Rock ‘n’ Roll star Tina Turner shared a stark Instagram post about her kidney failure two months before her untimely death – while former President Barack Obama paid his respects.
Turner, 83, opened up about her health concerns on International World Kidney Day on March 9, revealing that she had put herself in “great danger” by not taking her 1978 hypertension diagnosis seriously.
“My kidneys are a victim of not realizing my high blood pressure should have been treated with conventional medications,” Turner wrote. “I have put myself in grave danger by refusing to face the reality that I need daily, lifelong drug therapy.
The What’s Love Got to Do With It singer died of an unknown illness at her home in Switzerland on Wednesday. It remains unclear whether her kidneys directly contributed to her death.
Tina Turner, 83, opened up about her health issues on International World Kidney Day on March 9, revealing that she was putting herself in ‘great danger’ by not taking her 1978 hypertension diagnosis seriously
The What’s Love Got to Do With It singer died of an unknown illness at her home in Switzerland on Wednesday
Turner’s March entry gave a glimpse of her final days when she added, “For far too long I have believed that my body was an untouchable and indestructible bastion.”
In an April chilling interview with the Guardian, Turner revealed how she wanted to be remembered and added that she had no fear of death.
“How would you like to be remembered?” asked the Keeper.
Like the queen of rock and roll. As a woman who showed other women that it’s okay to strive for success on their own terms.”
When asked what frightens her about getting older, she replied, “Nothing. This is life’s full adventure and I embrace and accept each day with what it brings.’
Several high-profile figures and celebrities rushed to pay tribute to Turner on social media as they posted her performance photos.
Former President Obama honored the signer late Wednesday, calling her “unstoppable.”
He posted a photo of Turner flaunting a silver glittery dress with black lace trim.
Tina Turner was raw. She was powerful. She was unstoppable. And she was unashamedly herself – spoke and sang her truth through joy and pain; triumph and tragedy,” Obama wrote.
“Today, together with fans around the world, we honor the Queen of Rock and Roll, a star whose light will never fade.”
Former President Obama honored the signer late Wednesday, calling her ‘unstoppable’
A musical legend: Turner in 1997. In a recent interview, she said she wanted to be remembered as ‘the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll’
Within hours of her death, a tribute was left outside Turner’s home in Zurich
The Tennessee-born singer was remembered for her electrifying performances, but at her last public appearance, the singer was weak and needed help to walk.
Turner was last seen in public in November 2019, attending the Broadway premiere of the musical of her life, where she needed help getting up.
She was pictured sitting in most of the photos from the event and received help from her husband, Erwin Bach, and Oprah Winfrey as she walked the red carpet.
When Turner was diagnosed with hypertension, she said she didn’t understand there was anything she could do about it.
“I don’t recall ever being given an explanation of what high blood pressure means or how it affects the body,” she told the newspaper. European Alliance for Kidney Healthin March of this year.
“I considered high blood pressure to be normal. That’s why I haven’t really tried to control it.’
Because her condition went untreated, Turner suffered a stroke in 2009.
She had another in 2013 — just three weeks after marrying her partner of nearly 30 years, German music producer Erwin Bach.
Three years later, in 2016, she was diagnosed with colon cancer.
Doctors removed part of her intestine, but her kidney problems worsened.
Turner suffered unpleasant side effects from her hypertension treatment and stopped taking her medications, trying homeopathic medicines instead.
The results led to kidney failure and eventually led husband Bach to donate his kidney to save her life.
The surgery took place in April 2017 and was largely a success, although Turner still had mild symptoms, including nausea and dizziness, according to her interview with the European Kidney Health Alliance.
“The months after the transplant were marked by a never-ending up and down,” she said.
‘Occasionally my body tried to reject the donor kidney, as often happens after a transplant. Every so often this required more hospitalizations. I kept feeling nauseous and dizzy, forgetting things and was very scared. These problems have not yet been completely resolved.
“I have several prescriptions and follow my doctors’ instructions closely. Because I know I can trust them and their therapies.’
The singer was supported by Oprah Winfrey on the opening night of ‘Tina – The Tina Turner Musical’ on Broadway
Tina Turner found true love with Erwin Bach. The two are pictured celebrating her 50th birthday in November 1989 in London
The pair had a loving relationship for 38 years until her death on Wednesday. He previously donated a kidney to her. Turner and her husband pictured at a Paris Fashion Week show in July 2018
In her 2018 memoir My Love Story, she talked about the terror of her stroke.
“That’s when I discovered I couldn’t stand on my own,” she said.
“I was too embarrassed to call for help. Days of legs and muscles of steel from dancing, but I didn’t have the strength to get up. Terrified, I dragged myself to a couch, all the while thinking I couldn’t imagine Tina Turner being paralyzed.
“I doubted I’d ever be able to wear high heels again, let alone dance.”
One of Turner’s last public photos took place in March 2021, when she was pictured on social media watching the premiere of her HBO documentary.
‘Only 5 more days! The documentary ‘TINA’ will be released this Saturday,’ she wrote.
“I’m so excited to share this movie with you – seeing the concert scenes makes me relive some of the proudest moments of my life. I just had to sing along and dance in my living room!’
Turner posted this photo to Twitter in March 2021, celebrating the launch of her HBO documentary
Turner was last seen in October 2021 when she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “As you can definitely tell from my beaming smile, I’m thrilled to be officially inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist,” she captioned the photo.
Seven months later, the world got its last glimpse of the singer when she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Turner did not travel to Cleveland, Ohio, for the ceremony, but recorded a video.
“If they’re still giving me awards at 81, I must have done something right,” Turner said via a pre-recorded video message, broadcast Oct. 30, 2021.
“I’m very happy to have this.”
She posted a photo of her receiving the award the day after, on October 31.
“As you can definitely tell from my radiant smile, I’m thrilled to be officially inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist,” she captioned the photo.
‘What an honor! I am grateful to so many beloved people who believed in me and stood by me on my journey here – especially you, my fans. Keep rockin’!’