Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger, & More Stars Mourn The Loss of Tina Turner: See Their Tributes
Celebrities like Ciara, Dan Levy, Mick Jagger, & more took to social media to mourn Tina Turner on May 24, just moments after they learned she had passed.
Legendary “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” Tina Turner tragically died after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland on May 24, her rep confirmed to The Telegraph. And almost immediately after her passing at the age of 83, celebrities took to social media to mourn the icon. See their touching tributes below.
Ciara
“Goodies” hitmaker Ciara, 37, took to Twitter shortly after the somber news regarding Tina’s death broke to share an emotional tribute for the late songstress. “Heaven has gained an angel. Rest in Paradise Tina Turner. Thank you for the inspiration you gave us all,” the pop star captioned two photos of Tina from her younger days.
Dan Levy
Schitt’s Creek alum Dan Levy, 39, shared a throwback video from the hit TV show that featured one of the characters singing Tina’s hit “The Best” from 1989. “The ultimate inspiration. The Best. #RIPTinaTurner,” he captioned the emotional video. Comedian Whitney Cummings even took to the comments to react to Dan’s video and added a series of broken heart emojis.
Mick Jagger
Rolling Stones lead vocalist Mick Jagger, 79, who notably performed and collaborated with Tina over the years, also took to Twitter on May 24 to publicly grieve his dear friend. “I’m so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner. She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer,” his sweet tribute began. “She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.”
In two of the photos, Mick and Tina performed on stage together. The black-and-white photo pictured Tina laughing as she leaned up against the rock star’s back. The second photo of the pair pictured them belting out a song as they gazed directly into each other’s eyes. Tina and Mick famously performed two songs, “State Of Shock” and “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll” in 1985 (watch video here), which is where the photo of Mick in the blue t-shirt was taken.
Oprah Winfrey
Longtime friend Oprah Winfrey took to Instagram May 24 with not one, but two tributes. In the first, she shared a carousel of photos with Tina, and in the next, posted just an hour later, she shared footage of the time they performed together in Los Angeles. “I started out as a fan of Tina Turner, then a full-on groupie, following her from show to show around the country, and then, eventually, we became real friends,” she captioned the photo collection in part. “She is our forever goddess of rock ‘n’ roll who contained a magnitude of inner strength that grew throughout her life. She was a role model not only for me but for the world. She encouraged a part of me I didn’t know existed.”
The captioned the video clip in part, “I was so nervous that my knees were actually knocking together. Dancing onstage with her in Los Angeles was the most fun I ever remember having stepping out of my box. Tina lived out of the box and encouraged me and every woman to do the same.”
Beyonce
Beyonce took to her official website, to share a tribute message to Tina on the homepage. She also shared a photo of them holding hands during their 2008 Grammy Awards performance of “Proud Mary.”
“My beloved queen. I love you endlessly,” she wrote. “I’m so grateful for your inspiration, and all the ways you have paved the way. You are strength and resilience. You are the epitome of power and passion. We are all so fortunate to have witnessed your kindness and beautiful spirit that will forever remain. Thank you for all you have done.”
Magic Johnson
Former basketball star Magic Johnson, 63, shared an impactful photo of him posing with Tina and the late Elizabeth Taylor, via Twitter to mourn the “Proud Mary” hitmaker. “Rest in peace to one of my favorite artists of all time, the legendary queen of rock n’ roll Tina Turner,” his caption of the group photo began. “I’ve seen her many many times and hands down, she gave one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen. She always gave you your moneys worth.” In the photo, Magic leaned in next to Liz, while Tina lovingly held onto the Cleopatra star’s shoulders and smiled big for the camera.
Barack Obama
Former president Barack Obama shared a powerful photo of Tina onstage in a sparkling silver mini dress, via Twitter. “Tina Turner was raw,” he wrote. “She was powerful. She was unstoppable. And she was unapologetically herself—speaking and singing her truth through joy and pain; triumph and tragedy. Today we join fans around the world in honoring the Queen of Rock and Roll, and a star whose light will never fade.”
Gloria Gaynor
“I Will Survive” songstress Gloria Gaynor, 79, opted for a single glamour shot photo of Tina for her Twitter tribute post. “I am so, so very sad to hear of the passing of @TinaTurner , the iconic legend who paved the way for so many women in rock music, black and white,” the 79-year-old began. “She did with great dignity & success what very few would even have dared to do in her time and in that genre of music #TinaTurner.”
Ringo Starr
Legendary Beatles member Ringo Starr shared an electrifying pic of Tina in concert via Twitter. “God bless Tina turner, peace and love to all her family Ringo, peace and love,” he captioned the May 24 Tweet.
Halle Berry
Oscar winner Halle Berry took to Twitter to mourn the Queen of Rock n Roll on Wednesday. She shared a joyous pic of a group hug that included Tina, Halle, Oprah, and Alicia Keys. “I’ll never forget this day at the Legends Ball when I met Tina Turner!” she captioned the photo tweet. “She rearranged me with her conversation, her spirit, her depth of character, her grace and most of all her ability to be ordinary and a LEGEND at the time! The world will be missing one bright light tonight!”
Kamala harris
Vice President Kamala Harris took to Twitter with a deeply admiring message following Tina’s death. “Tina Turner was a spectacular light whose life was a testament to all those who believe in what can be, unburdened by what has been,” she wrote. “From Nutbush, TN to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, her strength, voice, and signature moves inspired millions. Tina Turner was simply the best.”
Tina Turner was a spectacular light whose life was a testament to all those who believe in what can be, unburdened by what has been.
From Nutbush, TN to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, her strength, voice, and signature moves inspired millions. Tina Turner was simply the best.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) May 24, 2023
President Joe Biden
President Joe Biden also took to Twitter in the hours after Tina’s death. “Before she was the Queen of Rock and Roll, Tina Turner was a farmer’s daughter in Tennessee,” he wrote on May 24. “As a child, she sang in the church choir before becoming one of the most successful recording artists of all time. In addition to being a once-in-a-generation talent that changed American music forever, Tina’s personal strength was remarkable. Overcoming adversity, and even abuse, she built a career for the ages and a life and legacy that were entirely hers. Jill and I send our love and prayers to her husband Erwin, the rest of the Turner family, and fans around the world who are mourning today for the woman they agree was “simply the best.”
Before she was the Queen of Rock and Roll, Tina Turner was a farmer’s daughter in Tennessee. As a child, she sang in the church choir before becoming one of the most successful recording artists of all time.
In addition to being a once-in-a-generation talent that changed…
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 24, 2023
Garcelle Beauvais
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Garcelle Beauvais, 56, re-shared a photo of Tina from her younger days to react to her passing on May 24. “You were simply the BEST! Rest in power,” she captioned the post, along with a prayer hands emoji.
Mia Farrow
Actress Mia Farrow, 78, opted to share two black-and-white photos of Tina to grieve her via Twitter. “The magnificent Tina Turner has left us,” she captioned the post, along with a broken heart emoji. In the left snapshot, the late 83-year-old had her eyes closed, while in the second, her eyes were pictured wide open and appeared to be from years prior than the first.
Whoopi Goldberg
Comedian and actress Whoopi Goldberg honored Tina at the start of The View on Thursday, May 25. At one point in the conversation, she pointed out how she continued to be a vibrant performer even as she got older. “She was amazing,” she said. “No matter when you saw her, the artistry was always there. There was never a question about her as an artist. Rock and roll is the only place you could be 125 and still get onstage and rock out.”
Joy Behar
Whoopi’s View co-host Joy Behar similarly paid tribute to what an incredible and unstoppable singer Tina was. “She was an extraordinary talent that could not be held down, even by an abusive husband. Whatever horrors came her way, she was a really brilliant performer,” she said.
Sunny Hostin
Sunny Hostin shared some thoughts about Tina and how the musician came up when she was working as a prosecutor. She said many women came forward after learning about what Tina had gone through with her ex-husband Ike Turner. “There are just some people that feel timeless. That they’re always going to be here,” she said on The View. “Many women would come in and say she gave them to courage to come in and speak out.”
A statement was also shared on Tina’s Facebook account, further confirming her death, and it said, “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.”
Tina overcame personal and professional struggles in her life to build a legendary six-decade career as both a singer and actress. She first found fame in the 1960s as part of the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, which delivered a ton of chart-topping hits. However, after years of domestic abuse, Tina left her husband, Ike Turner, and made an epic comeback as a solo artist in the 80s, while releasing hits such as “What’s Love Got to Do With It.”
Tina, who is also famous for her 1971 version of “Proud Mary” and her role as Aunty Entity in 1985’s Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, suffered a stroke, intestinal cancer and kidney failure, which required a transplant, in her final years of life. She won 12 Grammy awards, sold more than 200 million albums, and had four children before she passed — a son, Ronnie, who she shared with Ike and died in Dec. 2022, as well as two of Ike’s children who she adopted, and a son, Craig, from a previous relationship.