Tina Turner

Anna Mae Bullock was born in 1939 in Nutbush, Tennessee, the youngest of a sharecropping family. As a teenager she moved to St. Louis and began singing in local clubs, where in 1956 she caught the attention of bandleader Ike Turner. She joined his Kings of Rhythm as “Little Ann,” soon becoming Tina Turner—the dynamic frontwoman of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Their 1960 breakout “A Fool in Love” launched a string of hits and electrifying stage shows through the 1960s, though their marriage and partnership ended amidst turmoil in the late 1970s. Tina’s solo rebirth came in 1984 with the album Private Dancer, a global smash that featured “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” earning her a new wave of fame, multiple Grammys, and a place in pop culture history. She followed with major albums like Break Every Rule, Foreign Affair—including the anthemic “The Best”—and Wildest Dreams in the ’80s and ’90s. Her music blended rock, pop, soul and blues with a commanding voice and stage flair. Her impact transcended music. She starred in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and inspired biographies, films and musicals. A posthumous compilation, Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll, collected her hits across decades. She received lifetime honors including Kennedy Center Honors and dual inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, solo and with Ike. Tina Turner’s legacy endures—not just as one of the most soulful, powerful performers ever, but as a survivor who defied expectations and inspired generations. Her music, grit and persona continue to move fans around the world.