Legendary singer Tina Turner seemed to have a certain fondness for rock star David Bowie – and reportedly even credited him for helping her career at one low point.
On Wednesday, it was announced that the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” had died at the age of 83 in Switzerland, where she had been living for a number of years.
The iconic performer was well-known for her hit-making songs like “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” and she sold more than 100 million records worldwide throughout her career.
However, despite her tremendous success as an artist, there was a time when Tina faced extraordinary personal hardship, as she suffered abuse at the hands of her onetime-husband, Ike Turner.
After they divorced in 1976, she was dropped by her record label, Capitol Records, reported People – but she divulged that it was Bowie who actually helped her get back into the industry after taking some time off from recording music.
“In 1983 David Bowie did something very special and significant for me,” Tina recalled, according to the UK outlet Female First in 2004.
“We were on the same label, but the decision had been taken not to re-sign me,” she said. “David, however, had just had his contract renewed by Capitol, who wanted to take him out to dinner that night in New York to celebrate. ‘I’m sorry,’ he told them, ‘but I’m going to the Ritz to see my favorite singer perform.’ And that was me.”
She explained that the “bigwigs” from the record label came along and heard her perform.
Here’s what to know about legendary singer Tina Turner
The “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” died at 83 on Wednesday after a prolific career that spanned decades.
Tina — who was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2021 — sold more than 100 million records worldwide throughout her career, with songs including the anthemic hit “The Best” and her solo comeback single “What’s Love Got to Do With It.”
She scored her first and only No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the song, which kicked off her 1980s career resurgence.
Tina was 44 at the time, making her the oldest solo female artist to top the Hot 100 chart.
The singer and actress had 12 total Grammy Awards, including eight competitive awards, three Grammy Hall of Fame awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
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“Luckily, it was a great show,” the late star recalled at the time. “Seeing it and the crowd’s reaction turned ‘round how Capitol [Records] viewed me.
“It was because of David that I got another deal, and everything else followed. I’ll be ever thankful to him.”
Bowie died just a few years before Tina, in January 2016, at age 69 after privately battling cancer.
Throughout both of their careers, the duo collaborated on a song just one time, in 1985.
She was a guest vocalist on a live duet of “Tonight,” the title track for his album of the same name.
In 1988, they released the song as a single.
The news of Tina’s death — after an illustrious career — was shared on the star’s Instagram account Wednesday.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner,” the post read, accompanied by a black-and-white photo of her. “With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow.
“Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly.”
The late Bowie’s official social media accounts posted tributes to the “legendary” Tina, referencing the duo’s noteworthy collaboration.
After her death was announced, tributes from A-listers poured in from the likes of friend and Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger — whom she reportedly taught to dance — as well as supermodel Naomi Campbell, actress Rita Wilson, collaborator and musician Bryan Adams, singer Ciara and actress Rosario Dawson, among many others.
Actress Angela Bassett, who was Oscar-nominated for her portrayal of Tina in the 1993 biopic “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” also paid tribute.
“How do we say farewell to a woman who owned her pain and trauma and used it as a means to help change the world?” Bassett wrote in an Instagram post.
“Through her courage in telling her story, her commitment to stay the course in her life, no matter the sacrifice, and her determination to carve out a space in rock and roll for herself and for others who look like her, Tina Turner showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion, and freedom should look like,” her statement continued.