Tina Turner, one of the greatest rock’n ’roll singers of all time, has died in Switzerland at the age of 83.
“Tina Turner, the ‘Queen of Rock’n’Roll’ has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland,” her publicist said in a statement, May 24. “With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model.”
Tina Turner,the singer rose to prominence performing with her husband Ike Turner in the 1960s before overcoming his violent, abusive behaviour to go on to become a chart-topping solo artist.
Turner earned a legion of fans for her riveting live performances, and was best known for songs such as “Private Dancer”, “The Best”, “What’s Love Got to Do With It” and “Proud Mary”.
Born Anna Mae Bullock on 26 November, 1939, in Nutbush, Tennessee, Turner would go on to sell more than 180 million albums and won 12 Grammy Awards.
Turner was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2016 and received a kidney transplant in 2017.
Stars of the entertainment world including Mick Jagger, Bryan Adams, Rosario Dawson, Paloma Faith and Naomi Campbell paid tribute to the iconic singer.
The White House reacted, ‘That is incredibly sad news’
The stars of the West End stage show Tina: The Tina Turner Musical broke news of its namesake’s death during an emotional interval speech on Wednesday (24 May).
According to audience accounts in the Mail, the auditorium at London’s Aldwych Theatre was filled with “gasps” when the stars came out and broke the news to the crowd during a performance on Wednesday night.
Caleb Roberts, who plays Ike Turner, made the announcement, with Kristina Love, who plays Tina, delivering a small speech at the end of the show.
The statement from the cast was “poignant” and “sombre”, theatregoers said, with the show reflecting the idea that Turner herself “would have wanted the show to go on”.
Former US president, Barack Obama: “Tina Turner was raw. She was powerful. She as unstoppable. And she was unapologetically herself- speaking and singing her truth through joy and pain, triumph and tragedy. Today we join fans around the world in honoring the Queen of Rock and Roll, and a star whose light will never fade”.
Tina Turner died at her home in Switzerland at the age of 83 following a long illness.
News of the “What’s Love Got to Do with It” singer’s death was first announced by her representative in a statement.
“Tina Turner, the ‘queen of rock’n’roll’ has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland,” the statement read.
Countless other musical giants have paid tribute, from Beyonce to Mick Jagger and Diana Ross.
“My beloved queen, I love you endlessly,” Beyonce wrote in a message on her official website. “I’m so grateful for your inspiration, and all the ways you have paved the way.
“You are strength and resilience. You are the epitome of power and passion. We are all so fortunate to have witnessed your kindness and beautiful spirit that will forever remain.
“Thank you for all you have done.”
Angela Bassett the actress who played Tina Turner reacts to her death: ‘I am humbled to have helped show her to the world’ in ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’
Bassett lauded Turner for using her ‘pain and trauma’ as ‘a means to help change the world.’
Within hours of the death of music icon Tina Turner, actress Angela Bassett paid tribute, which just felt right, since Bassett introduced many people to Turner’s story when she portrayed her in the 1993 movie What’s Love Got to Do With It.
“How do we say farewell to a woman who owned her pain and trauma and used it as a means to help change the world?” asked Bassett, who was nominated for the 1994 Oscar for Best Actress for the role. “Through her courage in telling her story, her commitment to stay the course in her life, no matter the sacrifice, and her determination to carve out a space in rock and roll for herself and for others who look like her, Tina Turner showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion, and freedom should look like.”
Bassett’s biopic featured memorable scenes of the physical abuse she endured from her then husband and sometimes partner in music, Ike Turner, who died in 2007. They couldn’t have been easy to watch.
“Her final words to me — for me — were ‘You never mimicked me. Instead, you reached deep into your soul, found your inner Tina, and showed her to the world,'” Bassett said. “I shall hold these words close to my heart for the rest of my days. I am honored to have known Tina Turner. I am humbled to have helped show her to the world. So today, while we mourn the loss of this iconic voice and presence, she gave us more than we could have ever asked. She gave us her whole self. And Tina Turner is a gift that will always be ‘simply the best.’ Angels, sing thee to thy rest…Queen.”
Source: Yahoonews.com
