turner, the legendary rock ‘n’ roll singer who overcame a troubled childhood and an abusive marriage to become one of the most successful and influential performers of all time, died Wednesday (May 24) at her home in Switzerland. She was 83.
Turner’s death was announced by her family with a statement shared on her social media handles. “Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music.”
Her death was also confirmed by her second husband, German music executive Erwin Bach. “She peacefully passed away this afternoon surrounded by her loved ones,” Bach said in a statement. “She lived a full and wonderful life and her legacy will live on forever.”
Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, in 1939. She began her singing career in the early 1950s, performing with Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm. The couple married in 1962 and had two children together.
Turner’s marriage to Ike was often tumultuous, and she later revealed that she had been subjected to physical and emotional abuse. In 1976, she left Ike and embarked on a remarkable solo career that would solidify her status as one of the greatest performers in music history.
Her 1984 album, “Private Dancer,” propelled her back into the spotlight with chart-topping hits like “What’s Love Got to Do with It” and “Better Be Good to Me.” The album’s success marked a turning point in her life and established her as a force to be reckoned with. She also starred in the 1985 film “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.”
Turner retired from touring in 2009, but continued to perform occasionally. In 2013, she released her autobiography, “Tina Turner: My Life.”
Turner won eight Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 as a solo artist, having first been inducted alongside Ike Turner in 1991.
Tina Turner Cause Of Death
Tina Turner’s cause of death has not yet been released. However, she had been open about her struggles with kidney health. In 1993, she received a kidney transplant from her husband, Erwin Bach. In recent years, she had also suffered from a stroke and other ailments.
Tributes
Tina was mourned by some of her friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry.
The Rolling Stones Frontman Mick Jagger wrote “I’m so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner. She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer. She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.”
“We have lost one of the world’s most exciting and electrifying performers,” said Elton John on Instagram. “A total legend on record and on stage. She was untouchable.”
Turner was a groundbreaking artist who broke down barriers for women in rock ‘n’ roll. She was also a survivor who overcame adversity to become one of the most successful and beloved entertainers of her generation. Her legacy will live on for generations to come.
Condolences to her family.
