After Tina Turner's sudden passing this week, many of her past interviews and performances have resurfaced, including her past discussion on why she renounced her US citizenship.
The 83-year-old Queen of Rock 'n' Roll died peacefully on Wednesday this week (May 24) at her home in Switzerland. As per Sky News, a statement by her representative read: "Tina Turner, the 'Queen of Rock'n Roll' has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model."
Tina'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," the statement continued.
Most of us know Turner as the voice behind mega hits like 'The Best' and 'What's Love Got To Do With It?', having forged a wildly successful solo career during the 1980s and 1990s after leaving her husband and music partner Ike Turner in 1978.
While the pair were known to have had a turbulent marriage, the intricate details of their toxic and abusive relationship weren't made public until Turner released her 1986 memoir I, Tina and subsequent 1993 biopic.
Starring Angela Bassett, the dramatic movie depicted how Turner and Ike burst onto the music scene during the 1960s and 1970s, but how Ike's physically and sexually abusive behavior eventually forced Turner to quit the band and go solo.
After leaving her relationship, Turner had to rebuild her own career from the ground up, as Ike had copyrighted her name. Years later, Turner has been a symbol of resilience for abuse survivors across the globe.
Turner went on to marry German music executive Erwin Bach in 2013, after being together for 27 years. The pair lived together in Switzerland in the years before her passing and Bach even donated a kidney to Tina when her own failed in order for her to live longer.
Following her move to Switzerland in the mid-90s, Turner eventually renounced her US citizenship, telling Larry King Live in 1997 why she chose to do so. "I have left America because my success was in another country, and my boyfriend was in another country," the singer said at the time, adding: "Basically, Europe has been very supportive of my music."
King then said: "But you're a major star here, you're a superstar in America."
At which point Turner replied: "Not as big as Madonna. I'm as big as Madonna in Europe. In some places I'm as big as the Rolling Stones."
She emphasized this success on 60 Minutes, revealing: "No one in America knows [about] that [my success in Europe.]"
Our thoughts are with Tina Turner's family, friends, and fans at this tragic time.
