Most of Tina Turner’s fans probably think they know everything there is to know about the Queen of Rock. However, since her death, so much of her life has made its way into the limelight. It has revealed how much the talented musician went through. Every medical struggle she endured in her later years. As well as her emotionally and physically abusive husband. It’s true, she had a lot to thank her ex-husband for. But, when Tina’s tables finally turned, and she became a solo artist, she certainly came into herself so much more as if she couldn’t become more impressive (yet she did).
Ike and Tina Turner
Tina met Ike when she was but a budding artist. When Ike finally let her join his band, he gave her the stage name Tina Turner. However, he did copy-right the name so that she couldn’t use it as a solo artist. Tina Turner was a woman of pure talent. She was beloved from every corner of the globe, and deeply grieved when she passed on the 24th of May 2023.
In the wake of her death, a spotlight has been placed on her past. People are surprised to find that they were unaware of her struggles in the early days of her career. Tina might have her husband, Ike Turner, to be thankful for in terms of her career, but she was allegedly abused throughout their marriage. If it wasn’t an emotional jab, it was a physical blow. It took her many years to eventually open up about it, but when she did, Ike would deny it.
She Suffered Years of Abuse
In 1986, she released her autobiography, “I, Tina.” There, she described the abuse in detail. “It was my relationship with Ike that made me most unhappy,” wrote Tina Turner. “At first, I had really been in love with him. Look what he’d done for me. But he was totally unpredictable.”
“He [Ike] threw hot coffee in my face, giving me third-degree burns,” she recalled. “He used my nose as a punching bag so many times that I could taste blood running down my throat when I sang. And he broke my jaw. And I couldn’t remember what it was like not to have a black eye.”
Ike & Tina Turner
— Ella Soul (@soulella) February 5, 2022
by Norman Seeff, 1975#photographylovers #photography #blackandwhitephotography #TinaTurner #IkeTurner #1970s pic.twitter.com/LmLDephZLK
In 1968, Tina Turner attempted suicide. She took a whole bunch of pills, as she had convinced herself this was her only escape from Ike. “I knew I should leave, but I had no money and didn’t know how to take the first step. At my lowest, I convinced myself that death was my only way out.”
Ike Turner passed away on the 17th of December, 2007. In 1983, he actually admitted to hitting Tina. “It’s years ago that I had a temper. I don’t regret nothing I’ve ever done, absolutely nothing. Yeah, I hit her, but I didn’t hit her more than the average guy beats his wife.”
Our queen has died. We are sad.
— Tina Turner Online (@TinaTurnerNL) May 25, 2023
But the last years were not easy for her. So now she is in peace.#tinaturner pic.twitter.com/qTipg3EZo9
Tina Turner’s Medical Journey
Tina had a thriving career, even after ikes passing. Her outstanding performances led her into the Rock’n Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. However, her life was far from perfect. She struggled with her health. various ailments. “I know that my medical adventure is far from over,” Turner once wrote. “But I’m still here — we’re still here, closer than we ever imagined. I can look back and understand why my karma was the way it was. Good came out of bad. Joy came out of pain. And I have never been so completely happy as I am today.”
Tina Turner eventually passed away at the age of 83 years old, last Wednesday night. She had been struggling for years with high blood pressure and was fighting the repercussions of having a kidney transplant in 2017. Musician Cher said of her friend: “She fought this sickness for such a long time and she was so strong as you think she would be, but I know towards the end, she told me once, she said, ‘I’m really ready. I just don’t want to put up with this anymore.’”
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner. With her music and boundless passion for life, she enchanted fans worldwide and inspired future stars. We say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us her greatest work; her music. Tina, we will miss you dearly. pic.twitter.com/8SihpxMe14
— TinaTurner (@tinaturner) May 24, 2023
Keep Reading: Tina Turner’s 2nd Spouse Sacrificed an Organ to Save Her Because He ‘Didn’t Want Another Woman’
Sources
- “Everyone Knows She Just Passed Away, But Here’s What They Don’t Say About Tina Turner.” Dailypositiveinfo.
- “Inside Ike and Tina’s abusive marriage: Why the icon finally forgave her ex.” NY Post. Andrew Court. May 24, 2023
