On Wednesday, show business – and the world at large – said a sad goodbye to its queen of rock ‘n’ roll, legendary American singer Tina Turner. “He died peacefully today at the age of 83 at his home in Küsnacht near Zurich (Switzerland) after a long illness. “With her, the world is losing a music legend and role model,” her rep confirmed in a statement. Part of that long illness was colon cancer, which she was diagnosed with in 2016. At the same time, her kidneys failed, resulting in her needing a transplant in 2017. However, representatives of the artist revealed to the British medium Chron that Tina Turner died of natural causes.
Just two months before her death – and that coincided with International Kidney Day on March 9 – the singer of “Proud Mary” or “The Best” among many other big hits admitted that her health was at risk due to kidney disease. “My kidneys were the victim because I didn’t know my high blood pressure should have been treated with conventional medicine,” he assured his millions of followers on Instagram. “I have put myself in grave danger by refusing to face the reality that I need daily, lifelong drug therapy. “For too long I believed my body was an untouchable and indestructible bastion,” he lamented. Turner was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 1978, as she explained in a contribution to the European Kidney Health Alliance’s awareness campaign.
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Some of her memories have also resurfaced after her death (Happiness is born in you, Firefly, 2022), in which she acknowledges that she had considered euthanasia in 2016 before her husband Erwin Bach donated a kidney to her a year later. As he explains in the book, he began to contemplate death after discovering that his high blood pressure had accelerated kidney damage, which without the transplant would have crippled his body beyond repair.
After a lifetime of achievements — over the course of his career he won eight Grammys from 25 nominations and three Grammys for his artistic career — but also abuse — he endured constant physical, emotional, and verbal abuse during his first marriage to Ike Turner — the artist none more afraid of death. In fact, she was “ready to die,” as she recently confessed to singer Cher. “He battled this disease for a long time and was as strong as he seemed. But towards the end she once said to me, “I’m really ready. I just can’t take it anymore,” the 77-year-old “Believe” singer explained in a phone call on The Beat with Ari Melber on Thursday.
Tina Turner (right) with Oprah Winfrey at the premiere of “Tina The Musical” on November 7, 2019 in New York. Evan Agostini (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
He made a similar confession a few years ago to presenter Oprah Winfrey, 69, also a long-time friend of the artist and one of the many celebrities who have paid tribute to Turner on their social networks in recent hours. “In 2019 I visited her in the hospital and she told me that in reality she was ready to go, that is, ready to leave the planet. “I was hoping it would be the last time I see her,” Winfrey said on a CBS Mornings show Thursday.
But that was not the case, and his illnesses were not the specific cause of death. In addition to clarifying this information, her representatives also posted a photo of a smiling Tina Turner to her Instagram account to commemorate her legacy. “With her music and her boundless passion for life, she has captivated millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow,” recalls the accompanying letter, “we say goodbye to a dear friend who is the greatest of all for us work leaves behind: his music.” . The initial statement from her representatives indicates that Turner’s funeral will be held as part of a private ceremony attended by the singer’s close friends and their relatives, but the date is not yet known.