Reactions to Tina Turner’s death: “What a woman, what a life, what a fighter”

The death of rock legend Tina Turner has sparked shock around the world. Stars from the film and music industry such as Mick Jagger, Diana Ross and Angela Bassett responded with expressions of condolence and tributes.

“The queen, legend, icon,” wrote model and actress Naomi Campbell (53) on the Instagram page of the deceased. There will never be anyone like Turner again. The “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” was 83 years old.

Turner died on Wednesday after a long illness at her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, a spokesman said in the evening. Her longtime manager, Roger Davies, praised the rock legend as “a unique and remarkable force of nature with her strength, incredible energy and immense talent”. It was a “privilege and an honor” to have been with her as a close friend and manager for more than 30 years.

British rock star Mick Jagger was deeply saddened by the death of his “wonderful girlfriend”. “She was inspirational, warm, funny and generous,” the 79-year-old Rolling Stones frontman wrote on Instagram. “She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.”

What a woman, what a life, what a fighter.

Alicia KeysUS singer

US pop star Mariah Carey (54) praised the deceased as an “inspiration for women everywhere”. Terms like “legendary, iconic, diva and superstar” are overused in general, but they all apply to Turner.

“What a woman, what a life, what a fighter,” wrote Alicia Keys (42) on Instagram. Turner’s songs would have encouraged her and so many other artists. From the bottom of her heart she thanks her “beautiful big sister”.

In a tribute, US President Joe Biden (80) recalled that Turner grew up in the rural US state of Tennessee and sang in the church choir as a child. The 12-time Grammy Award winner has overcome adversity in her life and shown remarkable personal strength.

Former President Barack Obama called the singer “a star whose light will never fade”. “Tina Turner was unpolished. She was powerful. She was unstoppable. And she was completely herself – speaking and singing her truth in joy and pain, triumph and tragedy,” Obama said.

Moderator Thomas Gottschalk also paid tribute to Turner. “She was a power woman … One of the first and one of the last!” Wrote the 73-year-old on Instagram. Turner was once a guest on Gottschalk’s ZDF show “Wetten, dass ..?”. Unforgotten is the performance when the world star danced a Viennese waltz in 1996 after a bet with the moderator.

Fans all over the world took part. Candles and flowers were placed in front of the singer’s house in Küsnacht near Zurich on Wednesday evening. The star plaque of the rock legend on Hollywood’s “Walk of Fame” was also decorated with flowers. In August 1986 Turner was immortalized there with a plaque. Several singers sang the artist’s hits in the aisles of the New York subway, a reporter from the Keystone-SDA news agency reported. (dpa, AFP)