Music Legend Tina Turner Has Passed Away At The Age Of 83
Image Source: Entertainment Tonight
The music world is in mourning today as the Queen of Rock n’ Roll Tina Turner passed away at the age of 83 at her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland. The singer recently experienced a slew of health issues including cancer, a stroke, and kidney failure. Turner’s intestinal cancer was diagnosed in 2016 and received a kidney transplant in 2017.
Tina Turner was born under the name Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, in Nutbush, Tennessee. Turner began her career with her husband Ike Turner in the 1960s by performing the hits “Proud Mary” and “River Deep, Mountain High.” Unfortunately, Ike controlled his wife with emotional and physical abuse. The name Tina Turner came from a sole decision by Ike. Turner wrote about her abusive husband, “He would use my nose as a punching bag so many times I could taste blood running down my throat when I sang.”
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After leaving her husband, Turner launched her solo career in the 1980s with a comeback tour that brought the world songs like “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “Private Dancer,” and “Simply The Best.” During this comeback, Turner sold over 180 million albums and won 12 Grammy Awards. Turner expanded her career by acting in the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and The Who’s rock opera Tommy in addition to several MTV performances as one of the few non-white performers.
Image Source: Vanity Fair
The singer found herself back in the spotlight with the 1993 film What’s Love Got To Do With It about her life story. Three decades later, Turner would be the subject of a Broadway musical Tina. In 2021, Tina Turner was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame which introduced Turner as a performer who has “expanded the once-limited idea of how a Black woman could conquer a stage and be both a powerhouse and a multidimensional being.” The artist has been cited as inspirations for Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Janelle Monae, and Rihanna.”
In her personal life, Turner found love with her second husband, Erwin Bac, a German music executive. The couple moved to Switzerland together with Turner taking Swiss citizenship. Bac even donated a kidney to Turner during her kidney failure. Turner was no stranger to tragedy. She lost her son Craig to suicide in 2018 and another son, whose father was Ike, passed away in 2022. The singer also had two adopted sons, Ike Jr and Ronnie, who came from Ike’s previous relationship.
When reflecting on her life in a 2018 interview with Marie Clarie South Africa, Turner showed grace by claiming, “People think my life has been tough, but I think it’s been a wonderful journey. The older you get, the more you realize it’s not what happened, it’s how you deal with it.” This sage advice from a performer experienced in both triumph and adversity may be some comfort to grieving fans. Turner’s U.K. spokesperson called the performer a music legend and a role model. She added that press inquiries will not be answered. At this time, a private funeral for Tina Turner is expected with only family and close friends in attendance.
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