Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Tina Turner Dead at 83: Rock and Roll Legend Was Ill for Some Time After Majestic Career as Legendary Singer, Performer

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Tina Turner has died in Switzerland at age 83.

The news is not a total shock. She’d been ill for some time. But it’s still heartbreaking. She was one of the most gifted performers of all time. She became a role model for women after leaving her abusive husband, Ike Turner, in the late 1970s, and starting over.

After a huge success with Ike that culminated in their cover version of “Proud Mary,” Tina built a new life and soared the charts with songs like “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” From then on, she was a superstar, selling out arenas, winning dozens of awards, and creating millions of new fans.

The result was a book, “I Tina” and then the movie using the song’s title starring Angela Bassett. They were each huge hits. A signature song, “Simply the Best,” came to characterize her. She was simply the best. She broke every mold. She was inspiration to everyone. Eventually her story became a hit Broadway musical called “Tina: The Musical.” Adrienne Warren won the Tony Award for playing Tina. I was there on opening night when the great Tina — was who was very fragile — was led down the aisle by Oprah Winfrey. Later she appeared on stage to the roar of the adoring crowd.

Like Aretha Franklin before her, Tina Turner will never ever be forgotten.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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