Tina Turner Opened Up About Kidney Issue Two Months Before Her Death: 'Show Your Kidneys Love'
By Favour Adegoke on May 25, 2023 at 6:00 PM EDT
Tina Turner revealed that she was facing severe health challenges months before her death.
The late singer shared in an Instagram post that her kidneys had declined due to her mismanaging her hypertension ailment for years.
Since her death, tributes have poured in from Hollywood A-listers, with many of them reflecting on her impact on the music industry.
Read below for more details.
'Show Your Kidneys Love'
Turner had been battling issues with her kidney for years, which might have led to her death at age 83. The singer revealed back in March that the decline in the health of her kidneys was connected to hypertension, which she was diagnosed with in 1978.
She admitted that she was reckless in managing the heart ailment, which ultimately made her kidneys suffer the effects of her actions.
"Show your kidneys love! They deserve it. My kidneys are victims of my not realising that my high blood pressure should have been treated with conventional medicine," Turner opened up about her health issues in honor of International World Kidney Day.
She added, "I have put myself in great danger by refusing to face the reality that I need daily, lifelong therapy with medication. For far too long, I believed that my body was an untouchable and indestructible bastion."
Tina Turner Revealed How She Wants To Be Remembered
A month ago, Turner revealed in an interview with The Guardian, that she wants to be remembered for her impact as the "Queen of Rock' n' Roll" and as an inspiration to other women who desire to "strive for success on their own terms."
She also revealed at the time that she wasn't afraid of dying, saying she was ready to "embrace and accept every day with what it brings."
Her evergreen songs, which she is known for, include "What's Love Got To Do With It," "The Best," "River Deep, Mountain High," "Proud Mary," and "Nutbush City Limits."
During her career, she garnered 12 Grammy awards and was inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
She also had some impact on the film industry via an award-winning musical based on her life, which was released in 2019.
Tina Turner's Demise
Fans at the time thanked Turner for sharing her story on International World Kidney Day, unaware that the singer would be passing on in a few months.
Her death was announced on her official Instagram account on Wednesday, alongside a black-and-white throwback picture.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner," read the post, which also noted how the late singer "enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow."
The post also noted that Turner's music would forever remain a "legacy" that won't be forgotten.
In November 2019, Turner made her last public appearance at the Broadway debut of the musical based on her life. She would be buried in a private ceremony attended by close friends and family and is survived by her 67-year-old second husband, Erwin Bach, and two of her four kids.
Tributes Have Poured In For The Late Singer
Since her death, Turner has received tributes from several celebrities, including Hollywood's biggest stars. Mariah Carey was one of the many to mourn the late singer, sharing a throwback picture of Turner on social media.
She captioned the post, "The words legendary, iconic, diva, and superstar are often overused and yet Tina Turner embodies them all and so many more – an incredible performer, musician and trailblazer."
Former NBA star Magic Johnson called Turner "one of my favorite artists of all time" and said that "she gave one of the best live shows he has ever seen" in his tribute.
Former President Obama also honored the late singer in a post, describing her as "raw," "powerful," unstoppable," and "unapologetically herself."
Celebrity chef Martha Stewart also shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram in which she shared a cute picture of both of them cozying up to each other in bed. She captioned it, "We loved Tina Turner. Goddess, Performer, Wonder Woman ! We will miss her so much!!!!!!!!!"