The music world has been mourning the death of Tina Turner, known affectionately as the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, who passed away in Switzerland this week.
As per Sky News, a statement by her representative read: “Tina Turner, the ‘Queen of Rock’n Roll’ has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model.”
Tina’s official Instagram profile wrote: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner. With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow.
“Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly,” the statement continued.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Turner rose to fame as the raspy-voiced singer in a musical duo with her husband Ike – spawning hits like ‘Nutbush City Limits’ (named after the town where Turner was born) and ‘River Deep, Mountain High’.
In 1978, Turner divorced her husband, having suffered at the hands of his physical and sexual abuse during their tumultuous marriage – and the extent of this abuse was widely unknown until Turner released her 1986 memoir I, Tina and subsequent 1993 biopic What’s Love Got To Do With It starring Angela Bassett. Both Bassett and Lawrence Fishburne (who portrayed Ike) were nominated for Academy Awards.
After leaving Ike, Turner did not own the rights to any of her music, which meant she had to grow her solo career from the ground up. Her early 80s comeback resulted in her track ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It’ giving Turner her first and only Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, selling over two million copies worldwide. Aged 44 at the time, Turner became the oldest solo female artist to top the Hot 100.
The song received three awards at the 1985 Grammy Awards – Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. After enduring years of abuse, Turner had reclaimed her life and career, becoming a certified Rock ‘n’ Roll legend and an inspiration to abuse survivors everywhere.
Turner – who spent the last years of her life in Switzerland – went on to marry German music executive Erwin Bach in 2013, however, she suffered a stroke shortly after their wedding. Then, in 2016, Turner was diagnosed with intestinal cancer and, after experiencing uncomfortable side effects from her initial treatment, she turned to homeopathic remedies. Sadly, these worsened her condition and led her to have total kidney failure.
“I’m also thankful that I’ve not only survived but thrived so that I can pass on to you this book containing precious gifts that were given to me – the greatest gifts I can offer,” she said, per People.
