Tina Turner, the American-born singer who left a hardscrabble farming community and abusive relationship to become one of the top recording artists of all time, died on Wednesday at the age of 83.
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She died peacefully after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, her representative said. Turner had suffered a number of health issues in recent years including cancer, a stroke and kidney failure.
Singer Beyoncé, Angela Bassett, Mick Jagger, Karen O, Mariah Carey, Questlove, Janelle Monae, Billy Corgan, Kim Gordon, and many others have paid tribute to the late rock and soul legend.
According to Reuters report, Tina Turner began her career in the 1950s during the early years of rock ‘n’ roll and evolved into an MTV phenomenon. She rose to fame alongside husband Ike in the 1960s with songs including Proud Mary and River Deep, Mountain High.
Dubbed the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner was famed for her raunchy and energetic stage performances and husky, powerful vocals. Turner won six of her eight Grammy Awards in the 1980s. In that decade she landed a dozen songs in the Top 40, including “Typical Male,” “The Best,” “Private Dancer” and “Better Be Good to Me.” Her 1988 show in Rio de Janeiro drew 180,000 people, which remains one of the largest concert audiences for any single performer.
She divorced the abusive Ike in 1978, and went on to find even greater success as a solo artist in the 1980s.
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