Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to key eventsSkip to navigation

Tina Turner: tributes to legendary singer flood in after her death aged 83 – as it happened

This article is more than 10 months old

Stars including Mick Jagger, Naomi Campbell and Gloria Gaynor pay tribute to rock’n’roll phenomenon who has died after a long illness

 Updated 
Wed 24 May 2023 17.09 EDTFirst published on Wed 24 May 2023 15.39 EDT
Tina Turner has died at the age of 83.
Tina Turner has died at the age of 83. Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
Tina Turner has died at the age of 83. Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

Live feed

Key events

A summary of today’s developments

  • Tributes have been paid around the world to Tina Turner who died on Wednesday aged 83 after a long illness. She had suffered ill health in recent years, being diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2016 and having a kidney transplant in 2017.

  • Sir Mick Jagger, who duetted with Tina Turner during Live Aid in 1985, wrote on Instagram: “I’m so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner. She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer.

  • Bette Midler, the singer and actor, said Turner would be performing “lead” vocals for the “flights of angels sing(ing) her to her rest”.

  • Angela Bassett, who received an Oscar nomination for playing the singer in What’s Love Got to Do With It, shared a statement with the Hollywood Reporter. “I am honored to have known Tina Turner,” she said. “I am humbled to have helped show her to the world. So on today, while we mourn the loss of this iconic voice and presence, she gave us more than we could have ever asked. She gave us her whole self. And Tina Turner is a gift that will always be ‘simply the best.’ Angels, sing thee to thy rest … Queen.”

  • Sir Elton John said Turner was a “total legend on record and on stage” in a tribute to the singer following “the saddest news”. “We have lost one of the word’s most exciting and electric performers. A total legend on record and on stage. She was untouchable,” Sir Elton wrote, sharing a picture of the pair together. “Condolences to Erwin and her family. The saddest news.”

The official Twitter account for the late David Bowie has posted a lengthy tribute and some images of the two icons together.

TINA TURNER DIES AGED 83

“I will see you in the sky tonight...”

Sad to hear of the passing of Tina Turner, the legendary singer whose career dated back to 1960 with the release of her first recording: A Fool in Love as Ike and Tina Turner.

In a statement released this evening,… pic.twitter.com/zN13MXJuRi

— David Bowie Official (@DavidBowieReal) May 24, 2023

Sir Elton John said Turner was a “total legend on record and on stage” in a tribute to the singer following “the saddest news”.

“We have lost one of the word’s most exciting and electric performers. A total legend on record and on stage. She was untouchable,” Sir Elton wrote, sharing a picture of the pair together.

“Condolences to Erwin and her family. The saddest news.”

Angela Bassett, who received an Oscar nomination for playing the singer in What’s Love Got to Do With It, shared a statement with the Hollywood Reporter.

“I am honored to have known Tina Turner,” she said in a statement.

“I am humbled to have helped show her to the world. So on today, while we mourn the loss of this iconic voice and presence, she gave us more than we could have ever asked. She gave us her whole self. And Tina Turner is a gift that will always be ‘simply the best.’ Angels, sing thee to thy rest … Queen.”

Viola Davis, the actor and producer, said Turner was “our first symbol of excellence” and that fans would continue to “bask” in her legacy.

“Iconic. Beautiful. A survivor. Brilliance,” she wrote on Instagram.

“Our first symbol of excellence and unbridled ownership of sexuality!! You were my childhood.

“Oh man!!! God is getting an angel today!!! Rest well Ms. Tina Turner. We will bask in your legacy!!!”

Bryan Adams, the Canadian singer-songwriter, said Turner was “one hell of a powerhouse woman” and recalled the time the pair had spent together.

“RIP @tinaturner. The world just lost one hell of a powerhouse woman,” he said.

“I’ll be forever grateful for the time we spent together on tour, in the studio and as friends.

“Thank you for being the inspiration to millions of people around the world for speaking your truth and giving us the gift of your incredible voice.

“My condolences to her husband Erwin and Tina’s family. It’s Only Love … and that’s all.”

Bette Midler, the singer and actor, said Turner would be performing “lead” vocals for the “flights of angels sing(ing) her to her rest”.

Our beloved #TinaTurner has died. From #Nutbush to the top, she was an absolutely brilliant performer and inspiration to us all. May flights of angels sing her to her rest, but if I know Tina, she is singing lead.

— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) May 24, 2023

Rolling Stones’ guitarist Ronnie Wood shared pictures of Turner on social media, describing her as “a dear friend to our family”.

“God bless you Tina, the Queen Of Rock And Soul and a dear friend to our family,” he wrote.

“Love and prayers to all of Tina’s family, friends and loved ones #tinaturner@tinaturner.”

The Rolling Stones’ singer Sir Mick Jagger, who duetted with Tina Turner during Live Aid in 1985, wrote on Instagram: “I’m so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner. She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer.

I’m so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner.
She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer. She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her. pic.twitter.com/TkG5VrdxXO

— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) May 24, 2023

She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.”

Turner recently spoke about touring with Jagger in an interview with the Guardian in April.

Share
Updated at 

The Women’s Aid charity in the UK paid tribute to the singer, who recently supported them during the fifth anniversary of Tina, the West End musical about her life.

We are so sad to hear that Tina Turner has passed away today, following long-term illness 💔

A survivor of domestic abuse who went on to inspire other women, & recently chose to support Women's Aid for the 5th anniversary of @TinaTheMusical, she will always be #SimplyTheBest
https://t.co/D5IX6fZCoW

— Women's Aid (@womensaid) May 24, 2023

Paloma Faith described Turner as one of her “greatest influences and inspirations”.

Faith wrote on Instagram: “I can’t even begin. Really, I can’t. Tina you were probably one of my greatest influences and inspirations. I grew up with you in the background of my childhood and all through my time learning my craft I always returned to you.

“I am forever grateful I saw you live several times. I am forever in awe of your soul fire and energy. No one comes close.

“Thank you for all the gifts you gave me, and us, as women, to be empowered and stand up for ourselves and be counted by turning our pain into a force of nature. You really were incredible… RIP”.

Singer Rick Astley hailed Tina Turner as “one of the greats” in his own online tribute.

What a woman, what a life, what a voice! One of the GREATS!
Such sad news.
R.I.P ❤️🙏 #tinaturner pic.twitter.com/x0JU3xs19H

— Rick Astley (@rickastley) May 24, 2023

Naomi Campbell pays tribute to 'queen, legend, icon'

The supermodel Naomi Campbell said: “Rest in Peace & Power THE QUEEN , LEGEND, ICON. There will never be another. Cherish my times with you.”

Share
Updated at 

Tina Turner's manager says singer was 'unique and remarkable force of nature'

Roger Davies, the singer’s manager for 30 years, said: “Tina was a unique and remarkable force of nature with her strength, incredible energy and immense talent.

“From the first day I met her in 1980, she believed in herself completely when few others did at that time.

“It was a privilege and an honour to have been a close friend as well as her manager for more than 30 years.

“I will miss her deeply.”

Share
Updated at 

Tributes have been coming in from across the world reacting to the news that Tina Turner, the pioneering rock’n’roll star who became a pop behemoth in the 1980s, has died aged 83 after a long illness.

American singer Gloria Gaynor described Turner as an “iconic legend who paved the way for so many women in rock music, black and white”.

Gaynor tweeted: “I am so, so very sad to hear of the passing of @TinaTurner , the iconic legend who paved the way for so many women in rock music, black and white.

“She did with great dignity & success what very few would even have dared to do in her time and in that genre of music”.

Explore more on these topics

More on this story

More on this story

  • ‘Inspirational’: fans pay tribute to Tina Turner outside London musical

  • ‘An inspiration to women around the world’: readers remember Tina Turner

  • Singer, diva, fashion icon, trailblazer, dancer: the five sides of Tina Turner

  • ‘She gave me hope’: domestic abuse survivors praise Tina Turner’s bravery

  • Tina Turner: legendary rock’n’roll singer dies aged 83

  • Through pain and joy, Tina Turner wrote herself into pop history again and again

  • Tina Turner obituary

  • Tina Turner: 10 of her greatest songs

  • Simply the best: Tina Turner – a life in pictures

Most viewed

Most viewed