In a heartrending end to an illustrious career, celebrated R&B singer Tina Turner lost her ability to sing during her last days as she battled a combination of serious health conditions, including intestinal cancer, multiple strokes, and kidney failure, according to sources.
Confidants of the singing sensation disclose that Turner, in her Swiss chateau where she had resided for the past 30 years, could only manage to whisper her last goodbyes to her cherished husband, Erwin Bach, and close friends before her passing on May 24 at the age of 83.
"There was a deeply poignant and tragic irony that did not go unnoticed," a source sorrowfully stated. "Here was a woman whose powerful voice made her an icon, reduced to a faint whisper during her final moments."
Turner, best known for her hit single "What's Love Got to Do with It," had a successful career that spanned several decades, selling over 100 million albums and securing 12 Grammy Awards. However, her twilight years were marred by a string of debilitating health issues.
Health experts believe some of these health concerns could have been averted. In 1978, Turner was diagnosed with hypertension, a common condition of high blood pressure. Yet, she was determined to forego conventional treatments.
She had her first stroke in 2009, which doctors attributed to her "inadequately managed hypertension," and subsequent kidney failure. Though she took medication for her hypertension for a while, she later chose to pursue homeopathic remedies. This resulted in another stroke in 2013 that temporarily impaired her ability to walk.
In a few more years, Turner experienced complete kidney failure. In 2017, she received a kidney transplant from her husband Erwin, who is now 67 years old. Unfortunately, her body did not accept the transplanted organ.
"Despite everything, Tina was a fighter through and through," shared the insider. "But, ultimately, her own body couldn't keep up with her indomitable spirit.
"Nevertheless, she remained resilient till the very end."