She Was a Star on Stage—But What Happened at Home Will Break Your Heart
Tina Turner was more than a music legend—she was a survivor. While the world saw her shine on stage with unmatched power and charisma, few knew the complex and painful truth about her family life behind the curtain.
Born into hardship, Tina was abandoned by both parents at a young age and raised by relatives in Tennessee. The wounds from her childhood—of rejection, instability, and loneliness—would stay with her for decades. But the deepest scars came not from strangers, but from those closest to her.
Her relationship with Ike Turner was marked by intense emotional and physical abuse, a fact she bravely revealed years later. But even after escaping that marriage, Tina faced heartbreaking personal challenges. Her eldest son, Craig Turner, died by suicide in 2018—a tragedy that Tina described as her “darkest moment.” Another son, Ronnie Turner, passed away in 2022 from cancer.
Despite these losses, Tina remained resilient. She remarried in 2013 to German music executive Erwin Bach, who stood by her through serious health crises—including a stroke, kidney failure, and cancer. Erwin ultimately donated a kidney to save her life.
Tina Turner’s family story is not one of picture-perfect happiness, but one of raw humanity. She loved deeply, lost tragically, and lived courageously. Her strength wasn’t just in her voice—it was in how she faced everything life threw at her and still chose to love and forgive.