On May 24, 2023, rock and roll legend Tina Turner passed away peacefully in her home in Switzerland at the age of 83. Turner’s publicists made a statement describing a long-term illness as the cause of death, Turner previously opening up about her intestinal cancer in earlier years. This has been a huge loss to the music community and fans of the iconic singer. 

In 1939, Turner was born in the state of Tennessee, where she was raised in Nutbush. Her childhood was affected by her parents divorce, which was the cause of her living with grandparents. Eventually, Turner decided to follow her mother and move to St. Louis. She was the Queen of Rock and Roll, but always had roots for country due to her home background.

Turner started her rise to fame creating music with her first husband Ike Turner, who was the creator of the band “Kings of Rhythm.” Soon after Turner started singing lead, they re-branded as a duo called the “Ike and Tina Turner Revue.” The duo climbed the charts with their R&B hit “A Fool in Love” getting to No. 2 on the billboard. The couple would continue to make hits. 

The duo of Ike and Tina ended in 1976, when she divorced from the marriage. In 1986, Turner released an autobiography “My Life Story” where she opened up about alleged abuse coming from Ike in the marriage. Ike passed away years later in 2007 of a drug overdose. 

Turner’s debut album as a solo artist “Private Dancer” released in 1984, became an instant hit. The album sold 20 million copies worldwide and earned herself three Grammys for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. 

Not only has Tina Turner been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame once but twice, only being done amongst about a dozen other artists. Turner would go on to make hits for the rest of her career and will always be remembered as the Queen of Rock and Roll. May the legend rest in peace.