Tina Turner: Her Life In Pictures

By Brent Furdyk, JC Villamere. 24 May 2023 4:42 PM

Timeless. Ageless. Fearless. Tina Turner, who died at age 83 on May 24, 2023, was an artist whose raspy-voiced delivery and emotional resonance have captured the attention of audiences during a showbiz career that spanned decades until her retirement tour in 2009. Here, we look back at memorable moments of the late music icon’s life.

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Ike & Tina
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Born Anna Mae Bullock in 1949, she was just 18 when she joined her future husband Ike Turner's musical review in 1957, performing as Little Anne. She and Turner eventually married and in 1960 launched themselves as the musical duo Ike & Tina Turner. Over the next decade, the two would go on to chart such hits as "Proud Mary", "Nutbush City Limits" and the Phil Spector-produced "River Deep -Mountain High".
Tina The Mom
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While performing relentlessly with Ike & Tina throughout the 1960s, Tina Turner was also mother of four sons, two of whom she shared with husband Ike, and two that Ike had fathered with another woman.
Family Life
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This 1972 portrait shows Tina and Ike with their son and stepsons, a period in which the marriage was unravelling due to Ike's domestic abuse.
Acid Queen
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Tina Turner hit the big screen in 1975's "Tommy", Ken Russell's psychedlic adapation of The Who's iconic rock opera. Turner delivered a show-stopping performance as the Acid Queen.
Going Solo
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In 1976, Tina Turner left husband Ike, exiting her abusive marriage and ending their successful musical partnership. Essentially starting over from scratch and deeply in debt, she took any gig she could get while slowly establishing herself as a solo act.
The Comeback Of All Comebacks
AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine, File/CPImages
By the early 1980s, Tina Turner was considered to be a washed-up music-industry has-been, playing Vegas and appearing on "Hollywood Squares".

Then came "Private Dancer", the 1984 album in which she reinvented herself as a rock artist. The album pumped out hit single after hit single, catapulting her to even bigger stardom than she'd experienced with Ike. No longer playing Vegas showrooms, she was now performing before tens of thousands in the world's biggest stadiums and arenas.
The Video Star
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The fledgling music station MTV put her video for “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” in heavy rotation in 1984. Along with Michael Jackson, she was one of the first Black artists to gain airtime on the channel.
Live Aid
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Tina Turner took to the stage alongside Mick Jagger in Philadelphia for the historic Live Aid concert in 1985. Toward the end of The Rolling Stones' "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)'", Jagger ripped off her skirt, leaving her to finish the song in just her leotard.
Aunty Entity
(c)Warner Bros. Courtesy: Everett Collection/CPImages
In 1985, Tina Turner returned to the silver screen, starring alongside Mel Gibson in "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome". She played Aunty Entity, ruthless ruler of a post-apocalyptic civilization known as Bartertown.
Stardom Cemented On The Walk Of Fame
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In 1986, Tina Turner received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
'What's Love Got To Do With It?'
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Tina Turner's life story hit the screen with 1993's "What's Love Got to Do With It?", in which she was portrayed by Angela Bassett, while Laurence Fishburne played ex-husband Ike. Both Bassett and Fishburne received Oscar nominations.
Rockin' With Beyonce
AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian
Tina Turner was joined by Beyonce on a duet of her classic hit "Proud Mary" at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in 2008.
Farewell To The Road
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In 2008, Tina Turner embarked on her 50th anniversary world tour, which extended through to 2009. Her 11th tour raked in nearly $50 million — one of the year's most successful tours — but it was also her last. After ending the tour, she announced her retirement.
Finding Love
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In 2013, Tina Turner married for the second time, tying the knot with Swiss music executive Erwin Bach. The two first met in 1986, and were a couple for 27 years before they wed.
'Tina: The Tina Turner Musical'
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This Broadway jukebox musical tells the story of Turner’s life from her childhood to her rocky relationship with Ike Turner to her remarkable comeback. In a statement Tina Turner said, “Bringing this musical to life on stage and working with this team has meant so much to me, I feel that it is in many ways a culmination of my career.” The production officially opened last month and is making a strong showing at the box office, according to Deadline. We can't wait to see what the next decade will bring for this timeless icon. Happy 80th, Tina!
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
AP Photo/David Richard/CPImages
In 2021, Tina Turner was inducted as a solo artist into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She didn't appear in person, but greeted the audience via a prerecorded video. “It was really special when I heard the hall of fame was given me a trophy,” said Turner her speech. “If they’re still giving me awards at 81, I must have done something right.”

That was Turner's second induction; 20 years earlier, in 1991, Ike & Tina Turner were inducted.
'Tina'
HBO
The same year as her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Turner told her life story, in her own words, for the critically acclaimed HBO documentary "Tina".

Tina Turner: Her Life In Pictures

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