Tina Turner’s haunting interview before death

Tina Turner admitted she was “ready” for death and didn’t mind “leaving” in a haunting and raw interview before she passed away.

Tina Turner has died at the age of 83.

Tina Turner spoke about being “ready” for death, just a few years before she passed away and as she endured a litany of serious health problems.

The music icon died at home in Switzerland at the age of 83 this week following a “long illness”. She’d suffered a number of health issues over the years, including cancer, a stroke and kidney failure, although her exact cause of death is yet to be revealed.

Speaking to the BBC back in 2018, the Proud Mary singer made it clear she’d been prepared for the worst years ago.

“Well, if it’s time … I felt like, ‘I’m in my late 70s, my mother died at 84, my sister died at 74’, and I thought maybe this was my time,” she told the British broadcaster.

“In Buddhism you accept the life and the death. I was ready, I just thought it was my time.”

The multi-Grammy Award winner also revealed that she’d discovered the option of assisted suicide after moving to Switzerland and had signed up for it.

“Death is not a problem for me, I really don’t mind leaving,” she said at the time.

The singer passed away this week after a “long illness”.

However, after her husband, Erwin Bach, donated a kidney to her, Turner realised she had a new lease on life.

“I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life. I’m happier than I ever thought that life would become for me,” she said.

“So that means that most of my hardships came while I was young and growing up. And in the last days when normally people suffer from old age and sickness my happiness came.

“I’m really thoroughly happy.

“I did fall a couple of days ago and broke something so I was in a wheelchair and on crutches so maybe now I’m going through my sick period and I think that will take me through to my 90s. I’ll be around for a while.”

Turner’s second husband, Erwin Bach, donated a kidney to her. Picture: Jacopo Raule/Getty Images

Turner kept a low profile in her final years, but gave her last-ever interview to British Vogue, which was published just a few weeks ago, on April 17.

The Nutbush singer opened up about how she managed to live fully, despite the hardships she’d endured – including the deaths of two of her four sons.

“My life has been full, but with lots of sad times that I now forgive and strive to forget,” she told the magazine.

“Maybe that’s the answer: to keep moving forward, to let go and aim to fill your life with love. That is where I am now, and I am grateful.”

During the same interview, Turner was also asked what advice she’d give to her younger self.

“I would tell myself to stay strong and continue wanting more and fighting for it all! It will come, and it will be worth the wait.”

The singer’s publicist confirmed her death in a statement on Thursday AEST, which read: “Tina Turner, the ‘Queen of Rock’n Roll’ has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland.

“With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model.’”

An Instagram post from the official Tina Turner account also confirmed her death.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner,” the statement said.

“With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow.

“Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music.

“All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly.”

Throughout her glittering career, the music icon won 12 Grammy Awards, sold 100 million records and was inducted in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2021.

At the time, it was noted that she had “expanded the once-limited idea of how a Black woman could conquer a stage and be both a powerhouse and a multidimensional being”.

Originally published as Tina Turner’s haunting interview before death