Tina Turner is one of the most iconic names inTina Turner has been an icon for decades. From “Proud Mary” to “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” she turned out hit after hit. However, this 78 year old star has been very open about the troubles she’s had along the way.
Meeting Ike
Everything really began for Tina when she met Ike Turner. The two met at St. Louis’ Club Imperial. Actually, Tina’s sister, Allene, took her there while Tina was still in high school. Ike and Tina worked on “A Fool For Love” together after another singer who was supposed to help Ike record it didn’t show.
Meeting Ike
Biggest Hit
Out of all her songs, her biggest hit was “Proud Mary.” Her cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revival song won both her and Ike a Grammy.
Biggest Hit
Leaving Ike
Back in 1976, Tina Turner decided to leave her husband Ike. Young Tina only had 35 cents and a gas station credit card with her. They divorced two years after. Turner took on all the debts from canceled shows and taxes.
Leaving Ike
Thanks Al Green
Although Ike gets some major credit for helping Tina Turner launch her career, she also owes some of her initial success to Al Green. In fact, it was her cover of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” that helped her get her break.
Tina Turner In The Sea
David Bowie’s Possible Proposal
Perhaps, you’ve already heard the rumors…back when Tina Turner performed with David Bowie in 1985, he whispered something in her ear. Bowie may or may not have proposed to Tina Turner while they sang “Tonight.” She laughed after he whispered into her ear, then they spent the remainder of the song in a close clinch.
David Bowie’s Possible Proposal
Tina’s Roots
Tina was born Anna Mae Bullock. Did you know she grew up in a small Southern town called Nutbush? It’s located in Tennessee. Perhaps, you know of it because she celebrated it in her 1973 funk anthem called “Nutbush City Limits.”
Tina’s Roots
Converting To Buddhism
By 1974, Tina became a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist. One of her friends converted her. Later on in the 80’s, she would even chant for around three hours daily while on tour.
Converting To Buddhism
Number One Single
Once she released “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” in 1984, Turner became the oldest female artist with a number one hit single in the US. However, she admitted that most of the Private Dancer album was too wishy-washy. Turner preferred something more like AC/DC and other hard-rock.
Number One Single
Record-Breaking Artist
Of course, you knew Tina Turner is a massive success, but you probably didn’t realize she’s in the Guinness Book of Records! She made the record book for selling the most concert tickets out of any solo performer ever in history! Turner sold about 200 million records, in case you were wondering.
Record-Breaking Artist
New Life
Luckily for Tina, she got another shot at love. In 1994, she moved to Switzerland with her partner Erwin Bach. The two have a villa on the Côte d’Azur and married in 2013. That same year, Tina Turner gave up her US citizenship to become a Swiss citizen.
New Life
Comeback
Fans went wild when Tina Turner made her first major performance since back in 2000 alongside Beyonce at the Grammys in 2008! Then in October 2008, she started her last tour to date, marking the special anniversary of 50 years since her first recording.
Comeback
Opening Up To Oprah
Tina Turner spoke with Oprah back in 2005 about first meeting Ike at age 17. Turner said, “Ike had to come to the house and ask Ma if it was okay for me to sing with him. He knew I had the potential to be a star…He was so nice to me then, but I did see the other side of him. He was always fighting people—but I just thought that was because they’d wronged him. That had nothing to do with me.”
Opening Up To Oprah
Family Life
Tina Turner grew up in a troubled home as well. Back when she was only eleven years old, her own mother left to flee an abusive relationship with Tina’s father.
Family Life
Growing Up Fast
Then at age 13, her father remarried and abandoned both Tina and her sister. Thus, they went to live with Tina’s grandmother, and Tina worked as a domestic worker.
Growing Up Fast
Working Her Way Back Up
Years later, after separating from her own abusive relationship, Tina faced hardships herself. Tina Turner lived with some friends, got food stamps and played in small clubs to pay off her debts for around two years after her divorce.
Working Her Way Back Up
Tina’s Kids
Tina had two children, Craig and Ronnie. However, she also adopted Ike’s kids, Michael and Ike Jr.
Tina’s Kids
Her Movie
In 1993, the biographical movie What’s Love Got to Do With It came out. During the film, fans got to see the inside story about everything Tina Turner has overcome in her life. This strong, talented woman stayed resilient.
Her Movie
Becoming A Star
Many remember Tina’s performances by her mini-skirt outfits and overall sex appeal on stage. In an ironic twist, Ike actually pushed Tina into this look/stage persona. Then, he would get insanely jealous and fly into a fit of rage.
Becoming A Star
Different Lifestyles
As we mentioned before, Tina was a Buddhist by 1974. Meanwhile, Ike was spiraling downhill then. He continually binged on cocaine and often got violent. The two could not be more different.
Different Lifestyles
Grammy Winner
Turner has won 12 Grammy Awards!! As if that isn’t impressive enough, she is the only female artist to win concurrent Grammy nominations for rock, pop and R&B.
TURNER RICHIE 03
Tragic Death
Tragically, Tina Turner’s son Craig died by suicide in July 2018. Turner was only 18 when she gave birth to Craig. His father was Raymond Hill, a saxophonist who performed wit Ike’s band. Once Tina married Ike in 1962, Ike adopted Craig.
Tragic Death
Taking Its Toll
Tina Turner has been very candid about the abuse she suffered by Ike, who passed in 2007. While speaking with Oprah, she explained all the abuse really took a toll on her son Craig. She explained that Craig was “a very emotional kid.”
Taking Its Toll
Telling Oprah
Tina explained one particular incident to Oprah that caused her to reflect on her life. She said of Craig’s response to the abuse, “He’d always look down in sadness.” Then she added, “One day when Ike was fighting me, Craig knocked on the door and said, ‘Mother, are you all right?’ I thought, ‘Oh, please, don’t beat me at home.’ I didn’t want my children to hear.”
Telling Oprah
Her Own Highway
If Grammys and Guinness records weren’t enough, this star also has her very own highway! In her home state of Tennessee you can find the Tina Turner Highway. It’s right between Brownsville and her hometown Nutbush on State Route 19.
Her Own Highway
Famous Legs
In 2005, Tina Turner received the Kennedy Center Honors Award. That’s when George W. Bush honored her with the compliment that she has the most famous legs in show business.
Famous Legs