Legendary singer Tina Turner best known by the fans as the ‘Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll’ for her amazing performances and powerful vocals has died. She passed away at the age of 83 on May 24, 2023, after fighting a long illness. She took her last breaths at her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland.
The heartbreaking news of the What’s Love Got To Do With It crooner’s demise was confirmed via a statement issued on her official social media pages. Continue reading further to find out the cause behind the death of the iconic singer Tina Turner.
Legendary singer Tina Turner passes away at 83
Tina Turner well known by the fans for her hit tracks like What’s Love Got To Do With It, The Best, Private Dancer, and We Don’t Need Another Hero has left for the heavenly abode. As per a report by Deadline, she died on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at her home in Switzerland after a long battle with an illness.
At the time of her passing, the music legend was 83 years old. Tina’s death was confirmed via a statement put out on her social media handles. The statement read, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner.”
It further read, “With her music and boundless passion for life, she enchanted fans worldwide and inspired future stars. We say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us her greatest work; her music. Tina, we will miss you dearly.”
As of this moment, the name of Tina’s illness has not been revealed publicly. For those of you who are unaware, let us share with you, Turner was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in the year 2016. In 2017, she underwent a kidney transplant.
Here’s all you need to know about Tina Turner (including her early life, music career, and more)
Anna Mae Bullock popularly known worldwide by her stage name Tina Turner was born on November 26, 1939, in Nutbush, Tennessee. She was the youngest daughter of Floyd Richard Bullock and his wife Zelma Priscilla.
Turner had two older sisters, Evelyn Juanita Currie and Ruby Alline Bullock, a songwriter.
Around that time, she went to the Flag Groove Elementary School. She was a part of the choir of Nutbush‘s Spring Hill Baptist Church.
Tina kicked off her music career with Ike Turner’s King of Rhythm in 1957. She shot to fame in the late 1960s as the lead singer of the musical duo Ike & Tina Turner Revue. During a 1986 interview, she said, “I would have been lost in my life at that point without him. I mean, I could do two things: work in a hospital or sing in Ike’s band. I didn’t know anything else. Or anyone else. And I wanted to sing.”
Tina and her husband Ike disbanded in 1976. It has been reported by various media outlets that she left Ike after years of physical and emotional abuse. Then, she made “one of the greatest comebacks in music history,” in the 1980s.
The Swiss singer sold around 180 million records worldwide and was one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. She sold-out tours all over the world. Back in the day, her Las Vegas shows were attended by many top stars like David Bowie, Sly Stone, Janis Joplin, Cher, James Brown, Ray Charles, Elton John, and Elvis Presley.
Throughout her incredible career which spanned over nearly 6 decades, the beloved and widely influential musician won Grammys. In the year 2021, Tina was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame around 30 years after she was inducted with Ike. The story of her life was narrated in the 1993 hit film What’s Love Got to Do with It and in the 2019 Broadway musical Tina – The Tina Turner Musical.
The biopic What’s Love Got to Do with It was based on Tina’s 1986 autobiography I, Tina: My Life Story. Angela Bassett played the titular character in the movie, meanwhile, Laurence Fishburne essayed the role of Ike Turner. The film was a big success at the box office.
Tina Turner also acted in a few movies
Keeping aside her music career, Turner also dabbled in acting. She starred in a couple of movies like Tommy (1975), Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), and Last Action Hero (1993).
Tributes pour in for the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll Tina Turner
Mick Jagger expressed his grief by writing, “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.”
Barack Obama tweeted, “Tina Turner was raw. She was powerful. She was unstoppable. And she was unapologetically herself—speaking and singing her truth through joy and pain; triumph and tragedy. Today we join fans around the world in honoring the Queen of Rock and Roll, and a star whose light will never fade.”
Forest Whitaker penned, “Tina Turner was an icon, whom we loved for her voice, her dancing, and her spirit. As we honor her, let’s also reflect on her resilience, and think about all the greatness that can follow our darkest days. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us, Tina. You’re simply the best.”
Angela Bassett took to her Instagram page and wrote, “Tina Turner showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion, and freedom should look like. Her final words to me — for me — were ‘You never mimicked me. Instead, you reached deep into your soul, found your inner Tina, and showed her to the world.’”
In a statement released, Dionne Warwick said, “Not only will I miss that eternal ball of energy named Tina Turner but the entire world will also find this void in their lives. … Rest in Peace my friend!”
We send our deepest condolences to the close friends and family members of the iconic singer Tina Turner during this time of difficulty. Heaven has gained an angel. Rest in peace ‘Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.’ Don’t forget to stay tuned with us for the latest updates from showbiz.