Singer Tina Turner has passed away. The American died on Wednesday at the age of 83 after a long illness at her home in Küssnacht in Switzerland, Sky News reports based on its spokesperson.
“With her passing, the world loses a music legend and a role model,” said her spokesperson.
Born in Tennessee and also known as the Queen of Rock ‘n Roll, Turner scored big hits in the 1960s and 1970s as Proud Mary with her then-husband Ike Turner. Her traumatic marriage to the singer left her suffering from PTSD. Ike passed away in 2007.
In the eighties, the singer stringed together hits like private dancer and What’s Love Got To Do With It . and won numerous Grammy Awards.
Four concerts in the North
Turner – real name: Anna Mae Bullock – was regularly seen in Groningen and Friesland after her comeback in the 1980s. The singer performed on Tuesday, July 18, 2000 in front of 65,000 people in a sold out City Park in Groningen. This was her set list that evening. Support act was John Fogerty and Taxiride.
In 1990 and in 1996 (twice) she performed to a sold out Thialf in Heerenveen .
In 2008 and 2009 Tina Turner made her last world tour and in March and May 2009 she gave her last three concerts on Dutch soil.
Colon cancer
The singer was already in poor health. In 2013, Turner married Erwin Bach. Just a few days after marriage, the singer suffered a stroke. Once she recovered, Turner received bad news again. She was diagnosed with colon cancer.
The singer also suffered from kidney failure, after which her husband Erwin decided to donate his kidney. After the operation, the singer had a hard time again when her son Craig committed suicide at the age of 59.
Her son (62) passed away last year
At the end of last year, Turner had to say goodbye to her 62-year-old son. “Ronnie, you left the world much too soon. I close my eyes in sadness and think of you, my dear son,” the singer wrote about it.
‘Abused life’
In a documentary about her life, which was released in 2021, the star looks back on her life: “I just had an abused life. There is no other way to tell the story. That’s the reality. I have to accept that… My life was not a good life. Unfortunately, the bad does not balance the good.”
Turner is survived by two children: Ike Turner Jr and Michael Turner.
Sad reactions
In an initial response to the death of singer Tina Turner, the US government calls her death a huge loss. “Tina Turner was an icon, a music icon who had many great moments in her career,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “Very sad to hear the news. I was a big fan of Tina Turner. As you can see from my response, this is the first I’ve heard of it. And it’s a huge loss, a huge loss to the communities that loved her, especially the music industry.”
Bryan Adams
Fellow singer Bryan Adams also responds to the sad news. “I will forever be grateful for the time we spent together on tour, in the studio and as friends. Thank you for being an inspiration to millions around the world by speaking your truth and giving us the gift of your voice. It’s Only Love and that’s all.”
Mike Jagger
“I am so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner,” Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger wrote on Instagram. “She really was a very talented artist and singer. She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.”
Singer Ciara writes that ‘heaven has gained an angel’. “Rest in Paradise Tina Turner. Thank you for the inspiration you have given us all.”
Even the American space program NASA reacts to the death of the icon. “Simply the Best. Music legend Tina Turner shone on stage and in the hearts of millions as the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Her legacy will live forever among the stars.”