Legendary musical icon Tina Turner, known for her soulful voice and groundbreaking transition to rock music, has passed away at the age of 83.
According to an official statement released on her social media accounts, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee died at her residence in Switzerland after a prolonged illness.
The statement expressed deep sadness at the news and acknowledged Turner's immense influence on millions of fans worldwide, as well as her enduring impact on future generations.
"We bid farewell to a beloved friend who leaves behind a legacy of extraordinary music. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family. Tina, you will be greatly missed," the statement read.
View this post on Instagram
In recent years, Turner had lived a private life while battling various health issues, including a stroke in 2013, intestinal cancer in 2016, and a kidney transplant in 2017.
Her career was marked by both musical triumphs and personal hardships, as she escaped an abusive relationship with her former husband and mentor, Ike Turner, to achieve remarkable success in the 1980s with hits like "What's Love Got to Do With It."
Born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, Turner embarked on her musical journey at a young age, singing in the choir of Nutbush's Spring Hill Baptist Church.
However, her true calling came after witnessing Ike Turner perform with his Kings of Rhythm band in 1957, which ignited her passion for music and unleashed her distinctive husky and seductive vocals.
As the dynamic duo of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, they dominated the charts for 15 years with soulful rock anthems such as "River Deep-Mountain High," "Nutbush City Limits," and their Grammy-winning rendition of John Fogerty's "Proud Mary."
Turner will forever be remembered for her iconic image, characterized by her teased hair, denim miniskirts that showcased her fit legs, and intense gaze.
Additionally, her most remarkable achievement came with an extraordinary comeback at the age of 44.
In 1983, her cover of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" climbed to No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and gained massive popularity in Europe. The album marked her triumphant return, featuring her sole No. 1 single, "What's Love Got to Do With It."
The song earned Turner a Grammy Award for Record of the Year and secured her position as the oldest woman (at the time) to grace the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Throughout her career, Turner received a total of nine Grammy Awards, eight as a solo artist and one with Ike.
She was also honored with a Kennedy Center Honor in 2005 and recognized with three Grammy Hall of Fame awards in 1999, 2003, and 2012.
In 2018, she received the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, cementing her status as a true musical legend.
