Tina Turner Passes Away at 83 Six Months after Sons Death & Years after Surviving Colon Cancer &

June 2024 · 6 minute read

Tina Turner was known for her show-stopping voice and big personality on and off stage. She burst onto the scene in the 1970s and has been a fan favorite in the music scene ever since.

She amassed fans worldwide with her soulful voice and touching lyrics and was celebrated in every sphere. The star was known as the Queen of Rock 'n Roll, with hits like "Proud Mary" and "What's Love Got To Do With It" still popular among her fans.

Tina Turner at the "TINA: The Tina Turner Musical" photocall at Aldwych Theatre on October 17, 2017 | Source: Getty Images

Unfortunately, her remarkable life ended on May 24, 2023, just months after her son passed away. Turner died in her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland, after suffering a long illness. She was 83.

A representative for Turner announced her death, saying the world had lost "a music legend and a role model." They added that Turner thrilled her fans with her music and "inexhaustible vitality," inspiring fans and artists of many generations.

Tina Turner during the premiere of "TINA: The Tina Turner Musical" in Hamburg in 2019 | Source: Getty Images

Turner became a role model to many women not only because of her successful music career but because she triumphed over domestic abuse and became the sensation she was.

The announcement was made on Turner's Instagram page and came with a black-and-white photo of the late star, along with well wishes for her family, who will be holding a private funeral ceremony.

Her Cancer, Stroke, and Other Diseases

In recent years, Turner faced many health battles, including a stroke, intestinal cancer, kidney failure, post-traumatic stress disorder due to her domestic abuse, and high blood pressure.

Tina Turner at a photocall for "TINA: The Tina Turner Musical" at The Hospital Club on October 17, 2017 | Source: Getty Images

In her memoir "My Love Story," released in 2018, Turner opened up about her health struggles, writing:

"I've been on such a wild roller-coaster in the four years since my wedding that even I have difficulty keeping my medical catastrophes straight."

The "Private Dancer" songstress suffered a stroke in late 2013, just three months after she married her second husband, Erwin Bach. She described it as a lightning bolt that hit her head and right leg.

Tina Turner during a photocall for "TINA: The Tina Turner Musical" in Hamburg in 2018 | Source: Getty Images

The songstress also described having a strange sensation in her mouth, which made it almost impossible for her to call Bach for help. While she knew something was wrong, she had no idea she was having a stroke.

Turner's husband and doctor rushed her to the hospital, where she found she was unable to stand on her own. She had to drag herself to a sofa and pull her body into a sitting position.

Turner spent ten days in the hospital and regained her ability to walk, but she admitted that nothing about her rehabilitation process was easy for her.

Aside from the stroke, Turner had suffered from high blood pressure since 1978. She once revealed that her mother and sister had the same condition, so she didn't think much of it.

In 1985, she began taking a pill once a day for her high blood pressure but learned to live with the condition. Having high blood pressure felt normal to her. However, it soon began to affect her performance. She shared:

"I believed that my body started to react to working with high blood pressure and the medication, and that was the reason I couldn't hit my notes."

Along with its effects on her career, the condition also had adverse effects on the rest of her body. Because her high blood pressure went unmanaged for so long, it led to kidney problems.

In 2016, doctors diagnosed Turner with intestinal cancer, and although it was scary, her husband helped pull her through the difficult time. She said, "With his help, I tried to keep calm."

Turner chose to follow a homeopathic treatment route because of the adverse side effects that traditional medicine had on her. Yet the homeopathic remedies only led to her condition worsening.

The singer said she was ignorant, leading to her being in a life-and-death situation. Even so, her husband did not blame her for her choices and instead supported her through everything.

Bach was with Turner throughout all of her health battles and even offered to donate his kidney when hers failed. In April 2017, the couple underwent operations to transfer Bach's kidney to Turner.

The operation was successful, but Turner faced issues after the surgery as her body tried to reject the new organ. She was dizzy, forgetful, and anxious and suffered occasional diarrhea.

Bach was by her side the entire time. Speaking about how it felt to have such a supportive husband after what she had been through during her marriage to Ike Turner, she confessed:

"I lived through a hellish marriage that almost destroyed me, but I went on. I know that my medical adventure is far from over. But I'm still here — we're still here, closer than we ever imagined. I can look back and understand why my karma was the way it was. Good came out of bad. Joy came out of pain. And I have never been so completely happy as I am today."

Following her death, fans and friends worldwide have sent tributes to the songstress and mentioned how much she impacted their lives. Now, Turner has reunited with her two sons, one of whom passed away recently.

Turner is Reunited with Her Two Sons, One of Whom Died Half a Year Ago

Turner had her first son, Craig Raymond, in 1958 when she was eighteen. His father is Raymond Hill, the saxophone player in Ike Turner's band, Kings of Rhythm.

Raymond worked as a real estate professional and remained largely out of the spotlight for most of his life. He tragically passed away from suicide in July 2018 at 59 in his home in Studio City, California.

Last year, Turner's family suffered another devastating blow when her youngest son, Ronnie, also passed away. Law enforcement officials received a 911 call from someone saying Ronnie was outside their home and having trouble breathing.

Several minutes later, it became apparent he was no longer breathing. Paramedics arrived at the scene to find civilians attempting CPR on him, but their efforts were in vain, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 62.

Ronnie's cause of death was later revealed as complications of metastatic colon carcinoma. The coroner also mentioned that his death was a result of natural causes and he had a minor issue with his heart.

Following his death, Turner posted a black-and-white photo of herself with her eyes closed on her Instagram page. She appeared sullen yet serene in the image and said:

"In sorrow, I close my eyes and think of you, my beloved son."

Even as she lamented that her son had left the world too early, fans flocked to the comments section to share their love and condolences with Turner and her family.

Turner inspired many with her soulful lyrics, her boundless energy, and her story of triumph over adversity. We wish her family peace during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Tina Turner, the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll.

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