Tina Turner died on May 24, 2023, at the age of 83 following an unknown long illness, her rep announced via social media.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner,” the statement — which accompanied a black and white photo of the iconic singer — 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.”
The statement concluded, “Tina, we will miss you dearly.”
She is survived by her husband, German producer Erwin Bach, and her sons, Michael and Ike Turner Jr., whom she both adopted during her first marriage to Ike Turner.
Following the news, celebs and fans all over the world took to social media to mourn her loss. She had won the hearts of many as the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. However, her life off the stage was anything but glamorous.
Here’s every obstacle Tina had to beat throughout her life:
Domestic violence
Tina — born Anna Mae Bullock — rose to fame in her 20s after performing with Ike Turner and his band, Kings of Rhythm.
Ike and Tina wed in Mexico in 1962, two years after welcoming their first son, Ronnie.
While their marriage seemed great from the outside, the “Proud Mary” singer dealt with years of physical abuse at the hands of her husband.
She got candid about the abuse and infidelity she endured in a 2018 interview with the Sunday Times.
“There was violence, because he had this fear that I was going to leave him,” she shared. “The other women, because I didn’t love him that way … the other women weren’t so bad, but it was the constant, constant ill treatment.”
The physical abuse was also well-documented in the biopic “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” in which Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne played Tina and Ike, respectively.
Tina escaped the abusive relationship when she divorced Ike in 1978.
Health issues
Aside from her tumultuous relationship, Tina dealt with several health issues over the years, including PTSD, kidney failure, high blood pressure and intestinal cancer.
The “What’s Love Got to Do With It” singer also suffered a stroke in October 2013, which she detailed in her 2018 memoir, “My Love Story.“
“I woke up suddenly and in a panic,” she wrote. “A lightning bolt struck my head and my right leg — at least that’s how it felt — and I had a funny sensation in my mouth that made it difficult for me to call out to Erwin for help. I suspected it wasn’t good, but it was worse than I ever imagined. I was having a stroke.”
After staying in the hospital for 10 days, Tina regained her ability to walk, noting that “nothing about the rehabilitation process was easy.”
Oldest son’s death by suicide
To make matters worse, in 2018, Tina’s oldest son, Raymond Craig — who she shared with Raymond Hill — died by suicide in Los Angeles.
After the “Private Dancer” singer scattered his ashes off the California coast, she said, “My saddest moment as a mother. He was 59 when he died so tragically, but he will always be my baby.”
A year after Raymond’s death, Tina opened up about her “terrible” life.
“I just kept going,” she told the New York Times. “You just keep going, and you hope that something will come.”
Youngest son’s death from cancer
In 2022, Tina suffered another devastating loss after her son Ronnie died due to complications from colon cancer.
Tina mourned her son’s death on Instagram at the time, writing, “Ronnie, you left the world far too early. In sorrow I close my eyes and think of you, my beloved son.”
