The world is mourning the Queen of Rock and Roll. Tina Turner died on May 24 at the age of 83, her representative first confirmed to Sky News that she died after a "long illness" at her home near Zurich, Switzerland. "The world has lost a music legend and role model," a spokesperson said in a statement.
Turner's death was later announced on her Instagram page, along with a statement paying tribute to her musical legacy. "With her music and boundless zest for life, she captivated millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow," the post read. "Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who gave We leave behind her greatest work: her music. Our heartfelt sympathies to her family, Tina, you will be greatly missed."
Turner's career is one of rock's most memorable stories. After working with her ex-husband for two decades on iconic '70s hits like "Proud Mary" and "River Deep, Mountain High," she blazed her own trail with her 1984 album "Private Dancer," and remains was an iconic artist of the 1970s. In the 1980s and beyond, Billboard called it "one of the greatest comebacks in music history." Turner won 12 Grammy Awards during her career, was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and was the first female artist to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine . Her life has been chronicled in three memoirs, a critically acclaimed Broadway jukebox musical and the 2021 documentary Tina .
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Celebrities were quick to pay tribute to the legendary singer on social media. "Schitt's Creek" creator and star Dan Levy shared a hot clip of his on-screen love interest, played by Noah Reid, performing Turner's 1989 classic "The Best", as an ode to lovers. "The ultimate inspiration," he wrote. “The best. #RIPtinaTurner.”
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Angela Bassett, who was first nominated for an Oscar for her role as Turner in the 1993 biopic What's Love Got To Do With It , wrote on Instagram The touching message revealed the singer's final words to her. "Her last words to me - to me - were, 'You never imitated me. Instead, you reached deep into your soul and found your inner Tina and showed her to the world.' I will carry this sentence with me for the rest of my life," she said. "I was honored to know Tina Turner. I was honored to help showcase her to the world."
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In honor of Turner, Lizzo performed "Proud Mary" during a special tour stop in Phoenix, Arizona, and shared some words about the icon. “As a black girl in a rock band, I wouldn’t exist without the Queen of Rock and Roll,” she said before shouting, “There would be no Rock and Roll without Tina Turner!”
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In an interview with MSNBC, Cher recalled visiting her close friend in Switzerland during the final months of the 1970s, saying that even though Turner was "very ill," she was "really happy." "I started seeing her because I thought, 'I need to invest this time in our friendship so she knows we haven't forgotten her,'" she recalled. "She said, 'I can't take too much time,' and five hours later we were laughing like crazy... Even though she was really sick and didn't want people to know, she was having a great time."
Beyoncé posted a touching message in memory of Turner on her official website, sharing a photo of them performing together at the 2008 Grammy Awards. "My dear Queen. I love you forever," she wrote in part. "I am so grateful for your inspiration and the path you paved." Former President Barack Obama paid tribute to her on Twitter, calling her "a star whose light will never fade," while actor George Takei Wrote: "She was our deep rivers and mountains, the personal dancer of our hearts." Rock icon Mick Jagger also recalled his "good friend" on Twitter. "She helped me a lot when I was young and I will never forget her," he wrote.
Fans also took to Twitter to mourn the rock icon, noting her immeasurable achievements and impact in the music industry and remembering their favorite performances.
Turner has experienced health problems in recent years, being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 and undergoing kidney failure the following year. She is survived by her husband, Erwin Bach, and two children, Ike Turner Jr. and Michael Turner, whom she married Adopted these two children. Her eldest son Craig died in 2018 at the age of 59, and her other son Ronnie died in December 2022 at the age of 62.
