Tina Turner - the singer who became a superstar with hits like The Best and What's Love Got to Do With It - has died in Switzerland aged 83 after a long illness
Dubbed the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, she was famed for her raunchy and energetic stage performances and husky, powerful vocals
Roger Davies, her manager of 30 years, called the US singer a "force of nature"
Fellow soul star Diana Ross said she was "shocked" and "saddened" by the news, while Gloria Gaynor called Turner an "iconic legend" who "paved the way for so many women in rock music"
Sir Mick Jagger has paid tribute to his "wonderful friend", and Sir Elton John labelled the late performer "a total legend on record and on stage"
Turner rose to fame alongside husband Ike in the 1960s with songs including Proud Mary and River Deep, Mountain High
She divorced the abusive Ike in 1978, and went on to find even greater success as a solo artist in the 1980s
Her career spanned half a century and produced R&B, soul, rock and pop hits. She retired in 2009.
Singer Kelly Rowland has posted a picture and dedication to Turner on Instagram, external.
The picture, showing Turner dancing in a sparkly dress, has the caption: "Thank you Queen, for giving us your all! We Love You!!
"Rest in Peace Anna Mae Bullock," she adds, citing Turner's birth name.
Image source, Getty ImagesRolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has described Tina Turner as "a dear friend to our family" in his tribute.
"God bless you Tina, the Queen Of Rock And Soul and a dear friend to our family," he wrote on Twitter.
"Love and prayers to all of Tina's family, friends and loved ones."
An effusive tribute has just arrived from Turner's fellow soul star, Mariah Carey.
"The words legendary, iconic, diva, and superstar are often overused and yet Tina Turner embodies them all and so many more," she writes on Twitter, external.
Carey goes on to describe Turner as "an incredible performer, musician and trailblazer" as well as "a survivor and an inspiration to women everywhere".
Tina Turner on her domestic abuse experience
Tina Turner spoke frankly about her experience of domestic abuse in a BBC interview in 2018.
"That was no life," she said.
Spice Girl Mel B says she is "truly lost for words" over the singer's death.
Posting on Instagram, the singer says she was watching Tina the Musical with domestic abuse charity Women's Aid the night before Turner's passing.
Like Turner, Mel B has also been a victim of domestic abuse, and campaigns for better education and awareness of the crime.
"I cried, I sang along to every word, every song," she writes on Instagram.
"I celebrated her fight and all her glory, the story of Anna Mae Bullock, who made her life mean something, no matter the pain or the struggle.
"She became such an icon, a legend, suffering two decades of abuse from her then-husband.
"She did the impossible, she left him, she survived, she got away, and gave ALL survivors like me hope - so to hear of her passing right now is beyond devastating to me personally.
"I’m literally at a loss for words right now."
Image source, Getty ImagesThey may have had a fractious relationship at points that ended up in their tour being cancelled, but Elton John says he still considers Tina Turner to be "one of the world's most exciting and electric performers."
Sharing a photo of the pair on Instagram, John calls Turner "a total legend on record and on stage."
"She was untouchable."
Image source, Getty ImagesWhen your career spans half a century, especially one with as many hits as Tina Turner’s, it’s safe to say it’s hard to pick the best tracks.
We know because we’ve tried, but here are a couple:
Proud Mary (1971)
Ike and Tina Turner turned this 1969 Credence Clearwater Revival track into an explosive and epic funk ode to freedom.
Starting with her sultry spoken introduction before then bursting in to life with her exuberant yet precise vocals, this made an impression on US music fans - reaching number four in the Billboard chart and winning a Grammy Award for best R&B vocal performance by a group.
What's Love Got to Do With It (1984)
The moment Turner arguably cemented her status as a solo star in her 1980s comeback, agreeing to record a song turned down by the likes of Cliff Richard, Donna Summer and Bucks Fizz. She agreed to sing it only if she could do so "forcefully, with gravity and raw emotion". It worked - her sexy, defiant rendition, gave Turner her only gave her only US solo number one and won the Grammy for record of the year.
We’ve taken a look eight more of Tina Turner’s most iconic songs here.
Actress Viola Davis praised Tina Turner as the "first symbol of excellence" in a tribute.
"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!!!"
Tina was admitted to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame twice - first in 1991 alongside husband Ike, then as a solo artist in 2021.
Following her death, the institution noted, external how she had "worked hard to reimagine the role of a Black woman in rock & roll - one that was firmly placed front and center".
Image source, Getty ImagesShe was inducted the second time by actress Angela Bassett (above), who played the singer in 1993 biopic What's Love Got To Do With It.
In her introductory speech, external, Bassett said: "As a black woman, Tina reached deep into her spiritual core, with a determination to headline arenas and stadiums just like the great rock bands did.
"No-one who looked like her had ever done it. But she believed that she could...
"She broke ground for women, and served as a role model for younger artists."
Man who toured with Tina Turner in 1985 shares experience with BBC
A camera operator who toured with Tina Turner has described her as "one of the kindest human beings in the world".
Chris Rhodes toured with Tina Turner in 1985 and knew the singer "very well".
"She was one of the biggest gifts in my life because she opened up the world to me, in my dreams and my hopes. I never thought I would be connected to Tina," he told the BBC.
"She was so respectful to everyone who worked for her, we were treated well," Rhodes said.
He recalled rehearsing with Turner before going on tour, saying she was "so communicative to all her dancers".
"She literally was amazing, she would almost do every move on the spot.
"She had a choreography in her head. She just had the moves, the design in her head. I've never shot a human being who was so unaware of the camera but so aware," he said.
Singer Rick Astley has praised Tina Turner as "one of the greats" in a tribute.
"What a woman, what a life, what a voice!" the Never Gonna Give You Up hitmaker tweeted.
"One of the GREATS! Such sad news. R.I.P."
In light of the sad news about music legend Tina Turner’s death, Radio 2 is paying tribute with two special programmes, available now on BBC Sounds. Click the links below to be directed to the episodes.
The iconic singer talks about overcoming adversity to forge a successful career in music in a series of BBC interviews spanning the decades. She also discusses her many hit singles from Let’s Stay Together to The Best to Bond theme GoldenEye.
A classic In Concert at Wembley Arena recorded during Tina’s Break Every Rule Tour in June 1987. Her set includes Private Dancer, Proud Mary, What's Love Got to Do With It, We Don't Need Another Hero and Tearing Us Apart, featuring Eric Clapton.
Both shows can be found under Radio 2’s Celebrating Music Greatest Stars brand. Click here.
Turner's former duet partner Bryan Adams expressed his condolences on social media, saying "the world just lost one of the greatest performers of all time".
In a tweet that has since been deleted, Adams, who released It's Only Love with the singer in 1985, said he'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".
'She was simply the best': Fans react to the death of Tina Turner
Tina Turner's fans have flocked to the Aldwych Theatre in London to pay their respects to the singer.
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical has been a hit West End show since it opened in 2018.
Mark Savage
Music correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesTina Turner had a voice like a hurricane and the stage presence to match. Watch one of her live videos on YouTube: She’s a perpetual motion machine, a dynamo, a volcano constantly erupting. There’s a reason Beyoncé stole her moves. That stuff works.
Born in Tennessee and raised in the church, she basically elbowed her way into rock and roll. When Ike Turner wouldn’t give her an audition, she waited for the intermission in his show, grabbed a drummer’s microphone and let rip. She sang with the band for the rest of the night and, pretty soon, got equal billing with Ike himself.
They were one of the most watchable, combustible bands on the soul circuit; and it’s notable how many of their hits are covers of other people’s material. Proud Mary, Get Back, Whole Lotta Love. Whatever the material, Tina could make it her own.
That’s true, too, of the song that became her signature hit in the 1980s. Donna Summer and Cliff Richard had rejected What’s Love Got To Do With It but Eurovision-winning pop quartet Bucks Fizz cut their version before Tina’s. Wisely, they shelved it when they heard what she’d done, only releasing it on a reissue years later. It’s worth comparing the two.
The Fizz version is fine… competent. You get the point. Tina wears it like an old coat. All the pain, all the heartbreak, all the regret poured into one stunning vocal performance.
She may have hated it at first. But she came to realise what it meant to her, and to her audience.
“I’m struck by the way so many of the songs I sang during my career matched my life,” she wrote in 2019. “That’s not something I thought about while I was performing, but I can see it now.”
One of Turner's most well-known contemporaries, Diana Ross, has now paid tribute to the singer.
Sharing a picture of her and Turner in black dresses, the singer says she is "shocked" and "saddened" by the news.
"Sending condolences to Tina Turner’s family and loved ones," she tweets.
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Brian Wilson, the co-founder of hugely successful US group The Beach Boys, said he was "so sorry" to hear the news.
"I loved Tina and her voice and energy - she was one of the greats," he said.
“River Deep, Mountain High will always be one of my favorite songs.
"And nothing beats her version of Proud Mary. I loved her musical too. Love & Mercy."
Ian Youngs
Entertainment and Arts Reporter, BBC News
Few stars made such an impact across different eras and different genres of music.
First there was the 1960s and 70s, when she created an electrifying fusion of R&B, funk, soul, gospel and rock ‘n’ roll on stone cold classics like River Deep, Mountain High and Proud Mary.
Then in the 80s, she reinvented herself as a pop powerhouse, with hit after hit that fed the decade’s love of sultry soft rock and timeless power ballads. She elevated songs like What’s Love Got To Do With It and The Best above cliched sentimentality, though.
The constant was a voice that had raw power even on subtler songs, was finely controlled even when it sounded wild - and clearly carried the full feeling of so many highs and lows in her life.
Simply the best?
"I'm so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner," Rolling Stones star Sir Mick Jagger has said.
Jagger, who duetted with Turner during Live Aid back in 1985, shared his condolences on Instagram.
He added that Turner was "inspiring, warm, funny and generous".
"She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her."
Image source, GeWomen's Aid, the charity working to end domestic abuse, paid tribute to a "true legend".
The charity partnered last month with Tina - Tina Turner the Musical, for its 5th anniversary and the charity's 50th anniversary.
"We are so sad to hear that Tina Turner has passed away today," the charity said, calling her "a survivor of domestic abuse who went on to inspire other women".
"She will always be Simply the Best."