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Singer Tina Turner Dies at 83


FILE - Tina Turner performs during a concert on Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at the O2 Arena, in London.
FILE - Tina Turner performs during a concert on Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at the O2 Arena, in London.

ZURICH — Tina Turner, the American-born singer who rose to become one of the top recording artists of all time, died on Wednesday at the age of 83, one of her representatives said.

The "(Simply) The Best" singer died peacefully after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, her representative said.

Turner, who left a hardscrabble farming community and abusive relationship before becoming one of the world's most-beloved singers, began her career in the 1950s during the early years of rock and roll and evolved into an MTV phenomenon.

In the video for her chart-topping song "What's Love Got to Do with It," in which she called love a "second-hand emotion," Turner epitomized 1980s style as she strutted through New York City streets with her spiky blond hair, wearing a cropped jean jacket, mini skirt, and stiletto heels.

Sometimes nicknamed the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll," Turner won six of her eight Grammy Awards in the 1980s. The decade saw her land a dozen songs on the Top 40, including "Typical Male," "The Best," "Private Dancer" and "Better Be Good to Me."

FILE - US singer Tina Turner (C) performs on stage at the P.O.P.B in Paris on March 16, 2009. Turner, 69, actually tours Europe with her "Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour" programm.
FILE - US singer Tina Turner (C) performs on stage at the P.O.P.B in Paris on March 16, 2009. Turner, 69, actually tours Europe with her "Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour" programm.

Her 1988 show in Rio de Janeiro drew 180,000 people, which remains one of the largest concert audiences for any single performer.

She battled a number of health problems after retiring and in 2018 Turner faced a family tragedy, when her oldest son, Craig, took his life at age 59 in Los Angeles. Her younger son Ronnie died in December 2022.

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