Celebrities, public figures, politicians, and others took to social media to honor Tina Turner, the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll," who died at age 83 on Wednesday.
Turner died after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, her reps announced.
The icon sold 200 million albums and won eight Grammy Awards, having risen to fame in the 1960s as the centerpiece of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. With more than 60 years in the spotlight, her landmark album "Private Dancer" launched her to solo superstardom at age 44.
Apart from music, Turner also had acting roles including in The Who’s rock opera "Tommy" (1975) and in "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" (1985).
On television, she was a fixture on variety shows, on MTV, and in commercials, most notably as the face of a $20 million campaign for Hanes hosiery.
In her 1986 memoir, "I, Tina" Turner publicly revealed her ex-husband Ike Turner’s 16-year reign of terror, escape, and rise from economic ruin. The book inspired the feature film starring Angela Bassett, "What’s Love Got to Do With It" (1993), and the acclaimed 2018-19 Broadway and West End production "Tina: The Tina Turner Musical".
Several stars including Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Diane Warren, Viola Davis, Beyoncé, and more took to social media to pay tribute to Turner.
“Tina Turner was an icon, whom we loved for her voice, her dancing, and her spirit,” Whitaker tweeted, encouraging everyone to honor the late singer by reflecting on her “resilience” and to think about “all the greatness that can follow our darkest days.”
Beyoncé called Turner "my beloved queen" on her website, adding: "I love you endlessly. I'm so grateful for your inspiration, and all the ways you have paved the way,".
"You are strength and resilience, you are the epitome of power and passion. We are all so fortunate to have witnessed your kindness and beautiful spirit that will forever remain. Thank you for all you have done," she added.
“A Survivor and a Badass. Every note she sang shook the room and shook your soul. There will never be another like her. Shake the roof off of Heaven Tina Turner,” Warren tweeted.
Davis wrote on Instagram, “Iconic. Beautiful. A survivor. Brilliance. Our first symbol of excellence and unbridled ownership of sexuality!! You were my childhood. Oh man!!! God is getting an angel today!!! Rest well Ms. Tina Turner. We will bask in your legacy!!!”.
Winfrey shared a carousel of photos with Turner on Instagram and wrote in part, “She is our forever goddess of rock ‘n’ roll who contained a magnitude of inner strength that grew throughout her life. She was a role model not only for me but for the world. She encouraged a part of me I didn’t know existed.”
“Miss Tina lived an amazing life, full of drama and pain and in later years anchored by Buddhism,” Ann Wilson said in a statement to THR. “She showed what courage was and danced through her life on those mighty legs as an inspiration to us all. Rock on Angel!!”.
US President Joe Biden remembered the star in a statement, tweeting, “Before she was the Queen of Rock and Roll, Tina Turner was a farmer’s daughter in Tennessee. As a child, she sang in the church choir before becoming one of the most successful recording artists of all time,".
"In addition to being a once-in-a-generation talent that changed American music forever, Tina’s personal strength was remarkable. Overcoming adversity, and even abuse, she built a career for the ages and a life and legacy that were entirely hers," he added.
"Jill and I send our love and prayers to her husband Erwin, the rest of the Turner family, and fans around the world who are mourning today for the woman they agree was “simply the best.””
Read on for more tributes.
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