On Wednesday, the world lost an icon. Twelve-time Grammy Award winner Tina Turner passed away on May 24 after battling a “long illness.”
“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 Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model,” Turner’s publicist, Bernard Doherty, said.
“There will be a private funeral ceremony attended by close friends and family. Please respect the privacy of her family at this difficult time.”
Turner leaves behind an eight-decade legacy that spans music, fashion and pop culture at large. With her voice, resiliency and style, she impacted many of today’s greatest entertainers like Beyoncé and Rihanna. Upon learning of her passing, several public figures honored Turner and offered their condolences to her family.
“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,” Beyoncé wrote on her website.
“Tina Turner was raw. She was powerful. She was 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,” former President Barack Obama tweeted.
“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? 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,” Angela Bassett added.
Turner is survived by her longtime partner, Erwin Bach, and two of her sons. She was 83 years old.
