Music has lost in inimitable legend. It was announced that Tina Turner died at age 83 after a long illness in her home in Switzerland.
According to People, her publicist confirmed Turner’s passing in a statement. “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,” the statement read. “There will be a private funeral ceremony attended by close friends and family. Please respect the privacy of her family at this difficult time.”
Known for her hits like What’s Love Got to Do With It and Proud Mary, the rock ‘n’ roll powerhouse was the subject of the acclaimed show based on her life Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, which began in 2018, as well as the 2021 HBO documentary TINA, co-directed by Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin. The documentary spans her childhood, the early days of her career, her tumultuous relationship with her late ex-husband Ike Turner and her subsequent reinvention. Turner considered the project like a goodbye to her fans.
“Some people say the life that I’ve lived and the performances I gave…the appreciation is lasting with the people and I should be proud of that,” Turner said in an interview. “I am. But when do you stop being proud? How do you bow out slowly – just go away?” Her husband, Erwin Bach, spoke more bluntly in the film. “She said, ‘I’m going to America and I’m going to say goodbye to my American fans, and I’ll wrap it up.’ I think this documentary and the [musical] – this is it. It’s a closure.”
Turner retired from performing in 2009, 10 years after her last studio album, Twenty Four Seven. She suffered a stroke in 2013 and had to learn to walk again before she was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2016 and underwent a kidney transplant in 2017.
Her grainy and powerful voice has transcended time, as has her show-stealing style. Turner’s fashion choices have always symbolized her professional identity at any given time, from a glittering showgirl to an edgy woman of the world.
GRAZIA USA looks back on Turner’s most electrifying looks, from Bob Mackie to Versace.
1964
While performing with her former husband, Ike Turner, Tina stole the show as the main attraction in a golden beaded curve-hugging ankle-length dress and matching gold pumps in Dallas, Texas.
1975
The energetic performer rocked a plunging halter-neck swirly-print optical illusion dress with two thigh-high slits, teamed with two layered gold necklaces and fishnet stockings for a performance at the Hammersmith Odeon in London in 1975.
1977
Never one to shy away from an exuberant Bob Mackie creation, Turner looked alike a golden angel in 1977, wearing a silver and gold metallic fringed sheer leotard with a plunging illusion neckline, teamed with gold strappy heels and otherworldly pleated golden wings.
1979
Turner took a turn in Bob Mackie’s trademark red hot “Dancing Flame” dress in 1979, with a sheer illusion plunging neckline and sequined strands of red, orange and yellow dripping over her body.
1997
For 2021 Miami Art Basel, the singer’s former stylist Wayne Scot Lukas created a NFT of Turner’s silver shimmering chainmail black lace-trimmed Versace minidress which she wore on tour in the ’90s, and auctioned it off through the company ViciNFT.
