Tina Turner: Life Lessons from a Trailblazer 

I couldn’t believe it.

When I heard last Wednesday that legendary rock star Tina Turner died, I was heartbroken.

 

Black Girls Rock

My earliest memory of Tina was seeing her “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” music video when I was 7 years old. 

She seemed so cool. 

But Tina’s comeback came during a time when the music industry was being racially re-segregated. A lot of people, from all races, started seeing rock music as white music. 

And that was always weird to me because I kept seeing this black woman release song after song during the 1980s. 

Tina was also doing live duets with other rock stars including Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and Bryan Adams. 

So when kids, especially black kids, would tease me about liking rock music because “that’s for white people,” I would think …

“Nah-uh. Y’all are too late and I’ve seen too much.”

In addition to Tina, I was seeing and learning about other black musicians including Prince, Jimi Hendrix, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Big Mama Thornton, and others.

And that was before I really knew that Tina had a whole other music career and catalog with her ex-husband Ike Turner.

 

Learning Tina Turner’s Backstory

As I went through elementary and middle school, I heard parts of Tina’s story about being a successful musician with Ike. And I heard a little about Tina escaping from his abuse, getting divorced, and starting her solo career.

Then the movie “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” came out during the early 1990s.

By that time, I was in high school.

Angela Bassett gave an amazing performance as Tina Turner. 

After seeing the movie, I thought, “I had heard some things about Tina’s story, but damn. I really had no idea.”

I had no idea, and will never fully know, exactly how horrible it was to be brutally abused by someone you love.

I had no idea what it took to survive that abuse. 

Honestly, if Tina would have divorced Ike and lived a quiet, happy life away from the spotlight that story would have been great enough. That would be more than enough to celebrate.

 

It’s Never Too Late for New Beginnings

Tina went all out to pursue a wildly successful solo music career during her 30s and into her early 40s.

In 1984, I had no idea I was watching a woman in her 40s confidently dance and strut down the streets in a jean jacket and a short dress. I thought she was just as young as the young people walking and/or dancing around her in that video. 

The fact that she overcame so much to become known for her electrifying concerts into her 40s, 50s, and well into her 60s, is a major reason why she became legendary.

Tina was always filled with surprises.

She spent the last few decades of her life in Switzerland, with her longtime partner, German music producer Erwin Bach. Tina and Erwin got married in 2013. That same year, Tina filed paperwork to relinquish her U.S. citizenship and she gained Swiss citizenship.

I follow quite a few black expats on their Internet and social media platforms. 

Many of them have commented about Tina Turner once again being a trailblazer and being an example of embracing change as you find happiness, even if that means moving to another country. 

Tina felt more appreciated in Europe than in the United States.

“I have left America, because my success was in another country and my boyfriend was in another country,” she said during her interview with Larry King in 1997.

I understand, Ms. Turner.

 

Leaving Your Best Legacy

I appreciate those who gave Tina her flowers while she was still living, especially during the last few years of her life.

“Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” debuted in London in 2018 and then opened on Broadway in 2019. 

Then in 2021, HBO presented “TINA”, a documentary about Tina Turner’s inspiring life and amazing career.

As for me, I’m turning 46 years old this week. 

When Tina was the age I am now, she had won four Grammys for her “Private Dancer” album. She was enjoying arguably the greatest comeback in music history.

And at the time, I probably had no idea that her wonderful, inspiring “second act” was just getting started.

That is why Tina Turner is the Queen of Rock and Roll.

And even though I have no idea what my own future holds, I know I’m ready to begin my own second act journey.

May the Queen of Rock rest in power.

And may her life and legacy continue to inspire all of us and future generations to simply be our best.