Oprah Winfrey Pays Tribute to Tina Turner in Emotional Post With Rare Photos
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Oprah Winfrey paid tribute to Tina Turner with an emotional post on Instagram.
Tina Turner died on May 24 at the age of 83.
“I am a better woman, a better human, because her life touched mine,” Winfrey wrote.
On May 24, Tina Turner died in her Switzerland home after experiencing a “long illness,” her publicist said in a statement, per Today. She was 83. And in the hours after the somber news broke, fans, friends, and fellow stars poured out their hearts in remembrance of the singer online. Oprah Winfrey was one of them—as a self-proclaimed Turner “groupie,” she was deeply impacted by her life and summed up their relationship beautifully in a touching tribute.
“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,” Winfrey captioned a carousel of photos that pictured herself and Turner laughing on stage, hugging, dancing, and toasting champagne. “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.”
Winfrey continued, praising Turner’s brave escape from an abusive marriage and the life-long victory lap that followed. She also revealed that the “What’s Love Got to Do with It” songstress was “curious” about death. “She once shared with me that when her time came to leave this earth, she would not be afraid, but excited and curious. Because she had learned how to LIVE surrounded by her beloved husband, Erwin, and friends,” Winfrey wrote. “I am a better woman, a better human, because her life touched mine. She was indeed simply the best.”
In a follow-up post, Winfrey shared a video of her on stage with Turner during her Wildest Dreams tour. “I was so nervous that my knees were actually knocking together,” she wrote. “Dancing onstage with her in Los Angeles was the most fun I ever remember having stepping out of my box.”
As someone who was close to Turner, Winfrey’s tribute was especially moving. But other stars’ emotional posts show just how transformative Turner’s career was for many. Martha Stewart, for example, shared a sweet candid of herself and Turner cuddled up in bed together. “Goddess, Performer, Wonder Woman! We will miss her so much!!!!!!!!!” she wrote.
Al Roker shared a photo from 2008 that pictured his family meeting Turner at Madison Square Garden.
Kate Hudson shared some of her favorite vintage snapshots of the performer, writing: “My number 1, my idol, my absolute favorite. I can’t believe you’re gone.”
Tracee Ellis Ross echoed Hudson with her photo tribute, writing: “There will never be another like Tina Turner.”
Indeed, there won’t. Rest in peace, Tina.
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