Tina Turner performs at Shoreline Amphitheatre on May 23, 1997 in Mountain View California© Getty Images

Tina Turner, legendary Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, dies aged 83

The singer was a legendary early pioneer of the female rock movement with incredible staying power

Ahad Sanwari - New York
Senior WriterNew York
May 24, 2023

Tina Turner, the legendary singer-songwriter who was dubbed the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, has passed away at the age of 83.

Her spokesperson released a statement on social media that revealed she died in Switzerland after battling a long illness.

WATCH: Singer Tina Turner dies aged 83

"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner," it read. "With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow. 

"Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly."

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Tina Turner at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards, 1985

The singer was known for leading the movement of women into rock and roll throughout the 1960s and '80s, thanks to hits like "Private Dancer," "The Best," "What's Love Got to Do With It," and more.

Turner came to prominence as part of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue with her first husband Ike Turner, first performing for Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm under the name Little Ann.

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Eventually, she and Ike were married in 1962 and became a formidable live act as a duo, releasing a string of hits such as "River Deep – Mountain High," "Nutbush City Limits," and "Proud Mary."

Ike had two sons from his previous relationship, and they created a blended family unit which also included Turner's son Craig (who she gave birth to while in high school) and their son Ronnie.

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Tina Turner poses at a photocall for "Tina: The Tina Turner Musical" at The Hospital Club

Their highly-publicized relationship proved to be abusive – and after years of physical and verbal assaults at Ike's hands, Turner left him without a penny to her name. The group disbanded in 1976 and they divorced in 1978.

In the 1980s, a solo Turners entered the stratospheric  peak of her career, launching what is considered to be one of the greatest musical comebacks with a string of hit songs, albums, and tours.

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She released several enduring classics such as "Better Be Good to Me," "Typical Male," "I Don't Wanna Fight," "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)," and the Bond song "GoldenEye."

Turner also acted in movies like 1975's Tommy and 1985's Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, although had more success penning original tracks for these movies.

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Tina Turner performing on the pilot for the ABC TV series 'Constantinople' in 1977

Her life was the subject of the 1993 biopic What's Love Got to Do With It, featuring an Oscar-nominated performance from Angela Bassett, and the award-winning Broadway jukebox musical Tina.

She is survived by her second husband, Erwin Bach, a German music executive who she married in 2013 (and started dating in 1986), and two of her four children, having adopted both of Ike's babies when they were married. Craig died in 2018, while Ronnie passed away in 2022 aged 62.

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Turner sold over 100 million records over the span of her career and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and 12 Grammy Awards.

Check out some of Tina Turner's most legendary moments in her career in the photos below: 

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Tina Turner speaks during the "Tina - The Tina Turner Musical" opening night at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York City

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