Tina Turner, Queen Of Rock ‘N’ Roll, Dies
Tina Turner, the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, has died at 83 years old.
The singer died following a long illness, her representatives announced today (May 24th). “There will be a private funeral ceremony attended by close friends and family,” the statement added. “Please respect the privacy of her family at this difficult time.”
Born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26th, 1939, in Brownsville, Tennessee, the singer got her start in music at a Kings of Rhythm show in 1957, which featured performer Ike Turner. One night, she grabbed a microphone during intermission and sand B.B. King’s “You Know I Love You.” After that, she became a regular performer with the band.
From there, the duo would release a number of hit singles over the next decade, including “Nutbush City Limits,” “A Fool In Love,” “It’s Gonna Work Out Fine,” and their cover of Creedence Clear Water Revival’s “Proud Mary”. Tina quickly made a name for herself with her powerful vocals and mesmerizing stage presence.
While things seemed fine between the duo, who would later marry in 1963, offstage was a different story. Tina later revealed that Ike abused her throughout the marriage, which led to her 1976 divorce. The following year, Tina Turner launched her solo career and went on to find even bigger success thanks monster hits “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” “Private Dancer,” and “We Don’t Need Another Hero.” Turner’s 10th and final album was 1999’s Twenty Four Seven.
Throughout her life, Turner earned a number of accolades: she’s won of 12 Grammys, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She received the Kennedy Center Honors and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame twice.
Outside of music she dabbled in acting, playing The Acid Queen in the Who’s Tommy, Aunt Entity in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (for which she won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture), and The Mayor in The Last Action Hero. She published a total of four memoirs and appeared in a number of documentaries, including 2021’s Tina.
