Tina Turner, the legendary American singer who rose to fame in the 1960s and became one of the most successful and influential entertainers of all time, has died at the age of 83. She passed away peacefully at her home in Switzerland after a long illness, her publicist said in a statement on Wednesday.
Turner was known for her powerful voice, electrifying stage presence, and hit songs such as What’s Love Got to Do with It, The Best, and Proud Mary. She sold more than 200 million records during her career and won eight Grammy Awards, including three as a solo artist and one for lifetime achievement. She was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, first as part of the duo Ike and Tina Turner in 1991 and then as a solo superstar in 2021.
Turner’s life story was marked by triumph and tragedy. She was born Anna Mae Bullock in 1939 in the rural Tennessee community of Nutbush. She began singing in church and later met Ike Turner, a musician and bandleader who gave her the stage name Tina Turner and married her in 1962. The couple had a string of hits in the 1960s and early 1970s, but their relationship was marred by domestic violence and drug abuse. Turner left Ike in 1976 and divorced him in 1978, taking only her stage name and her talent.
Turner reinvented herself as a solo artist in the 1980s, achieving global fame and acclaim with her album Private Dancer and her role as Aunty Entity in the movie Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. She continued to perform and record until 2009, when she announced her retirement from touring. She became a Swiss citizen in 2013 and married her longtime partner Erwin Bach in 2014.
Turner’s death sparked an outpouring of tributes from fans, friends, and fellow artists. Mick Jagger, who performed with Turner at Live Aid in 1985, wrote on Twitter: “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.”
Diana Ross, who presented Turner with a Kennedy Center Honor in 2005, tweeted: “Tina Turner is a legend. Her voice is unforgettable. Her spirit is unbreakable. Her legacy is everlasting. Rest in peace my friend.”
Ciara, who performed a tribute to Turner at the Grammy Awards in 2008, wrote on Instagram: “Heaven has gained an angel. Rest in Paradise Tina Turner. Thank you for the inspiration you gave us all.”
The White House also issued a statement honoring Turner’s life and legacy. “Tina Turner worked hard to reimagine the role of a Black woman in rock & roll — one that was firmly placed front and center,” it said. “She was a trailblazer who broke barriers and inspired generations of artists and fans with her talent, courage, and resilience.”
Reference：
- Tina Turner dead: Tributes pour in for Queen of rock’n’roll after she dies aged 83 | Yahoo News | May 24, 2023
- Tina Turner death: Tributes from Mick Jagger, Diana Ross and more pour in after ‘legend’ dies aged 83 | MSN | May 24, 2023
- Tributes pour in for ‘Queen of Rock’n’roll’ Tina Turner | ABC News | May 25, 2023