Tina Turner told Oprah Winfrey she would be “excited” when it was time for her to “leave this earth”.
Tina Turner and Oprah Winfrey were close friends
The legendary musician died on Wednesday (24.05.23) at the age of 83 after battling a “long illness” and she once told her friend how she would feel when the time came.
In a moving tribute on Instagram, the 69-year-old star wrote: ‘Once she claimed her freedom after years of domestic abuse, her life became a call for triumph.
“I’m grateful to him for his courage, for showing us what victory looks like wearing Manolo and a leather miniskirt.
“She once told me that when the time came to leave this earth, she would not be afraid, but would be excited and curious.
“Because she had learned to LIVE surrounded by her beloved husband, Erwin, and his friends.”
In her social media post, Oprah revealed how she went from “fan” of the “Proud Mary” singer to “true friends.”
She said: “I started out as a Tina Turner fan, then a full-fledged groupie, following her from show to show across the country, and then, eventually, we became real friends.
“She’s our eternal rock ‘n’ roll goddess who contained a breadth of inner strength that grew throughout her life.
“She was a role model not just for me but for the world. She encouraged a part of me that I didn’t know existed.
Concluding her moving post, the star referenced ‘The Best’ – one of Tina’s most iconic songs – and insisted she had become a “better human” just by knowing her late friend.
She added, “I am a better woman, a better human, because her life touched mine. She was indeed simply the best.
Tina’s rep revealed her death in a statement on Wednesday, revealing that she died “peacefully” at home.
They said: “Tina Turner, the ‘Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll’ died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness at her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland.
“With her, the world loses a music legend and role model.”