She was known as the Queen of Rock’n Roll for her fiery performances and raspy vocals. She died today at her home in Küsnacht, near Zurich, Switzerland, after a long illness. Tina Turner was 83.
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“With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model,” said Bernard Doherty, her UK spokesperson.
A native of Nutbush, Tennessee, Turner became famous as a singer for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue during the late 1960s. After leaving her husband after years of abuse, she staged an unlikely comeback in the 1980s, selling 180 million albums, winning 12 Grammy awards, and playing sold-out stadiums worldwide with hits such as “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and “Private Dancer.”
Her life story was told in the 1993 smash hit film What’s Love Got To Do With It, and in the 2019 Broadway musical Tina – The Tina Turner Musical. She is an icon of resilience and strength, having overcome many challenges to become one of the most acclaimed stars of her time. Her influence continues to be felt in the music industry, with her story inspiring millions of people worldwide.
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A two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a perennial on Greatest Performer lists, Turner was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 2005. Her Tina: 50th Anniversary Tour remains one of the highest-grossing tours of the 2000s. After retiring in 2009, she returned to the spotlight in 2018 with the hit West End musical Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, starring Adrienne Warren. Warren reprised her role when the musical moved to Broadway in 2019 but was suspended the following year due to the Covid shutdown; Tina resumed performances in 2021 and continued through 2022.
There will be a private funeral ceremony for family members and close friends.
