Notable figures and admirers have expressed their homage to Tina Turner, the renowned soul music icon who passed away at the age of 83, remembered for her chart-topping hits such as The Best and What’s Love Got to Do With It.
Beyoncé lauded her as the “epitome of passion and power”, joined by Sir Mick Jagger among other celebrities in acknowledging Turner’s impactful musical journey.
Mariah Carey and Oprah Winfrey applauded the late artist for triumphing over many years of domestic violence.
The Obamas extolled her for “singing her truth through joy and pain”.
They were accompanied by the current US President Joe Biden, who recognized Turner’s humble beginnings as a farmer’s daughter and applauded her “once-in-a-generation talent”.
The vocalist, who passed away in Switzerland and whose death was disclosed on Wednesday, had been grappling with multiple health problems lately.
Originating from Tennessee and brought up in a religious setting, Turner fought her way into rock and roll, gaining recognition in the 1960s.
When Ike Turner denied her an audition, she seized the opportunity during his show’s break, grabbed a drummer’s microphone, and started singing.
She continued performing with the band that night and quickly earned equal prominence with Ike – later tying the knot with her co-star.
They became a dynamic, fiery band in the soul music scene, with many of their hits being covers of other artists’ works.
Whether it was Proud Mary, Get Back, or Whole Lotta Love, Turner had the knack to make any song uniquely hers. This trait was exemplified in her iconic song from the 1980s, What’s Love Got To Do With It.
American artist Gloria Gaynor, who rose to fame during the same era, credited Turner for “paving the way for so many women in rock music, black and white”.
Her contemporary, Diana Ross, expressed her “shock” and “sorrow” upon hearing of Turner’s death.
Sir Mick Jagger hailed the star as “enormously talented”, emphasizing how “she helped me so much when I was young”.
Her most significant success came as a solo artist with hits like Let’s Stay Together, Steamy Windows, Private Dancer, and the James Bond theme song GoldenEye.
These chart successes came after she divorced Ike in 1978. Several tributes on Wednesday night acknowledged her brave escape from her spouse’s violence.
Women’s Aid, a charity organization, honoured her with a quote from one of her songs: “She will always be simply the best.”
TV host Oprah Winfrey acknowledged Turner’s “courage”, adding, “Her life became a clarion call for triumph.”
In her heartfelt message, singer Mariah Carey acclaimed Turner not just as an “incredible performer”, but also a “survivor and an inspiration to women everywhere”.
Many other artists, including Janelle Monáe, Debbie Harry of Blondie, and Sir Tom Jones, were quick to commend the late singer’s accomplishments.
Nicknamed the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Turner’s vocal power was as formidable as a storm, and her stage charisma matched it.
Her live performance recordings showcased her as an unstoppable force of energy, a powerhouse, a constantly erupting volcano.
Her trophy cabinet includes eight Grammy Awards and she was admitted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 as a solo artist, after an earlier induction alongside Ike.
Devotees globally expressed their condolences, marking Turner’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles with floral tributes, and lighting candles outside her residence in Küsnacht, near Zurich.
Flower arrangements were placed outside the Aldwych Theatre in London, the present venue of a musical titled Tina, which tells the story of the late singer’s life.
