40 Fascinating Facts About the Legendary Tina Turner

Tina Turner Facts: Tina Turner, born as Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, is an American-born Swiss singer and actress. Widely recognized as one of the most successful artists in the history of rock music, she’s often referred to as “The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll”. Turner is known for her energetic stage presence, powerful vocals, career longevity, and trademark legs.

1. Birth Name: Tina Turner was born as Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, in Nutbush, Tennessee.
2. Early Life: She was raised in a small rural town in Tennessee and worked as a farmhand in her early years, which she later referenced in her hit song, “Nutbush City Limits”.
3. Ikette Start: Her career began in the mid-1950s when she joined Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm as a background vocalist. She became known as the lead singer of the band after the success of their song “A Fool in Love” in 1960.
4. Partnership with Ike Turner: Tina was part of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue with her then-husband Ike Turner. The duo was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
5. Abusive Relationship: Tina Turner was in an abusive relationship with Ike Turner, and she bravely walked away from the marriage and her successful music career with him in 1976. Her experiences were later portrayed in the movie “What’s Love Got to Do with It”.
6. Career Resurgence: In the 1980s, Tina experienced a significant career resurgence, culminating in her multi-platinum album “Private Dancer”, which won multiple Grammy Awards.
7. Hit Songs: Some of her best-known songs include “What’s Love Got to Do with It”, “Private Dancer”, “Proud Mary”, and “River Deep – Mountain High”.
8. Grammy Awards: As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, Tina Turner had won 12 Grammy Awards, including three for the single “What’s Love Got to Do with It”.
9. Kennedy Center Honoree: In 2005, Tina Turner was recognized as a Kennedy Center Honoree for her contributions to American culture through the performing arts.
10. Swiss Citizenship: In 2013, she relinquished her American citizenship and became a citizen of Switzerland, where she has lived for many years.
11. Retirement: Tina Turner officially retired from performing in 2009, although she has made occasional appearances since then.
12. Broadway Show: In 2019, her life and career were celebrated in the Broadway musical “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical”.
13. Autobiographies: She has written two autobiographies, “I, Tina” in 1986, which detailed her volatile relationship with Ike Turner, and “My Love Story” in 2018.
14. Buddhist Faith: Turner has been a practicing Buddhist since 1973 and credits the religion with helping her endure the hardships she faced in her life.
15. Health Issues: In her later years, she battled several health issues, including a stroke, intestinal cancer, and kidney failure. She underwent a successful kidney transplant in 2017.
16. World Records: She holds a Guinness World Record for selling more concert tickets than any other solo performer in history.
17. The Acid Queen: Apart from her music career, Tina Turner also acted in a few films, including the role of the Acid Queen in the 1975 rock musical film “Tommy”.
18. Rolling Stone Recognition: In 2020, Rolling Stone magazine named her one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
19. Philanthropy: She has been involved in various charitable works, including contributing to the construction of schools in Thailand through the Pema Chödrön Foundation.
20. Legacy: Known for her powerful vocals and high-energy performances, Tina Turner has had an influential career that has spanned over half a century.
21. The Beatles Influence: Tina Turner had the chance to meet The Beatles early in their career and has stated that their innovative style influenced her own work.
22. Fashion Icon: Her fashion choices, particularly her mini-skirts and high-heeled boots, made her a trendsetter in the music industry.
23. Distinctive Voice: Her vocal range is contralto, the lowest female voice type, and her voice has been described as one of the greatest, most powerful, and influential in rock history.
24. “Beyond” Project: In 2009, Tina Turner took part in the “Beyond” music project dedicated to creating religious and spiritual music. The project was aimed at promoting interfaith dialogue and peace.
25. First Solo Concert: Tina’s first solo concert took place in 1981 at the Ritz in New York City.
26. Film Soundtracks: Tina has also contributed songs to several film soundtracks, including “GoldenEye” for the James Bond film of the same name and “We Don’t Need Another Hero” for “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome”.
27. “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome”: She starred alongside Mel Gibson in this 1985 film, where her performance received praise.
28. Touring Success: Her “Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour” in 2008-2009 was one of the highest-grossing tours of all time.
29. Documentary: In 2021, a documentary titled “Tina” was released, focusing on her life and career.
30. Pioneer: Tina Turner is seen as a pioneer in both rock and R&B music, inspiring many artists who followed her.
31. “Simply the Best”: This song became a significant hit for Turner and has since become synonymous with her, often being used as a sports anthem.
32. Live Aid: In 1985, she performed with Mick Jagger at the Live Aid concert, an event that raised funds for famine relief in Ethiopia.
33. Multiple Hall of Fame Inductee: In addition to being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Ike & Tina Turner duo, she was also inducted as a solo artist in 2021.
34. Signature Dance Moves: Her energetic and unique dancing style, particularly her performances of “Proud Mary,” has become a trademark of her stage presence.
35. Cover Songs: Some of her biggest hits were cover songs. For example, “Proud Mary” was originally performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival, and “I Can’t Stand the Rain” was a cover of Ann Peebles’ song.
36. Several Names: Apart from being known as Tina Turner, she had several stage names including Little Ann and Anna Mae.
37. Married Twice: Tina was married to Ike Turner from 1962 until their divorce in 1978, and then to Erwin Bach in 2013.
38. Children: She has two sons, Ronnie Turner and Craig Turner. Craig was her son from a previous relationship, and Ike adopted him. Ronnie is her son with Ike.
39. The Big Wheel: Tina performed in an episode of the 1970s TV show “The Big Wheel” as a special guest.
40. Influence: Countless musicians, including Beyoncé and Rihanna, have cited Tina as a major influence on their own music and performance styles.

Tina Turner Trivia Quiz

The post 40 Fascinating Facts About the Legendary Tina Turner appeared first on NSF - Magazine.