Tina Turner, the legendary rock and soul singer who rose from humble beginnings to the heights of the music world, has died in Switzerland after a long illness. She was 83 years old.
“With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model,” her representatives said in a statement Wednesday.
Born Anna Mae Bullock in rural Tennessee in 1939, she picked cotton as a little girl to help support her family, she said in a 2021 HBO documentary about her life.
After adopting the name Tina Turner, she was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, won eight Grammy Awards and sold over 100 million records, making her one of the hottest female artists. sold in music history.
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As news of the “Proud Mary” singer’s death spread, Hollywood stars and other musicians paid tribute to the late singer on social media.
Angela Bassett, who earned an Oscar nomination for portraying Turner in the film What’s love got to do with itsaid Turner “took ownership of his pain and trauma and used it as a way to help change the world”.
“Through her courage to tell her story, her commitment to staying the course in her life no matter the sacrifice, and her determination to carve out a place in rock and roll for herself and others like her” , wrote Bassett on Instagram. “His last words to me – to me – were ‘You never imitated me. Instead, you went deep into your soul, found your inner Tina, and showed her to the world. I will keep these words close to my heart for the rest of my days. I’m honored to have known Tina Turner. I’m honored to have helped show it to the world.
Oprah Winfrey, Viola Davis, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross and Mick Jagger also paid tribute to Turner.
“Another longtime friend has transitioned. Not only will I miss this ball of eternal energy named Tina Turner, but the whole world will also find this void in her life. My condolences to her husband and other family members. Rest in peace my friend!” Warwick tweeted.
“Iconic. Beautiful. A Survivor. Sparkle. Our first symbol of excellence and unbridled appropriation of sexuality!! You were my childhood. Oh man!!! God receives an angel today!!! Rest well Mrs. Tina Turner. We will enjoy your legacy!!!” Davis wrote on Instagram.
“Shocked. Saddened. Sending condolences to the family and loved ones of Tina Turner,” Ross added on Instagram.
Winfrey shared a carousel of photos of Turner on Instagram and included the caption, “I started out as a Tina Turner fan, then a full-fledged groupie, following her from show to show across the country, then , finally, we became true friends. She is our eternal rock ‘n’ roll goddess who contained a breadth of inner strength that grew throughout her life. She was a role model not only for me but for the world. She encouraged a part of me that I didn’t know existed.
Jagger, who was inspired early in his career by Turner’s energetic stage presence, described her as a friend and mentor.
“I am so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner,” the Rolling Stones frontman said. tweeted. “She was truly an extremely talented performer and singer. She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I never will
Forget her.”
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame remembers Turner for his talent and bravery.
“Twice-inducted Tina Turner has worked hard to reinvent the role of a black woman in rock & roll – a role firmly placed at the forefront,” the organization said in a statement. “During her time in the duo Ike and Tina Turner (inducted in 1991), her electric stage presence raised the bar for live performances forever. Their hits “River Deep–Mountain High” and “Proud Mary” still live on today. But this queen of rock & roll made music history again with her solo career (for which she was inducted again in 2021) and with her bravery in sharing her life story in book form, movies and musicals on Broadway.
Turner received the star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1986 in front of the Capitol Records building in Los Angeles. Flowers were placed on her star on Wednesday afternoon.