Angela Bassett has shared a heartbreaking tribute to the late Tina Turner, including revealing the final words that the iconic singer said to her.
The singer sadly passed away yesterday (May 24) following a lengthy illness, her publicist confirmed. She was 83 years old.
Turner's official Instagram profile wrote: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner. With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow.
"Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly."
Turner was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2016 and had a kidney transplant a year later.
The singer rose to fame in the '70s alongside her ex-husband Ike Turner as the pair released hits such as 'River Deep, Mountain High'.
The pair finalized their divorce in 1978 as it became evident that their relationship was one full of toxicity and abuse, leaving the songstress alone to forge a solo career.
Luckily for us, the star went from strength to strength and would go on to sell over 150 million albums worldwide and receive 12 Grammy awards, as per the Mirror.
The extent of her turbulent and abusive relationship with her ex-husband was revealed in the 1993 biographical movie What's Love Got To Do With It, starring Angela Bassett as Turner.
The movie was a roaring success and picked up three Oscars, as people got a glimpse into the life of the Queen of rock and roll.
Bassett has paid tribute to the late, great, Turner as the pair had a close relationship after working together during the movie.
Taking to Instagram, the actress wrote: "How do we say farewell to a woman who owned her pain and trauma and used it as a means to help change the world?"
She continued: "Through her courage in telling her story, her commitment to stay the course in her life, no matter the sacrifice, and her determination to carve out a space in rock and roll for herself and for others who look like her, Tina Turner showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion, and freedom should look like."
The actress described the late singer as an "iconic voice and presence" and that she gave more to the world than we could have ever asked for.
Bassett also revealed the heartwarming last words that Turner said to her. "Her final words to me - for me - were: You never mimicked me. Instead, you reached deep into your soul, found your inner Tina, and showed her to the world," she wrote.
The actress said that she was "honored" to have known Turner and that she will keep her final words close to her heart for the rest of her life.
Turner's life has been immortalized in the musical Tina - The Tina Turner Musical in London's West End, and the show is still having a successful run.