The entertainment business continues to mourn Tina Turner’s demise even as her famous friends, including Cher, one of her closest ones, celebrate her life and legacy. The 77-year-old singer opened up about her closer friendship with Turner during an interview with Ari Melber on MSNBC’s The Beat on May 24.
First of all, Tina, whom Cher frequently visited as her life dwindled, was described by Cher as having “fought this sickness for such a long time, and she was so strong as you would think she would be. Finally, I recall her telling me, “I’m truly ready.”
In the days leading up to Tina’s passing, Cher chose to spend a lot of time with her because she wanted Tina to know that she would be remembered and that her legacy would last forever. She added that despite Tina’s illness and subsequent loss in health, she was “having a good time” and appreciating life.
In her 2018 autobiography, My Love Story, Tina Turner discussed her several life-threatening illnesses in detail. She had high blood pressure, which eventually resulted in kidney failure. She also had a stroke, which caused her to relearn how to walk, and she was later diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2016.
In addition, Turner’s brutal marriage to Ike Turner (the two were married from 1962 to 1978) led to her developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In order to start over and find a better life, Tina promptly quit the relationship. It was during this time that she became close to Cher.
“She gave you a lot of female strength. She obviously motivated many young people, but she also occasionally gave me a lot of courage, and I reciprocated in kind.” Cher stated, “Honestly, I think we were the best of friends.”
“She might not have won every battle, but she fought every war,” Cher said in closing. She went on to call Tina Turner “one of the great artists of our generation” and declare that “there was no one like her” and “no one who could even come close to what she was.”
Cher and Tina Turner enjoyed a lot of memorable moments and distinctive laughter over the course of their many years as close friends. At first glance, Cher could tell she was in the presence of an icon. She stated that when she first met Tina, “I felt like the oxygen was kind of being sucked out of the hallway.”
Before she passed away, Tina Turner sent Cher a very special gift to help her remember the life and legacy her friend is leaving behind, as if she needed assistance remembering. She called the gift a pair of “Tina Turner shoes,” i.e., her “big high heels.” Tina helped heels become more trendy during the 1980s.
Of course, Cher wasn’t the only prominent person to honor Tina Turner during the past few days. The whole entertainment industry has set aside time to honor the life and demise of a great person known as the “Queen of Rock & Roll.” Her story has inspired millions of people from all different backgrounds.
“Without a doubt, I was aware that she was ill. She informed me she was honestly ready to depart this planet when I met her in 2019 when I went to visit her in the hospital.”
