The Untold Health Battles of Tina Turner
Tina Turner, the undisputed Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll, wasn’t just a music icon — she was also a symbol of resilience, reinvention, and silent strength. Behind the scenes, her final years were marked by intense personal health struggles that the world only came to fully understand after her passing.
A Lifetime of Strength, But a Body in Crisis
Tina’s challenges didn’t end with her early years of fame or her painful escape from an abusive marriage. In fact, her later life brought forth some of the most physically demanding chapters of her journey.
In 1978, Tina was diagnosed with high blood pressure (hypertension), a condition she didn’t take seriously at the time. She later admitted to dismissing medical advice and opting for homeopathic remedies. This decision proved costly. In 2009, she suffered a stroke that severely affected her mobility and forced her to relearn how to walk. She also discovered that her kidneys were functioning at only 35%.
A Long Road of Silent Suffering
Tina continued to perform and make public appearances, often with a glowing smile, but privately, her health was deteriorating. In 2016, she received a devastating diagnosis: intestinal cancer. Though the cancer was treated, her kidneys continued to fail, and she was told she would soon need dialysis or a transplant.
In her own words, she was “living on borrowed time.”
A Gift of Life from Love
One of the most touching and deeply human moments of her health journey came in 2017. Her husband, German music executive Erwin Bach — whom she married in 2013 after 27 years together — offered to donate one of his kidneys to save her life. The transplant was successful, though not without complications. Tina Turner later revealed she feared she might not survive the procedure, but she wanted to take the risk.
“Erwin gave me the gift of life, and he did it without asking for anything in return,” she wrote in her memoir.
Final Years in Peace and Privacy
After the transplant, Tina lived quietly in Küsnacht, Switzerland, away from the public spotlight. She became a Swiss citizen and found joy in nature, reading, and spending time with Erwin. While she made occasional public appearances — including for the 2021 HBO documentary TINA — she largely kept her health condition private.
In May 2023, the world learned of her passing at age 83. According to her family, she died peacefully after a long illness.
Legacy of Courage and Survival
Tina Turner’s story is not only one of dazzling success but of immense strength. She survived an abusive marriage, restarted her career in her 40s, sold over 100 million records worldwide, and faced down multiple life-threatening health conditions with grace.
Her journey with health is a powerful reminder that even icons are human — vulnerable, courageous, and resilient.